Teneriffe, Queensland

Teneriffe Brisbane, Queensland
An old wool store converted into residential apartments on Vernon Terrace
Population	4,699 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	4005
Location	2.5 km (2 mi) NE of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Central Ward; Hamilton Ward)
State electorate(s)	Brisbane Central
Federal Division(s)	Brisbane
Suburbs around Teneriffe: Bowen Hills Newstead Hamilton Bowen Hills Teneriffe Bulimba Fortitude Valley New Farm New Farm

Teneriffe is an inner suburb of the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) north-east of the CBD, and borders Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, and Newstead.

Teneriffe was defined as a separate suburb in 2010, before which it was a locality of Newstead. The suburb was incorporated into Newstead in 1975, and had been a separate suburb prior to this. The suburb was once an important wool trading hub and was the location of Australia's largest submarine base during World War II.

The 2011 Australian Census recorded 4,699 residents in Teneriffe. The Teneriffe ferry wharf connects the suburb to CityCat and CityFerry services. The studios of radio station Nova 106.9 are located in Commercial Road.

Toponymy

One of the first European landowners in the area was James Gibbon. He purchased 48 hectares of land between Newstead and New Farm and named the property Teneriffe because it reminded him of Mount Teide in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Gibbon built Teneriffe House in 1865. The single storey building still stands today on what is known as Teneriffe Hill.

History

Teneriffe Architecture

By the 1880s the area was being settled by white people. The area was served by horse drawn trams starting in 1885. In 1890 land near Teneriffe House was subdivided and auctioned. The 30 allotments were sold under the name Teneriffe Estate. From 1897 until December 1962 electric trams ran along Commercial Road. Early photographs of the suburb show trams displaying the destination "Bulimba", which has given rise to some confusion in later times. Originally the area was considered part of the suburb called Bulimba which then straddled both sides of the Brisbane River. Postal deliveries were often misdirected and as a result the western section of Bulimba, comprising the area now known as Teneriffe, was renamed before World War I. However, the unofficial use of Bulimba as an address on the northern side of the river persists for some decades, appearing on maps and in electoral rolls into the 1940s (although its use progressively declines).

Wool trade

Converted wool stores along the Brisbane River

As wool exports from Queensland increased in the early 20th century, the economic importance of Teneriffe to the state also increased. The first wool store was built in 1909, with another three stores opening by 1915. Another nine wool stores were built, with the last two constructed during the 1950s. Well known architects designed these large buildings to represent the commercial success Australian wool producers experienced in the early 20th century. In 1927, the Australian Estates store was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York. It had the largest showroom in Australia and was able to store 24,000 bales.

During World War II the wharves served as Australia's largest submarine base with around 60 submarines based at Teneriffe. American and British submarines used the facilities, known as Capricon Wharf up until 1945. As container ships forced cargo shipments to the Port of Brisbane at the mouth of the river wool trading at Teneriffe ceased.

Recent

Through the conversion of wool stores and factories to residential apartments, the area has been transformed from a riverside industrial hub to a mostly high density residential area. Most of the Queenslander style homes have been preserved and renovated. In recent years, Teneriffe has seen an influx of gay and lesbian residents who are part of the continuing gentrification of the neighbourhood.

Heritage listings

Teneriffe has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Roseville - 56 Chester Street
• Newstead Air Raid Shelter - Commercial Road
• Monier Ventilation Shaft 3 - Florence Street
• Newstead Gasworks - 70 Longland Street
• Australian Estates No. 2 Store - 24 Macquarie Street
• Australian Estates No. 1 Store - 50 Macquarie Street
• Elder Smith Woolstore - 64 Macquarie Street
• Goldsbrough Mort Woolstore - 88 Macquarie Street
• Teneriffe Village - 110 Macquarie Street
• Queensland Primary Producers No 4 Woolstore - 16 Skyring Terrace
• Teneriffe House - 37 Teneriffe Drive
• Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Woolstores - 34 Vernon Terrace
• Mactaggarts Woolstore - 53 Vernon Terrace
• Winchcombe Carson Woolstores - 54 Vernon Terrace

See also

• List of Brisbane suburbs

References

• Clark, Howard R. and David R. Keenan, "Brisbane Tramways - The Last Decade", Transit Press, 1977 (Reprinted 1985). ISBN 0-909338-01-9
• G. Greenwood and J. Laverty, Brisbane 1859-1959, BCC, 1959

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Teneriffe