Post Code: 4005 Distance to CBD: 2 km
New Farm is a Brisbane suburb located 2 kilometers east of the Central Business District. It is a promontory formed by the meandering Brisbane River. It is adjacent to Fortitude Valley and Newstead to the north. Its proximity to the city proper makes it an ideal residence for office workers and young professionals. Most of the commercial activities are done in Brunswick Street and James Street. The suburb has a commercial area called Merthyr Village. The suburb is known for its Queenslander homes with some modern apartments.
New Farm Attractions
o New Farm Park
From September to November, the park blooms with 12,000 rose bushes and other shrubs. This park includes places for barbecues and sport activities like basketball, cricket, skating, rollerblading, and cycling. This is also a place to relax and sit at the bench overlooking the Brisbane River. The park has a children’s playground around a huge banyan tree where the roots of the tree is about to swallow an old park bench. It’s a great place for the kids to find their way as they climb along its roots. At the riverside, the park also offers a ramp for launching canoes in the Brisbane River.
o The Powerhouse
The Powerhouse is a building where the New Farm residents showcase its performing arts. It is Brisbane’s crucible of creativity. It used to be a power station that supplies electricity to the tramway transportation network in 1928. In 1971, the power station was decommissioned when the tramway transportation went out of business. Over the years, the building was used as a chemical storage and a place where the Australian Defense Force conducts its military exercises and it fell into disrepair. In 1989, the Brisbane City Council acquired the place through the land exchange programme. The power station itself is a distinct landmark which the Brisbane residents refused to let go. The building was renovated and refurbished. In May 2000, the Powerhouse was opened.
Currently, the whole structure includes the Powerhouse Theatre with 425 sitting capacity, the Visy Theatre with a 200 sitting capacity, the Turbine Hall, rooftop terrace, a café bar, a restaurant, outdoor plaza and green space. It is also famous for the preservation of the graffiti left by the homeless people who used the building for shelter when the power station was decommissioned. The Powerhouse is currently used as a venue for contemporary performing arts, visual arts, festivals, conferences, social and community events like weekend farmer’s market. It also produces projects for the performing arts. The Powerhouse is operated and managed by a non-profit organization with the support of the Brisbane City Council.