Scarborough is a coastal suburb on the Redcliffe Peninsula in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Scarborough had a population of 9,178 people.
Along with its neighbouring coastal suburbs on the Redcliffe Peninsula, the suburb is a popular recreational destination within the Brisbane metropolitan area. Scarborough Beach is a safe swimming beach, with an adjacent playground.
Land sub-division occurred when Scarborough was part of Humpy Bong, Redcliffe. In August 1878 land in the new marine township of Scarborough went to auction, postponed some months until completion of the Scarborough Hotel, in order that perspective purchasers could obtain accommodation in the township while examining the allotments. Advertisements described the beach as "unsurpassed in Australia, having splendid stretches of pure hard sand, perfectly innocent of mud or mangrove. .... a distinctive feature at this northern or Scarborough end should be recognised in the highly interesting chain of crescent-shaped bays, the waters of which wash the township cliffs, affording sheltered coves for boating purposes..."
In 1882, the proprietors of the re-surveyed town of Scarborough offered for auction, with no reserve, the remaining 250 allotments, advertising in great detail the attractions of the area. These included the "abundance of schnapper, whiting, turtle, crabs, oysters, etc awaiting capture." In 1884, land from Queen's Beach "adjoins to and forms part of the property reserved for the Hon S.W. Griffith [Samuel Griffith] for the purpose of building a seaside residence" was advertised. In 1886, land from " late marine residence of Dr Hobbs"- his house standing on three of the 295 allotments - was offered for sale. Free steamer travel, departing from Howard Smith wharves was provided on the day, Easter Monday, 16 April 1886.
In 1900–1901, allotments in the Moreton Bay Estate were advertised for sale. In the 1920s, further sales, with land north of the Redcliffe Jetty , in the Walsh Estate , and the Sea Breeze Estate occurred, with Silvesters, a house and land agent at Adelaide Street, Brisbane, arranging sales into the 1930s, producing an annotated map showing the location of vacant land and the asking prices. However, it was with the opening in 1935 of the Hornibrook Highway, linking the area north of Hay's Inlet to Brisbane, that lead to the rapid growth in this area.
Scarborough State School opened on 9 March 1925 with 30 students.
On Saturday 11 December 1937, a stump-capping ceremony took place for the Scarborough Methodist Church. The new church building was relocated from Deagon where it had served as a Sunday school hall. It was officially opened on Sunday 9 January 1938 by Reverend J. A. Pratt. On 28 August 1948 the foundation stone for a new Scarborough Methodist Church was laid by Reverend Hubert Hedley Trigge, the master of Kings College at the University of Queensland, with the new church building being officially opening on 1 April 1950 by Trigge, with the former church building becoming the church hall. The church is now used by the Scarborough Samoan Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
St Bernadette's Catholic Church opened at 28 Mein Street (27°12′25″S 153°06′45″E / 27.2070°S 153.11245°E) in 1946. The architect was Frances Leo Cullen. The church was sold in 1998.
St Bernadette's Catholic School opened in 1948; it was operated by the Brigidine Sisters.
Soubirous College, a Catholic secondary school, opened on 5 February 1951.
The first St Anne's Anglican Church Hall opened at 190–192 Mein Street on Sunday 1 April 1951. Funds to build the church hall were raised in part by the sales of a book "Scarborough Calling" by Cannon William Perry French Morris. The foundation stone of the current St Anne's Anglican Church was laid by Archbishop Philip Strong on Sunday 2 November 1969, with the new church officially opening on 22 November 1970. The 1951 church hall remains on the site.
Scarborough Baptist Church opened in 1952. The Baptist church was at 151 Turner Street (27°11′54″S 153°06′44″E / 27.1983°S 153.1123°E), and, although still extant, it is now in private ownership.
De La Salle College, a Catholic primary and secondary school, opened on 4 February 1955.
In 1970, the senior years at Soubirous College and De Le Salle College were combined to create Frawley College, named after parish priest Monsignor Bartholomew Frawley. On 24 May 1995 the following Catholic schools combined to form Southern Cross Catholic College:
The suburb used to act as a gateway to Moreton Island via the Combie Trader barge, but this service ceased in July 2008 due to matters with the terminal and landing areas.
In the 2011 census, Scarborough had a population of 7,986 people.
In the 2016 census, Scarborough had a population of 8,705 people, 53.3% female and 46.7% male. The median age of the Scarborough population was 49 years, 11 years above the national median of 38. 68.7% of people living in Scarborough were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 7.5%, New Zealand 5.4%, South Africa 1.1%, Scotland 0.9%, Philippines 0.8%. 87.8% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.7% German, 0.4% Spanish, 0.3% French, 0.3% Italian, 0.3% Russian.
In the 2021 census, Scarborough had a population of 9,178 people.
History info courtesy of Wikipedia
