Cannon Hill was originally inhabited by Murris, but they were "dispersed" by the Native Police and Brisbane Mounted Police in November 1861, around the time when European settlement began in the area. Some land was used by settlers for farming and grazing, but the area remained mostly bushland. The suburb is most likely named after Cannon Hill House, a residence formerly located on Wynnum Road. It was occupied by the Weedon family from its construction in 1867 until burning down in 1927. Thornhill Weedon named the house after two fallen trees which were said to have resembled a cannon. The Cleveland railway line was opened in 1889 going through Cannon Hill to Cleveland. At the same time blocks of land near the station were offered for sale. Cannon Hill State School opened on 16 August 1915. In 1931, Brisbane's sale yards for livestock were relocated from Newmarket to Cannon Hill adjacent to the abattoir. The sale yards at Cannon Hill were described as "a paradise as compared to the old yards at Newmarket" and "possibly the best in the Southern Hemisphere". Specifically the yards had been specially constructed to prevent the bruising of cattle and the meat could be produced more hygienically for both local consumption and export. Blessed Oliver Plunkett School opened in January 1947 with an initial enrolment of 90 students. It was operated by the Presentation Sisters, a Roman Catholic order of nuns. When Oliver Plunkett was canonised on 12 October 1975 by Pope Paul VI, the school was renamed Saint Oliver Plunkett School. In December 1986 the involvement of the Presentation Sisters in the school ceased and a lay principal was appointed. St Boniface's Anglican Church Room was opened circa 1952. It closed circa 1964. In 1994, a Cannon Hill paddock became one of the first places where Hendra virus was transmitted between bats and horses. The infected mare was taken to a training complex, starting an outbreak that eventually killed horse trainerVic Rail. The paddock has since been turned into housing and parkland in Murarrie.
Heritage listings
Cannon Hill has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
845 Wynnum Road: Cannon Hill State School
Education
Cannon Hill State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at 845 Wynnum Road. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 264 students with 23 teachers and 18 non-teaching staff. St Oliver Plunkett School is a Catholic primary school for boys and girls at 17 Beauvardia Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 505 students with 34 teachers and 20 non-teaching staff. Cannon Hill Anglican College is a private primary and secondary school for boys and girls at the corner of Junction and Krupp Roads. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 1,181 students with 99 teachers and 57 non-teaching staff.
The recorded 5,533 residents in Cannon Hill. The median age of the population was 34; 4 years younger than the Australian average. 68.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 3.9% and England 3.3%. 78.9% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin at 2.2%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 32.6%, Catholic 27.2% and Anglican 11.6%.
