Hemmant is a port-side suburb in Brisbane’s east, about 15 km from the CBD, and the stop worth making is the Anning Monument, a heritage-listed Boer War memorial. Fleming Road Park has a canoe ramp, and Hemmant Quarry Reserve, the bushland most people mean when they say “Hemmant”, sits on the Tingalpa side of the boundary.
It is a working suburb, with industry north of the rail lines and houses to the south, so think quiet local stops rather than a busy main street. If you are after a longer day out nearby, see Tingalpa.
Hemmant Quarry Reserve (on the Tingalpa side)
Hemmant Quarry Reserve is on the Tingalpa side of the boundary, right next to Hemmant. OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia both place it in Tingalpa, although it is commonly called a Hemmant reserve. Brisbane City Council names it among the bushland reserves where you can look for koalas in their natural habitat.
Council’s rule for every bushland reserve is to keep your dog on a leash unless you are in a dog off-leash area. For tracks, facilities and the current state of the reserve, use council’s bushland reserves page and its map, or call council on 07 3403 8888.
The Anning Monument
On Hemmant Tingalpa Road, at the corner of Boonoo Street, the Anning Monument stands in a large park beside a grassed playing area and a group of children’s swings. It is also called the Hemmant Boer War Memorial and is publicly accessible.
It remembers Lance Corporal John Harry Anning of the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, who was killed in action at Koffiefontein, South Africa, on 6 August 1901, aged eighteen. Friends and comrades raised the money by public subscription, and it was unveiled on 14 March 1903.
The monument is a sandstone base and pedestal topped by an obelisk, carved with symbols including a shroud and crossed rifles, and designed and built by Brisbane monumental mason William Busby. It was first sited at the junction of Lytton and Hemmant Roads and moved in 1968 after a car struck it. It joined the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Fleming Road Park and the canoe ramp
Fleming Road Park, which council’s park data lists under Tingalpa, has a canoe ramp onto the water, a launch point if you bring a kayak or canoe. Check the water and tide before you head out.
Other parks in Hemmant
Brisbane City Council’s park data lists several parks inside the Hemmant boundary, including Hemmant Recreation Reserve at 50 Doughboy Parade, which covers about 28 hectares, plus Doughboy Parade Park, Oberon Esplanade Park and Bill Benham Park. Council does not list their facilities in that data, so look at the signs on arrival or ask council before planning a picnic around them.
Planning your visit
- Cost: free. The monument, the parks and the bushland reserve are public spaces with no entry fee.
- Dogs: on a leash in bushland reserves, unless you are in a dog off-leash area.
- Combining stops: the monument and Fleming Road Park are on different roads, so plan to drive between them.
- Before you go: council’s bushland reserves page and map are the place to check what is open or changed.
A little Hemmant history
The suburb is named after William Hemmant, who represented the Bulimba electorate in parliament from 1873 to 1876. A seaside attraction, Queensport Aquarium, opened in 1889 and had closed by the late 1890s. The local school opened in 1864 as Bulimba State School, became Hemmant State School in 1876 and closed on 31 December 2010.
The suburb has several heritage-listed places beyond the Anning Monument, including the Hemmant Gun Battery, the Queensport Hotel, Hemmant Christian Community Church and the former United States Army Transmitting Station. Check access before you go, as visiting details for these were not confirmed.
Getting there and parking
Hemmant Quarry Reserve is about 14.5 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, and the Anning Monument about 16 km. Allow about 20 minutes to the reserve and about 25 minutes to the monument by car without traffic.
Hemmant railway station is on the Cleveland line. Plan a trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
Details can change, so check council’s bushland reserves page before you go.
Nearby
- Tingalpa – the suburb next door, where Hemmant Quarry Reserve and Fleming Road Park sit.
- Murarrie – another Brisbane east suburb close by.
- Wynnum – the bayside suburb to the north-east.
- Wynnum Wading Pool Park – a bayside park at Wynnum.
- Boxhead Park, Lota – a bayside park at Lota.
- Carindale – the shopping centre suburb to the south-west.
Browse more parks and history and landmarks in Brisbane.
You might also like
- Colleges Crossing (Chuwar)
- Logan Village
- Limestone Park (Eastern Heights)
Quick answers
What is there to do in Hemmant?
See the heritage-listed Anning Monument, launch a canoe from the ramp at Fleming Road Park and visit Hemmant Quarry Reserve, which is just over the boundary in Tingalpa.
Is Hemmant Quarry Reserve in Hemmant?
It is next door, on the Tingalpa side of the boundary, though it is often called a Hemmant reserve.
Can I take my dog to Hemmant Quarry Reserve?
Yes, on a leash. Council requires dogs to be on a leash in bushland reserves unless you are in a dog off-leash area.
Is the Anning Monument free to visit?
Yes. It stands in a public park and is publicly accessible.
How far is Hemmant from Brisbane CBD?
About 15 km by road, around 20 to 25 minutes by car without traffic. Hemmant station is on the Cleveland line.
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