- During his term as Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd primarily ran the country from his Norman Park home.
He only resided at the official Prime Minister’s residences at the Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney while in those cities on official business.
“I really like sitting on the back veranda of our house in Norman Park and while I will be travelling a lot, it will be great to come home to Brissie and be in my local community and the warmer weather.”
- In the late 1800s, Norman Park used to be part of the ‘Croydon Park Estate’, along with Camp Hill.
The land was owned by the Metropolitan Freehold Land and Building Company Limited, who were “determined to give everyone a chance of securing a first-class building site at their own price, on such easy terms, that the meanest paid labourer in Brisbane may obtain a freehold…”
194 allotments on Bennetts Road, Lloyd Street, Watson Street, MacDonald Street, Wimbledon Street and Garsdale Street were advertised for sale by auction, of which 78 were sold on December 17, 1887.
- Norman Park is thought to have derived its name in the 1890’s from the nearby Norman Creek, and the contemporary governor of Queensland Henry Wylie Norman.
Although his mandate was to cut public expenditure, Henry Wylie Norman was well regarded by both local people and politicians, who were impressed by his administrative and diplomatic skills.
- Poet’s Corner derives its name from legend, as apparently on the corner of what is now Thackery and Wordsworth Street, there was once a cottage - home to a poet in the late 1800’s.
It’s understood that he was an Englishman, who became much loved in the local area for his beautiful poetry. At some point, people started to use Poet’s Corner as a description for the area, naming the surrounding streets after other beloved poets.
- More than twice as many residents of Norman Park travel to work by public transport than the State average. The state average being 7.1%, compared to Norman Park’s 15.7%.
Could this be a reflection of great public transport offerings in the area? Or, due to the fact that peak hour traffic on Wynnum Road is so bad, people resort to public transport to get to work at a reasonable hour?
