Tarragindi, Queensland

Tarra Gindi from a Foote family photograph, 1905

The suburb was named after a native from the Loyalty Islands (near modern-day New Caledonia) who was transported in the late nineteenth century to Queensland.[3] Such people, called Kanakas, were a cheap source of labour for sugarcane production. Apparently Tarragindi Tasserone escaped and was subsequently employed by Alfred Foote of Ipswich. Later, he cleared land for William Grimes (related to Alfred Foote) on a hill near Sandy Creek and the property was named after him.[4] Tarragindi remained with the Foote family in Ipswich until just before he died, aged 63. He worked for the Foote family for over 25 years.[5] The grave of Tarra Gindi Tasserone is located in the Ipswich General Cemetery.[6]

Prior to European occupation beginning in the early 19th century the area covered by the suburb was inhabited by Aboriginal people. The Coorparoo sub-group of the wider Jagera group occupied land south of the Brisbane River clustered around Oxley, Norman and Bulimba creeks.[7] It is also possible that the Yerongpan sub-group lived in the area.[8] The Coorparoo group had cultural links to other neighboring communities including territorially-neutral pathways, river crossings and ceremonies. A bora ring was known to have been maintained in Tarragindi, possibly between present-day Barnehurst and Isabella Streets.[8] One trace of this early occupation persists in the locality and creek name, "Ekibin". According to Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2003) the modern name is derived from the aboriginal "Yekkabin" which referred to aquatic plants (probably Telmatoblechnum indicum) with edible roots which grew in the creek. The edible roots were common in the diet of Aboriginals of the Moreton Bay area; a sharp stick was used to dig out the stem, which was then dried, roasted, and pounded with a stone.[9]

European settlement began 1857 with a survey of land by George Pratten. An early land-owner (and later Mayor of Brisbane and member of parliament), Thomas Stephens, established a woolscour and later a fellmongery in the northern part of the suburb near Essie Avenue. Another land-holder was James Toohey who leased properties for cattle runs.

In October 1914 "Cracknell Hill Estate", made up of 115 allotments of 16 perches, was advertised for sale by Isles Love & Co., Auctioneers.[10][11][12] The map advertising the sale states that the estate was a five minute walk from the proposed new tram terminus at Chardon's Hotel.

On 17 April 1920, auctioneers Cameron Brothers offered 97 allotments (mostly 16 perches) in the "Cracknell Hill Estate" which were in Queen Street (now Cavan Street), Hamlet Terrace (now Hamlet Street) and Woodville Place between Warwick Street (now Marjorie Street) and Percy Street.[13][14] These appear to be unsold allotments of an estate first offered in October 1914.[15]

In August 1924 Marcus F. Lyons & Winning advertised 312 allotments for private sale in the "Cracknel Road Estate", being subdivisions 1 to 313 of resubdivision 1 and 2 of portion 113, Parish of Yeerongpilly.[16][17] A map advertising the sale states the estate is 5 minutes from Ipswich Road Trams, water main and electricity passes through the estate; and gas is handy to the estate.

Ekibin Memorial Park

During the Second World War, Tarragindi was the site of a field hospital administered first by the American Army (for soldiers treated for shell shock) and later by the British and Australian forces. The Ekibin Hospital was bounded by Sexton Street and Toohey Road and encompassed parts of Cracknell, Effingham, Fingal and Lutzow streets.[18] After the war, the site was used by the Housing Commission to accommodate displaced persons. Today, little remains of the establishment except for possible foundations of a gun emplacement in the midsection of Fingal Street. The Ekibin Memorial Park on Cracknell Road commemorates the establishment of the hospital.

St Barnabas' Anglican Church was dedicated on 2 August 1959 by Archbishop Reginald Halse. It closed in April 1989.[19]