Redbank, Queensland

The suburb is bounded to the west by Six Mile Creek, to the north-west, north, and north-east by the Brisbane River, to the east by Goodna Creek, and to the south-west by another segment of Goodna Creek.[3]

The Ipswich Motorway enters the locality from the east (Goodna) and exits to the west (Riverview).[3] The Main Line railway runs parallel but north of the motorway with two railway stations in the suburb:

• Redbank railway station, providing passengers services (27.5995°S 152.8724°E / -27.5995; 152.8724 (Redbank railway station))[4]
• Redbank Workshops railway station, on a spur line serving the Redbank Railway Workshops (27.5945°S 152.8746°E / -27.5945; 152.8746 (Redbank Workshops railway station))[4]

The land use north of the railway line through to the river is a mix of industrial, commercial and agricultural use. The Redbank Railway Workshops being a major industry in the suburb. The land between the railway line and the motorway is predominantly residential. The land south of the motorway is a large tract of undeveloped bushland with further residential development in the far south of the suburb.[3]

The origin of the suburb name is from a description of the area provided by Major Edmund Lockyer whilst exploring in a boat along the Brisbane River.[2]

While the Redbank area is known for its agricultural and pastoral origins, it has a more varied history.[5]

In the late 1850s, the first farmers in the area settled on the river flats situated to the north of the current railway station. This settlement featured a brickworks, sawmill, stores, cottages, a school and nondenominational church, though due to severe flooding, it was relocated south of the railway station some years later.[5]

In the early years, the rich black loamy soil of the plains supported crops of maize, potatoes and fodder, while cotton became a significant crop in the 1860s and 1870s.[5] By the beginning of the 20th century, dairying became more important with the establishment of several creameries in the area.[5]

The late 1850s saw the establishment of the first secondary industry in the area, with a boiling down works and fellmongery owned by Mr John Campbell and Mr Town.[5]

Redbank's school was originally opened on July 1865 by the Roman Catholic Church on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) land parcel with an initial enrolment of 31 students. The building was used as both a school and a church. In 1881, it became Redbank State School. It closed on 30 September 1895, but reopened on 6 September 1897.[6] In 1951, a further 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) of land was acquired to expand the school site.[7]

The Redbank - Bundamba Loop Line comprised a series of railway sidings serving coal mines in the area.[8]

Redbank Rifle Range operated from 1912 to 1980 south of the Redbank railway station. It was the home of a number rifle clubs over the years including Ipswich Railway Rifle Club, Ipswich City Rifle Club, Ipswich and District Rifle Club, which were involved in competitive target shooting. The 700-yard (640 m) firing mound was about 35 metres (38 yd) from the railway station with the targets 700 yards (640 m) away (approx 27.6057°S 152.8755°E / -27.6057; 152.8755 (Redbank Rifle Club (targets))).[9] During World War II, there was a large military camp and training area at the range with up to 6,000 Australian and American troops.[10] The development of the Ipswich Motorway reduced the length of the rifle range which led to the relocation of the Ipswich and District Rifle Club to South Ripley in 1972.[11][12]

The Redbank Railway Workshops has been operating in the suburb since 1958.

The current Redbank Plaza Library was opened in 1998 and had a major refurbishment in 2010.[13]

In the 2016 census, Redbank had a population of 1,834 people. Redbank had an unemployment rate of 14.5%, more than double the Australian unemployment rate of 6.9%.[1]

Redbank State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 9 Brisbane Road (27.6029°S 152.8645°E / -27.6029; 152.8645 (Redbank State School)).[14][15] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 184 students with 16 teachers (13 full-time equivalent) and 19 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).[16]

There are no secondary schools in Redbank. The nearest government secondary school is Bellbird Park State Secondary College in neighbouring Bellbird Park to the south.[3]

Redbank Plaza is a shopping centre at 1 Collingwood Drive (27.6055°S 152.8679°E / -27.6055; 152.8679 (Redbank Plaza shopping centre)).[17][18] It has supermarkets, department stores, a cinema complex and many speciality stores.[19]

Ipswich City Council operates a public library in Redbank at Level 3 Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre.[20]

The Redbank-Collingwood Park Sport complex, accessed from Collingwood Drive (27.6050°S 152.8720°E / -27.6050; 152.8720 (Redbank-Collingwood Park Sports Complex)) has a soccer field, netball, volleyball, tennis and basketball courts.[21][22]

Redbank Memorial Reserve in Bridge Street (27.5997°S 152.8750°E / -27.5997; 152.8750 (Redbank Memorial Reserve)) has a number of war memorials, most of which have been relocated from other sites in the area.[23][24]

There are a number of other parks in the area:[25]

• Broadleaf Parade Park (27.6247°S 152.8798°E / -27.6247; 152.8798 (Broadleaf Parade Park))[21]
• Desborough Park (27.6224°S 152.8731°E / -27.6224; 152.8731 (Desborough Park))[21]

• Goupong Park (27.6080°S 152.8713°E / -27.6080; 152.8713 (Goupong Park))[21]

• Hillier Street Transmission Easement (27.6114°S 152.8808°E / -27.6114; 152.8808 (Hillier Street Transmission Easement))[21]

• Pan Pacific Peace Gardens, McAuliffe Street (27.5995°S 152.8807°E / -27.5995; 152.8807 (Pan Pacific Peace Gardens))[21]

• Tofa Mamao A Samoa Park, Kruger Parade (27.6160°S 152.8713°E / -27.6160; 152.8713 (Tofa Mamao A Samoa Park))[21][26]

Redbank railway station provides access to regular Queensland Rail City network services to Brisbane CBD, Ipswich and Rosewood. The Redbank train station has a Queensland Police Service Rail Squad stationed on platform 2 near the ticket office.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Redbank, Queensland.

• "Redbank". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.