MacGregor, one of several residential neighbourhoods named after notable Queenslanders around Mount Gravatt, is 11 kilometres south-east of the city centre of Brisbane. The neighbourhood was given its name in 1967 as a tribute to Sir William MacGregor, the Queensland governor from 1909 to 1914. From 1887 to 1898, MacGregor’s considered a wealthy neighbourhood with two-story residences and a scattering of opulent mansions costing several million dollars and featuring well-kept lawns.
One of Queensland’s top performing public schools Macgregor State High School is located between Upper Mount Gravatt, Robertson, Runcorn, Eight Mile Plains, and Sunnybank.
With institutions like Griffith University (Nathan and Mount Gravatt campuses) and The Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists right nearby, graduates don’t have far to go to further their education.
Residents of MacGregor believed that their neighbourhood would match or surpass St Lucia because of its pricey brick veneer homes, swimming pools, and forward-thinking attitude. At the time, Griffith University was being built nearby in Nathan. Although things turned out differently, shopping facilities are unquestionably better. There are two warehouse/showroom centres in Kessels Road (1988, 2000) and Sunnybank Plaza, which is next to Garden City’s south-west corner. Transport across is also better via the motorway and the Gateway Motorway a few kilometres to the east.
The primary retail attraction for inhabitants of Macgregor is Westfield Garden City, which is located on the Upper Mt Gravatt side of the suburb boundary and serves as a significant hub for public transportation (it has a bus station).
On Kessels Road, there is a park and ride facility that serves the bus terminal.
The Kessels Homemaker Centre, The New Harvey Norman Domayne Centre which houses everything from a Super Amart to a dance studio, is just a short stroll from the park and ride.