Rochedale, Queensland

Rochedale Brisbane, Queensland
Bush along Underwood Road, 2013
Rochedale
Coordinates	27°34′S 153°8′E / 27.567°S 153.133°E / -27.567; 153.133Coordinates: 27°34′S 153°8′E / 27.567°S 153.133°E / -27.567; 153.133
Population	1,092 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	4123
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Chandler Ward)
State electorate(s)	Mansfield
Federal Division(s)	Division of Bonner
Suburbs around Rochedale: Mansfield Mackenzie Burbank Wishart Rochedale Burbank Eight Mile Plains Rochedale South Priestdale

Rochedale is an outer southern suburb of the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is 17 kilometres (11 mi) south-east of the Brisbane central business district. At the 2011 Australian Census the suburb recorded a population of 1,092. The suburb's western boundary is partially aligned with the Gateway Motorway and Bulimba Creek.

During convict settlement, explorers passed through the region but it was not until 1865 that the first settlers started farming the area's rich alluvial soil. The area takes its name from the Roche family, who emigrated from Ireland to Australia in 1860 and settled in the region. The family built a homestead they called Rochedale in 1868. During the 1960s residential development took off in the area. One local builder, Jack Davey was responsible for some of the new estates off Rochedale Road between Underwood Road and Priestdale Road. Some of the street names are family names such as Rhonda Street and Davey Street. The family lived in the area until the mid 1990s. In 1981, the Redeemer Lutheran College was established.

The Rochedale dump began operations in 1991. A waste-to-energy facility has been generating electricity since 2004.

Rochedale State School was established at the intersection of Miles Platting Road and Rochedale Road in 1931. In previous elections, the controversy on whether a dump should be built in Rochedale or not featured heavily in some candidates' campaigns.

From 2009, Rochedale is expected to experience major growth from 1,200 residents to over 17,000 over the course of 15–20 years. This is due to 'The Rochedale Urban Community Development' where bush and farm lands have been approved by the Brisbane City Council to be turned into housing estates.

As Rochedale backs onto the Priest Gully a wildlife corridor has been set up to preserve the local flora and fauna.

In the 2011 census, the population of Rochedale was 1,092, 49.5% female and 50.5% male. The median age of the Rochedale population was 43 years, 6 years above the Australian median. 64.9% of people living in Rochedale were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 69.8%; the next most common countries of birth were Taiwan 3.8%, England 3.7%, New Zealand 3.5%, Italy 1.2%, United States of America 1.2%. 72.4% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 4.2% Mandarin, 1.6% Italian, 1.6% Greek, 1.5% Cantonese, 1% Punjabi.