Ashgrove is known for its Ashgrovian houses built in the 1920s and 1930s, a type of Queenslander architecture characterised by an asymmetrical pyramid roof, multiple gables, verandahs and batten skirts.

[10] The main thoroughfare, Waterworks Road, was built on a Turrbal pathway that led to Mount Coot-tha, a place of the 'Honey-Bee Dreaming' and to the Enoggera Reservoir.

[12] In July 1878, 25 lots of the Ithaca Creek Estate portion 664 were offered for sale, surveyed by E. MacDonnell.

[13] A classified advertisement states the estate is situated just beyond the residences of Messrs. E. Hooker, W. Arundell, and Craig, adjoining on the city side the property of Mr C. J.

[15] The estate was advertised as 160 half acre allotments bordered to the north by Enoggera Creek and to the south by the main Waterworks Road.

[18][19] In April 1914, 95 residential sites named as Hawthorn Park, formerly known as Sir Samuel Griffiths Paddock were auctioned by Cameron Brothers.

[20] A map advertising the auction states that the estate is four minutes' walk from the Red Hill tram line.

[26] Onn Sunday 14 August 1921 Duhig officially opened and blessed St Finbarr's Catholic Church.

[28] In 1924, the tram line was extended from Red Hill, Queensland to Ashgrove, along Waterworks Road, connecting the suburb with the rest of Brisbane.

[29] On Sunday 5 October 1924 Archbishop Duhig blessed the site, noting that Queensland had many candidates for the priesthood who had to be sent to New South Wales for their training, when it was the duty of every diocese to have its own seminary.

The primary school passed into lay leadership in 1981 but the Sisters of Charity Education Council still operate the college.

[12][40][41] On 5 February 1950, Archbishop Duhig laid the foundation stone for Mater Dei Catholic primary school at 7 Lynwood Crescent.

On 19 March 1961 Duhig laid the foundation stone for the new convent at Mater Dei which was officially opened and blessed by him on 9 December 1962.

[42] St Paul's Anglican Church was opened on 15 June 1952 by Archbishop of Brisbane Reginald Halse.

The suburb contains a variety of multicultural restaurants (Thai, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Modern Australian), numerous cafes, various shopping amenities (including Coles, Aldi and Woolworths supermarkets).

[53][54][55] Ashgrove is serviced by multiple council buses running along Stewart and Waterworks Roads into the central business district.

Ashgrove is also a stop on the route of the cross-town Great Circle Line (598/599) which links the four major shopping malls of Brisbane.

This service provides a cross town function linking Ashgrove with Paddington boutiques and cafes, Suncorp stadium, Caxton Street food and pub precinct, King George Square in the City Centre, Southbank Parklands and cultural district, 'The Gabba', Woolloongabba dining and antique district and Stones Corner cafe strip and outlet shopping.

[56] Ashgrove contains two major bicycle shared paths via Ithaca and Enoggera Creeks which provide a pleasant, mostly flat, off-road and backstreets commuter route to the Royal Brisbane hospital and onwards to the City Centre via the inner northern bikeway.