Completed areas
Garbutt
Community Renewal in Garbutt
Community Renewal began in Garbutt in December 1998, following the introduction of the Queensland Government’s Urban Renewal program to Garbutt in 1993. The urban design masterplan developed by consultants Woods Bagot was adopted and updated by residents, government and other agencies as a blueprint for Community Renewal activities. The key themes in the plan included economic and community vitality; a healthy environment; community safety; access to services and facilities; community harmony; participation in community life; cultural development; and celebration of place.
Community Renewal activities were completed in Garbutt in 2001. During the program’s presence in Garbutt, Community Renewal funded 55 projects with a value of more than $3.4 million. Approximately 63 percent of these funds were allocated to physical infrastructure development. Partners in Community Renewal initiatives invested approximately $0.2 million over the same period, bringing the combined investment in renewal activities to $3.6 million.
Achievements
Some of the many Community Renewal projects delivered in Garbutt include:
- Upgrading the Magpies Pocket Park in memory of the popular local Magpies Football Club. This helped to preserve Garbutt’s social history while enhancing the park with a new gazebo, seating and children’s play equipment.
- The Literacy and Numeracy Program which offered an alternative education program for school-aged children unable to attend school. The program targeted children with a disability or learning difficulty from non-English-speaking and Indigenous backgrounds.
- A public art program which employed local artists to create murals, park furniture and signs for a range of Community Renewal projects. Their artworks reinforced the community’s sense of identity and ownership of public spaces.
About Garbutt
In 1915, a railway station was built on the Ingham railway line and given the name of Garbutt Siding. The name came from the local Garbutt family, who had established a slaughter yard in the area. In July 1939, the Garbutt Progress Association requested the Queensland Government shorten the name to Garbutt.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001 Census figures show the Garbutt renewal area has a population of 2,561 with 573 families. Almost one fifth (18.8 percent) are aged under 15 and 10.8 percent were born overseas. About 6.5 percent speak languages other than English and the Indigenous population is 12.7 percent.
Last updated 21 July 2005
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