Forest Lake, Queensland

Forest Lake
Brisbane, Queensland
Population 22,426 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 4078
Location 19 km (12 mi) from Brisbane GPO
LGA(s) City of Brisbane
State electorate(s) Electoral district of Algester
Electoral district of Inala
Federal Division(s) Division of Oxley
Suburbs around Forest Lake:
Richlands Inala Doolandella
Ellen Grove Forest Lake Pallara
Greenbank Greenbank Heathwood

Forest Lake was the first Master Planned Community within the municipality of Brisbane, Queensland. It has won numerous awards for its design and had a population of 20,900 residents, as of February 2006. Delfin, the developer of Forest Lake, was absorbed into Lend Lease in 2001. Now operating as Delfin Lend Lease, they are developing the adjacent Springfield Lakes Master Planned Community.

Forest Lake was considered instrumental in the creation of affordable housing within Australia. The development was the first modern day community to contain small lot product, a first during its time. The master planned community contained retail, commercial, educational, residential, retirement, and recreational uses. The entire community is linked by an extensive network of pedestrian and cycle paths, which are integrated into the large open space network.

Forest Lake lies within the Brisbane City Council municipality and is approximately 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the Brisbane central business district. It adjoins the suburbs of Doolandella, Inala, Richlands and Heathwood It successfully mixes wildlife with residential development.

The Forest Lake Shopping Centre (formerly Forest Lake Village Shopping Centre) is located in Forest Lake.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Forest Lake recorded a population of 22,426 people, 51.9% female and 48.1% male.

The median age of the Forest Lake population was 33 years of age, 4 years below the Australian median.

61% of people living in Forest Lake were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 7.9%, England 4.7%, Vietnam 3.1%, India 1.8%, South Africa 1.6%.

73.6% of people spoke only English at home; the next most popular languages were 5% Vietnamese, 1.6% Samoan, 1.4% Sinhalese, 1.3% Mandarin, 1.2% Hindi.

History

A homestead was built by Henry Farley in the late 1870s on a site that is now Homestead Park. It was a substantial building of two-stories and timber construction. In the 1930s it was destroyed by fire, although it has been said that termites caused a great deal of damage to the structure beforehand. In 1881 the homestead and surrounding property were purchased by Michael' Stumpy' Durack. The surrounding area became part of "Archerfield Station".

During World War II, the Forest Lake area was used as an encampment by American soldiers.

In 1990, construction of the master planned community commenced by Delfin Lend Lease. In 1991, Forest Lake was officially launched by the then Premier of Queensland, Wayne Goss.[2] The development lasted until 2006, when the last block of land was sold.

By 1998 the suburb had 10,100 residents.[2]

The master planned community which was created by Delfin Lend Lease was so successful, that in the latter years of the development, up to 40% of new homes sold were purchased by existing residents. (David Keir, Project Director 1996-2000)

Villages

The Forest Lake development consists of a series of neighborhoods known as villages. Each village was marketed separately and features an entry statement. These villages are; Woodvale Village, Parkland Village, Homestead Village, Lavender Court, Banksia Village, Pine Village, Lakeside Village, Settlers Village, The Chase, The Woods, Brooklands, Hillbrook Village, The Point, Greentree Pocket, Jetty Walk, Centennial Park, College Park, Creekwood, Creekwood Pocket, Chain of Ponds, Jubilee Crossing, The Cascades, Sanctuary Pocket, Sanctuary Point and The Peninsula. There is also a retirement village called The Terraces and an apartment precinct adjoining the Forest Lake Shopping Centre called Prima on Grand.

The Lake

Panorama of Forest Lake

The centrepiece of Forest Lake is an $8.9 million, 10.9 hectare man-made recreational lake, with a perimeter of 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi). $1.8 million was spent on the dam wall, outlet structure and boulevard embankment. It has an average depth of 2.6 with a 300 to 600 mm around the safety ledge, deepening to 4 metres in the centre. The volume of the lake is 310,000 cubic metres or 269 Olympic sized swimming pools. Surrounding the lake is 3.5 kilometres of pedestrian and cycleways and 8 hectares of adjacent parkland. It was completed and opened in 1994.[2]

Algae Issues

In 2011, the lake experienced a blue-green algae (cyanobacterial) bloom, causing some concern to local residents. A local councillor advised people to not enter the water due to the high toxicity levels from the algae bloom.[3]

Awards

Sport

There are an abundance of sporting complexes and beautiful fields around the suburb. Sports include: Australian rules football, rugby union, netball, baseball, basketball, tennis, swimming, water polo, triathlon, cricket and athletics.

Education

There are five schools in the suburb of Forest Lake

Amenities

Forest Lake is serviced by a weekly visit of the Brisbane City Council's mobile library service at the Forest Lake Shopping Centre.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Forest Lake (Brisbane City) (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 Mynott, Wicki (2009). 150 years: Richlands, Inala & neighbouring suburbs in Brisbane's South West. Richlands, Inala & Suburbs History Group. pp. 110–122.
  3. ↑ "Algae in bloom: green scum coating Forest Lake". The Satellite. APN News & Media. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Mobile library services". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 3 June 2014.

Media related to Forest Lake, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 27°37′S 152°58′E / 27.617°S 152.967°E / -27.617; 152.967

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