Kuraby is an outer southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Kuraby had a population of 8,737 people.
The name "Kuraby" was officially gazetted on 16 August 1975 and derives from the local railway station name first used by the Railway Department in 1889, having previously been Spring Creek railway station. The name "Kuraby" refers to a creek near the railway station. Originally the name came from an aboriginal word meaning "a place of many springs".
The area of Kuraby was once known as Eight Miles Plains. Charles Baker was granted a Publican's Licence on 12 December 1865. The modern Glen Hotel now stands there. This was where Cobb & Co changed horses and the passengers were refreshed before continuing their journey to Beenleigh and further south.
The settlement of Kuraby began in 1860, when the Hollosons and Bakers cleared land and commenced farming. However, it was the opening of the Kuraby rail station on the South Coast railway line in 1885 that the name Kuraby came to be used (in preference to Eight Mile Plains or Spring Creek, the name then used to distinguish the area from Eight Mile Plains). The Spring Creek Township was advertised for sale in 1887 with 151 lots available.
The Duke and Duchess of York opened the new Parliament House, Canberra, in 1927. Four years later they toured Australia, and in the middle of their hectic schedule, one night's rest was arranged. The Royal Train was brought to the passing loop at Kuraby station and kept securely there with its pilot train. The timetable was re-arranged to enable them to have an un-interrupted evening. This event put the name of Kuraby on the map.
Kuraby State School was opened in 1928 and is situated within bushland surrounds.
St John's Anglican Church at 1410 Beenleigh Road (27°36′21″S 153°05′36″E / 27.6059°S 153.0934°E) was dedicated on 19 June 1960 by Archbishop Reginald Halse. It closed circa 1989. It was purchased in the early 1990s by the Islamic community and converted it into Kuraby Mosque.
Kuraby Special School opened in 1978.
On 21 September 2001, ten days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Kuraby Mosque was the subject of an arson attack, the first mosque in the world to be attacked as a consequence of the terrorist attacks. The mosque was rebuilt.
As at 2019, there is little evidence of agriculture as housing estates occupy the former farm land.
In the 2011 census, Kuraby had a population of 7,777 people, 51.4% female and 48.6% male. The median age of the Kuraby population was 33 years of age, 4 years below the Australian median. 50.8% of people living in Kuraby were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were India 4%, New Zealand 3.8%, South Africa 3.5%, China 2.6%, England 2.2%. 54.1% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 5.3% Mandarin, 5% Arabic, 4.1% Cantonese, 2.3% Hindi, 1.9% Urdu.
In the 2016 census, Kuraby had a population of 8,108 people.
In the 2021 census, Kuraby had a population of 8,737 people.
History info courtesy of Wikipedia
