New Farm, Queensland
New Farm (postcode: 4005 ) is an inner city suburb in Brisbane, Australia, located on a peninsula in the Brisbane River to the east of the central business district. At its north-western end it borders the suburb of Fortitude Valley. At the south-eastern end of the peninsula is the historic New Farm Park. The suburb derives its name from the fact that the peninsula was used as a farming area in the early years of Brisbane's History. Brunswick Street is the main street running northwest-southeast up the centre of the peninsula. To the south of Brunswick Street the suburb is characterised by large ornate Queenslander style houses, shady streets lined with large trees and tall apartment buildings, predominantly along the river. More modest Queenslander style houses dominate the north of Brunswick Street where there are fewer large trees and apartments.
From 1885 to 1897 New Farm's transport needs were served by horse drawn trams, which operated along Brunswick Street, as far as Barker Street. In 1897 the horse trams were replaced with electric trams and the line extended, with trams ultimately running as far as Macquarie Street and down to the river at New Farm Park. The electric trams ceased operation on 13 April 1969, since then the suburb has been served by diesel buses.
At the river end of Brunswick Street a small cross river ferry operated by Brisbane Transport links New Farm with Norman Park. New Farm can also be accessed via two CityCat stops (operated by Brisbane Transport) - at Sydney Street and at New Farm Park. The suburb is also serviced by several bus routes.
There are three main commercial areas, two on Brunswick street (one towards the northwest end near Fortitude Valley, the other near New Farm Park, called 'Merthyr Village') and the newer James Street precinct. The former electric tramway power station, located at the eastern end of New Farm Park, has been converted into a community arts and performance space called 'The Powerhouse'.
Like many Brisbane suburbs, the area has experienced much 'gentrification' and 'infill development' throughout the 1990s and the years since 2000. However, New Farm maintains its diversity, being known for its long established Italian community and its more recently established gay community. It is also known for its many restaurants and cafes and notorious for illegal street prostitution after dark along the latter end of Brunswick Street .
