Rochedale is an outer southern suburb of the City of Brisbane. It is 17 kilometres south-east of the Brisbane central business. Rochedale is a unique suburb being so close to the city centre, having a small population and being a small piece of the country with its farms, hatchery and nurseries, right on the city's doorstep. It is easily accessible to both the South-East Freeway and Gateway Motorways. There are currently no shopping centres in the suburb. Explorers often passed through or near Rochedale during the era of convict settlement from 1824. After free settlement was allowed in 1842, Upper Mt Gravatt and Beenleigh began to be settled and places like Slacks Creek, Pimpama, Loganlea and Loganholme existed, but Rochedale was still just a part of the area known as Eight Mile Plains. It was not until 1865 that the first settlers started farming the area's rich alluvial soil for farming, vineyards and fruit growing. The area takes its name from the Roche family, who emigrated from Ireland to Australia in 1860 and settled in the region. The family built a homestead they called Rochedale in 1868. The population was minimal until the early 1900s, when many market gardens were established. After World War 1, the land was no longer used for vineyards but for small crops, pineapples, tomatoes, peas and beans. Underground bores were used for irrigation and the produce taken to the Roma Street markets. Eventually, the Roche family began grazing dairy cattle on their land and started the area's first milk run delivering milk to the whole Rochedale area. In the 1920's land was sold for around two pounds an acre. Chokos were grown in the area and so many were grown the area was known as the "Home of the Choko". During the 1960s residential development took off in the area. One local builder, Jack Davey was responsible for some of the new estates off Rochedale Road between Underwood Road and Priestdale Road. Some of the street names are family names such as Rhonda Street and Davey Street. The family lived in the area until the mid 1990s.The population was relatively stable since the early 1990s. The suburb of Rochedale was still mainly populated by a few families on large blocks. These families in some cases were descendants of the original settlers in the area. Land was still bring used mainly for market gardens, nurseries and farms. In 2002, large parcels of land along Rochedale Road were offered for sale, and subdivision of these parcels was forecast for the near future. Developers have also purchased land along Miles-Platting and Gardiner Roads for future housing development. In 2007, a Land Sales Office was opened in Gardiner Rd and building has commenced in 2 estates along Gardner Rd. This will see a tremendous influx of families to smaller allotments in this subdivision, with more planned for the future. From 2009, Rochedale began to experience growth and in the course of 15-20 years, the population will grow from 1,200 residents to over 17,000. This is due to 'The Rochedale Urban Community Development' where bush and farm lands have been approved by the Brisbane City Council to be turned into housing estates.