of convicts (lime kilns dating back to 1870 are still evident on the river banks). Politician and judge Samuel Griffith built his house 'Merthyr' in the suburb in 1870. From 1885 to 1897 New Farm's transport needs were met by horse-drawn trams, which operated along Brunswick Street, as far as Barker Street. In 1897, the horse trams were replaced with electric trams and the line was extended, with trams ultimately running as far as Macquarie Street and down to the river at New Farm Park. The electric trams ceased operation on 13 April 1969. Since then the suburb has been served by diesel buses. New Farm State School was opened on 21 January 1901. On 29 November 1919, on what is now known as New Farm, 24 river frontage subdivided allotments between Merthyr Road and Sydney Street, were advertised to be auctioned by Cameron Bros Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction indicated that the home of Sir Samuel Griffith was adjacent to the advertised lots. On 24 April 1920, on what is now known as New Farm, 5 allotments on Welsby Street were advertised to be auctioned on 27 April 1920 at 11am by Cameron Bros Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction indicated that the lots were close to the new tramway. On 6 May 1920, on what is now known as new Farm, 5 residential sites and 2 cottages were advertised to be auctioned on Monday 10 May 1920 by Cameron Bros Auctioneers. A map advertising the auction indicated that the lots and cottages were located between St Clair House and Heal Street. In 1923, the Catholic Church purchased a house to celebrate mass. The Holy Spirit Church opened on 1 June 1930, enabling the Sisters of Mercy to open the Holy Spirit School on 7 July 1930 in the house. The house was replaced with a purpose-built school guilding costing £4,000. In September 1937 the new school guilding was blessed and opened by Archbishop of Brisbane, James Duhig. There was a marine base established in World War II and the suburb was home to many wealthy merchants and lawyers. Spastic Centre School opened on 12 February 1951. It was renamed New Farm Special School in 1974. It closed on 16 December 1994. New Farm developed a reputation in the late 1980s for street prostitution and as a drug-addled, low-rent culture depicted in Andrew McGahan's grunge novel Praise, which