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Albion Heritage Trail

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Discover Albion’s heritage on a self-guided tour. Explore the area’s war, industrial and commercial history.

About the Albion Heritage Trail

Embark on a journey through a range of places and events that have helped shape Albion's history.

You’ll learn about the area’s:

  • war-time activity 
  • early European settlement
  • prominence as an industrial centre of the past
  • commercial success, which is reflected in the historic Sandgate Road buildings.

There are 18 points of interest along the Albion Heritage Trail. 

The trail begins at the Albion Hotel on Sandgate Road, leads up the hill to Whytecliffe and heads down to Crosby Park. It weaves through historic suburban streets and travels back along Sandgate Road.

Albion Heritage Trail map

The trail begins at the Albion Hotel on Sandgate Road and finishes at 336 Sandgate Road, a former State Butcher’s shop that’s listed as a local heritage place.

information outline

Note

Some sections of this 2.7-km trail are steep and may not be accessible for people with limited mobility.

For addresses of all trail stops and the suggested route between stops, download the trail guide.

Points of interest

300 Sandgate Road, Albion

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The Albion Hotel

Albion Hotel, Brisbane, c. 1866, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
The Albion Hotel was established in 1864 and the suburb is believed to have been named after it.

60 Hudson Road, Albion

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Albion Flour Mill

View of the Albion Flour Mill, Queensland, c. 1930, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
The historic flour mill that was built by the Gillespie Brothers in 1931, was tragically destroyed by fire in November 2013.

21 Birkbeck Street, Albion

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Dunaverty Decorative detailing on Dunaverty, Albion, Undated, (Brisbane City Council)
About this stop
One of the unusual features of this 1880s house is the personalised detailing throughout the house that reflects its first owner’s Scottish background.

436 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Hampton Court

Hampton Court, Clayfield, in Sunday Mail 10 July 1938, (National Library of Australia)
About this stop
This set of 1938 flats is a rare example of Functionalist architecture in Brisbane.

469 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Highlands

Highlands, a residence in Albion, Brisbane, 1930, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
This is one of the earliest remaining houses in the area and was constructed in 1869.

469 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Whytecliffe

Gracious residence, Whytecliffe, at Albion, 1930, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
This grand house was built in 1876 for Queensland’s first Crown Solicitor, Robert Little.

469 Sandgate Road, Albion

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O'Driscoll Hall

Sir James Duhig, Archbishop of Brisbane, Undated, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
Following the Catholic Church’s purchase of the property, St Columban’s Boys’ School was established in 1928 and this large brick building was constructed.

103 Crosby Road, Albion

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Crosby Park and Chinese Market

Joss House, Breakfast Creek, 1886, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
In the late 19th Century, beside what is now known as Crosby Park, were several Chinese Market Gardens that supplied the town with most of their fresh fruit and vegetables.

Adjacent to Crosby Park, Albion

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Albion Park Racecourse

Looking from Toorak Road, Hamilton, over Albion Racecourse, Brisbane, 1920, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
Before the adjacent racecourse was established, the site was used as an amusement park in the late 19th Century, known as the Breakfast Creek Sports Ground.

Crosby Park, 103 Crosby Road, Albion

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The US Chemical Warfare Service

Aerial photograph, Albion, 1946, (Brisbane City Council)
About this stop
During World War II, Crosby Park was used by the US Army Chemical Warfare Service.

Ellen Street, Albion

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Ellen Street Workers' Cottage

Boy and girl walking up Lever Street, Albion, Brisbane, c. 1910, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
Ellen Street is one of Albion’s most historic streets with a streetscape of small workers’ cottages built in the late 1880s.

12 Gore Street, Albion

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The Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Lodge Hall (MUIOOF)

Industry and Workers’ Cottages, Albion, 1908, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
As a benevolent society, the MUIOOF provided financial assistance to its members and their dependants in times of great need.

201 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Stephan's Saddlery

Horse-drawn deliveries, Albion Bakery, Albion, Brisbane, c. 1925, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
CA Stephan established his successful saddlery business on this site circa 1895 which continued to manufacture and sell horse-related products here well into the 1950s.

297 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Albion Building

Albion Corner, Albion, 1909, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
The Albion Building was constructed in 1927 at a time when Albion was experiencing an era of growth and prosperity.

299 Sandgate Road, Albion Qld 4010

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Wyllie's Buildings Alderman JR Wyllie, 1913, (Brisbane City Council)
About this stop
This attractive brick building was built between 1910 and 1911 for successful Albion hardware retailer, JR Wyllie & Sons.

349 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Albion Post Office

Architectural drawings, Albion, New Post and Telegraph Office, Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways, 1924, (National Archives of Australia)
About this stop
This building was once the Albion Post Office and was constructed between 1925 and 1926.

344 Sandgate Road, Albion

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Albion Public Hall

Albion Public Hall, Brisbane, 1909, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
Built in 1887, this public hall became the centre for Albion’s social events and entertainment.

336 Sandgate Road, Albion

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State Butcher shop

Shops in Albion, Brisbane, 1909, (State Library of Queensland)
About this stop
In 1917 this shop became one of the first State Butcher shops in Queensland, a government scheme intended to stabilise prices of household staples.