The SLCA is an incorporated body funded from member contributions. It maintains this website, circulates a printed newsletter to the suburb, runs regular open meetings and liaises with our elected representatives at al levels of government. The SLCA sees itself as a forum and advocate for community advancement.

How to join

Membership fees are $15 a year per household. You can come along to a meeting and join, or send a cheque to Andrew Darbyshire, 49 Raglan Street, St Lucia, Q 4067.

Raison d’etre

St Lucia has a long tradition of community involvement and activism.

Developing into a suburb in the early part of the 20th century, St Lucia quickly developed a tight-knit social fabric. One primary school – Ironside State; one major employer – the University of Queensland; and a solitary position on a river peninsula have today come together to create a local community with a strong identity.

This particular community association was formed in 2002. It grew out of an urgent need for the community to respond to external pressures on the suburb, including the University of Queensland’s rapid development, the Brisbane City Council’s ambitions for a cross-river busway, and heightened interest from developers and investors following a long vein of property appreciation in the suburb.

Issues emerging from these demands have included: Student misbehaviour, particularly involving alcohol; parking and traffic problems; noise; contested land use; and the preservation of open space, vegetation and architecture.

In some streets, a tipping point approached in which properties with careless landlords/rental agents blighted the streetscape. The SLCA hopes that it has pushed that tipping point back toward a healthier equilibrium.

We don't take a nimby approach to local issues. We encourage better decisions by making sure the community, our elected representatives and other groups active in St Lucia have thought through all aspects of their decisions, and are properly informed. So for example, blanket statements like 'we support public transport/bike riders, therefore whatever we do that involves these things is great' isn't good enough. We want to know that the plan at hand actually works.