Karana Downs suburb profile

Karana Downs is a rural/residential suburb 22 km south-west of central Brisbane. Located in the foothills of the D’Aguilar Ranges, Karana Downs has a glorious bushland setting but still within commuting distance of Brisbane. Bounded on its west and north by Mt Crosby Road and on its east and south by the Brisbane River.

Aboriginal people once inhabited areas in Karana Downs and they had ceremonial grounds on the slopes of Mt Elphinstone and at the foothills of the D’Aguilar Range, near Barnes Hill and in a bend of the Kholo Creek, where large numbers of axe heads and sharpening stones have been discovered.

Mount Crosby State School opened in 1882 to cater to the educational needs of children from farming and timber getting families working on the land and in the sawmill on the Brisbane River Flats, near Pocket Creek, now Karana Downs. In 1892 the Waterworks Pumping Station opened and in 1984 a new school was built in Karana Downs which retained the name of the Mt Crosby State School.

The first stage of the residential subdivision involved the sale of 500 hectares in 1973. Karana Downs North being created from farming land owned by George Holt in the mid 1800s. Formerly part of Ipswich, the residents lobbied in 1990 for integration with the Brisbane City Council and in 1998 the Queensland Electoral Commission rezoned the suburb.

People looking for a more serene lifestyle have made Karana Downs home. With the Brisbane River meandering through the suburb and a bridge linking residents with the Warrego Highway and Ipswich Motorway, acreage properties in the suburb have an enviable location. The majority of homes in Karana Downs are owner-occupied many with direct access to the river or golf course, confirming the area’s attractiveness for families.

The wide open spaces of the area ensure that residents have an active outdoor life. In beautiful Kookaburra Park you will find a boat ramp for water skiing and other water activities, this section of the Brisbane River currently forming part of the Brisbane River Canoe Trail.