History buffs will surely enjoy a trip to the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre. For locals who just want to do something free with the family whilst learning something new, a trip to the centre can be a perfect family day out in Eagle Farm. To get the most out of your visit, here are some of the best things to do at the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre.
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Explore the walking trail
Did you know that a visit to the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre means you get to visit three heritage sites in one trip?
When you join a group down the walking trail, you will start at the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory trail. Here, you will find a replica of the original fence and gates made of eucalypt poles measuring 5.2 metres high which doubled as both an enclosure and defensive measures.
Next up is the Allison Engine Testing Stands, a heritage-listed engine test stand that was built by the USAAF 81st Air Depot Group and the Allied Works Council in 1942. At this place, locally refurbished aircraft engines were tested during the Second World War.
The heritage trail to the south-west features Hangar 7, a hangar or a closed building structure to hold aircraft. Located fronting Terminal Drive to the south on the site of the old Brisbane Airport, Hangar 7 is a timber truss igloo structure with ribbed sheet metal cladding. This Eagle Farm structure is the last surviving Second World War timber truss igloo hangar.
Aside from a view of the outside of the Hangar 7 building with interpretive displays, it also features a re-creation of the Japanese Zero’s first flight over Brisbane.
Participate in the audio tour
When you visit TradeCoast Central Heritage Park you will be able to connect to these audio tours, with free wi-fi available for your smartphone. There will be three audio tours on site. The first tour is an overview of three heritage sites. The second is about the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site and the Allison Engine Testing Stands, and the last one is about Hangar 7.
Watch a short film
The Interpretive Centre incorporates a range of interactive portals including a cinema room with a 10 minute, HD movie providing insight into the early explorers, the daily life of inhabitants (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples) and how the environment has changed since the early 1820s.
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Bring a picnic
Whilst you can have a meal at one of the food outlets at the Interpretative Centre, you can also have a picnic there with your group. There’s plenty of parking available and room to spread out over the green grass of the park which covers what was once a Convict Factory, a women’s prison, and a busy airport runway.
Unwind
The site, featuring the women’s prison and the factory also has an expansive viewing balcony overlooking the whole site and its attractions.
“Huge open space full of history. Very enlightening. Such a wide use over the years. Well worth a visit,” said local guide Ben Waters.
The centre’s opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more details about visiting the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
