Keperra History

History of Brisbane’s Keperra

Keperra’s history has been compiled as part of the BRISbites community history project.

Aboriginal history

The Jagera and Turrbal Groups occupied land in the Brisbane and Ipswich areas. The exact boundaries are not known, however, the Turrbal generally occupied the area north of the Brisbane River. Both groups had closely related languages which are classified as belonging to the larger Yaggera language group.

Keperra is believed to be an Aboriginal name. Some sources say that it is derived from the word ‘Kipper’ which is an Indigenous word given to a youth who has the reached the age of initiation. A large bora ground once existed on the Keperra Golf Links. There are a number of contemporary Aboriginal organizations in Keperra including NWAICA (North West Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Association. Inc.)

Urban development

In 1865 Thomas Price sold a large portion of land in Keperra to John and Mary Nicholsen who built a home and named it Grovely Lodge. The surrounding district soon became known by the same name and Keperra was known as Grovely West until recent times.In the 1880s the Nicholsens sold the land to the Dawsons. In 1908 the Dawson property was subdivided and pineapple and fruit gave way to poultry farming.

The railway was built through the area in 1918 but it was originally a siding located near the Keperra Golf Club. The railway station was named Keperra Station in 1932 and moved to its current site in 1956.

In about 1940 a military camp was established on the slaughterhouse site. The army camp constructed many of the roads and much of the land was transferred to the Housing Commission for housing development in 1951.

Notable residents

Capt. Robert Cotton founded the Keperra Golf Club in 1931 and it was originally called the Enoggera Golf Club. The name changed to the Keperra Golf Club in 1940.

Harry Beasley was a chronicler of the area and his memories go back to 1915. He remembered walking over the hills close to the army establishment at Enoggera where he roamed around the rifle range when the soldiers weren’t practising. He used to collect the lead bullets and sell them to a man who used to melt them down to make lead-headed nails. He remembered the farmers using the horse and cart to move their produce into Roma Street markets.

Landmarks

The parcel of land where St Williams School and parish offices now stand occupies 4.5 hectares. Archbishop Duhig bought this land from the Nugents who battled the compulsory resumption sought by the Housing Commission. The school was opened in 1957. The housing commission constructed over 1000 homes and the housing styles now form a landmark for the suburb. Some of these houses were also rented to the military as army homes. The housing commission developed the area and named many of the new streets after politicians.

In 1966 the Keperra Drive-In-Theatre was constructed on Settlement Road and remained in operation until 2000.

Reference: Lesley Jenkins, BRISbites, 2000