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The area now known as Northgate East was opened up for housing soon after World War 1, under the name Oates' Estate. Until the time around the Second World War, houses were still sparsely scattered throughout the area. With the housing boom after the war, all the spare land was gradually taken up.
Before European settlement, Cannery Creek was just a chain of waterholes. This small natural water course is remembered as once being a clear stream with white water lilies growing below the vehicular bridge which carried what was then Northgate Road (now Earnshaw Road). The bridge was very low and flooded after heavy rain. Once the Golden Circle Cannery was built, this bridge was reconstructed at a higher level.
The 'creek' was a haven for local children who would paddle along it when the tide was up, on any craft that would support them.
After the cannery was established on the creek's northern bank in 1947, the fetid smell of pineapple wastes flushed into the creek and dominated the locality. Other local businesses along the watercourse at this time also used it as an alternative rubbish dump.
It quickly became a constructed waterway simply for drainage purposes. Until the Kedron Brook Floodway was constructed in the late 1970s, mangroves only grew as far upstream as Nudgee Road. High tides now push salt water much further upstream, resulting in a large mangrove colony growing to the railway line.
The creek had previously been unofficially known as Cannery Drain. Some State Government and Council records showed its name to be Lagoon Creek, a name seemingly no locals had ever heard. The plan to formally name the small waterway as "Cannery Creek" was finalised in 2000.
In 1948 local residents established the Northgate East Progress Association (NEPA) which worked tirelessly to improve the area. After improved drainage overcame the problem of industrial wastes in the creek, a park was established and maintained.
Originally known as NEPA (Northgate East Progress Association) Park, in 1998 it was renamed Progress Park.
During the 1950s, eight basketball courts were laid out to serve as the home for Norths Basketball Club, until it later moved to Downey Park. Regular tournaments drew competitors from throughout South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
After many fund raising events by the Association, Progress Hall was built in 1957. A lending library was operated from the hall each Saturday from 9am to 11am. The Progress Association closed down in 1990, but the hall still functions as a community resource and meeting hall for groups including the local Neighbourhood Watch.
A unique feature of Progress Park is the sculpture garden which was established in 1993 as a project fostered by Access Arts. The first benches in the park were donated by local residents as memorials to Progress Association members. Similarly, the avenue of trees along Patterson Parade have each been planted in remembrance of neighbours who have passed away.
STANLEY RICHARDSON PLACE - Not far from Progress Park on Oates Pde, is Stanley Richardson Place. This small park was named in honour of one of the foundation and long standing members of the Progress Association.
For many years the park's only facility was a well used bus shelter. In 1999, the Northgate East Neighbourhood Watch group, local residents and Cr Kim Flesser (Northgate Ward) conducted a community tree planting in the park.
NORTHGATE TREESCAPES PROJECT - During 1999 and 2000, the Brisbane City Council conducted a tree planting project in Northgate East. 2000 trees were planted on footpaths, in business premises and in residents' yards.
The project was designed to provide both a better visual amenity and better environment to the suburb. It's expected that the boulevard of Golden Penda trees planted along Earnshaw Road will stand as the most significant reminder of this project.
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