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Darra is a Brisbane suburb known for its high migrant population. It is one of the older suburbs and lies about 14 kilometres southwest of Brisbane. The houses are mainly older-style weatherboard and chamferboard homes built in the 1940s and 1950s. In the last few years, a property developer bought a vast tract of vacant government land. As a result, there are now many new homes and townhouses built in Darra, which has increased its population and its geographical boundaries.

[edit] Location

The suburb is conveniently located on the Ipswich train line which provides an incentive for people to settle there, as travel to Brisbane is relatively fast and easy.

Surrounding suburbs include Seventeen Mile Rocks, Oxley, Willawong, Sinnamon Park, Sumner, Richlands and Mt Ommaney.

The Darra is right next door to the Centenary suburbs and conveniently located near the Mount Ommaney shopping centre, with its many retail and commercial facilities. The Centenary Freeway and the Ipswich Motorway provide convenient access to the Brisbane CBD.

[edit] Transport

Darra railway station provides access to regular Citytrain services to Brisbane, Ipswich and Rosewood via Ipswich.

[edit] Attractions

Darra has many Vietnamese restaurants and grocery stores. Opposite the railway station in Railway parade there are three Vietnamese grocery stores, and a Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant named Cam Rahn, colloquially known to locals as the "Welcome welcome my friend" restaurant. This is due to the restaurant owner's greeting and speech style. Nearby there are three other Vietnamese/Chinese restaurants.

[edit] Schools

Darra has two primary schools, one state and one Catholic private school. Both occupy blocks fronted by Darra Station Rd and Scotts rd.

[edit] Urban planning

Overall plans include the further redevelopment of the industrial park, which should provide an injection of capital into the community and further upgrade local infrastructure and community facilities. The Brisbane City Council has been active in rejuvenating the streetscapes of the Darra suburb as well as neighbouring recreational and parkland facilities in Jindalee and Sinnamon Park.

The Brisbane City Council has recently completed a Suburban Centre Improvement Project in the shopping area on Darra Station Road. Darra has a state primary school in Winslow Street, and a Catholic school, near the station.

[edit] Census data

According to the 2001 Census, 3,698 people living in the area with a median age of 33. The median individual income was between $400 and $699 per week. Of all occupied private dwellings, 62% were either fully owned or being purchased; 30% were being rented. In 2006, 21.4% spoke Vietnamese,4.1% spoke Arabic, 2.5% spoke Samoan and 51.8 spoke only English with various other minority groups speaking other languages^[2].

REIQ research shows that the median house price in the suburb for the financial year 2005-06 was $310,000.

[edit] See also

• List of Brisbane suburbs

[edit] References

Coordinates: 27°34′S 152°58′E / -27.567, 152.967