Haden, Queensland

Haden is a small rural town approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Toowoomba and 185 kilometres (115 mi) north west from Brisbane. The town is set high on the Great Dividing Range, resulting in a high number of windy days. There is a picturesque lookout on the Haden-Maclagan Road to the west of the town.

In August 1889 the Queensland Government provided 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land for a cemetery for Goombungee.[4] However, the soil proved too difficult to dig a grave, so another 6.2-acre (2.5 ha) cemetery reserve was provided on 17 January 1894 (which is now within the boundaries of Haden). The first burial in the new cemetery was Edith Annie Lloyd, aged 10 months, occurring on 23 July 1894.[5][6] Although intended as a cemetery for Goombungee, its location resulted in it being used by residents of both Goombungee and Haden and the name Goombungee-Haden Cemetery began to be used in 1925. In 2008 the cemetery's private trustees handed over the responsibility for the cemetery to the Toowoomba Regional Council.[6]

The district was originally known as Wahoon, from an Aboriginal word meaning scrub turkey. When the railway station was established as the terminus of the Haden railway line, it was named Haden railway station on 8 June 1912, after Alice Elizabeth Ruth Paget (née Haden), the second wife of Walter Trueman Paget who was Secretary for Railways from 1908 to 1915. The town takes its name from the railway station.[2]

On Saturday 16 January 1892, a public meeting was called to plan the establishment of a school in Doctor's Creek.[7] In June 1892, tenders were called to erect a provisional school building.[8] Doctor's Creek Provisional School opened on 30 January 1893 with picnic to celebrate its opening on Friday 10 February 1893.[9] The first teacher was Mr Ridler. The school building was 21 by 14 feet (6.4 by 4.3 m) and was built by Mr Maunder of Meringandan.[10] On 2 April 1900, it became Doctor's Creek State School.[9] In preparation for the state school, tenders were called in June 1899 to erect a state school building and to convert the existing provisional school building into a teacher's residence.[11] The school closed in 1963.[9] It was at 327 Haden Peranga Road (south-west corner with Whites Road, now within the boundaries of Haden, 27.2087°S 151.8589°E / -27.2087; 151.8589 (Doctor's Creek State School (former))).[12][13] The school teacher's residence still exists on the site.[14]

Haden had been a thriving town with numerous pubs and stores at the turn of the 20th century. With the arrival of rail and Haden State School which was opened in 1912 the town prospered. It became an established place to live, as the surrounding land was ideal for cattle and dairy farming. With the rapid increase in technology and the decline of the dairy industry in Queensland due to deregulation, the population began to decline. Only a handful of farms continue to operate in the area, with the majority of farmers turning to cattle and crop production.[15]

In 1903, St Paul's Lutheran church was established at 273 Haden Peranga Road in Doctor's Creek (south-east corner with Whites Road, but now in Haden, 27.2087°S 151.8598°E / -27.2087; 151.8598 (St Paul's Lutheran Church (former))).[12][13] The first Lutheran settlers came to the district in 1888 but it was not until 1902 that a Lutheran congregation was formed as part of the United German and Scandinavian Synod of Queensland. At the congregation's first meeting on 23 March 1903, it was decided to build a church. The church was dedicated on 29 November 1903 by Reverend George Heuer of Toowoomba, the president of the Queensland synod.[16] The church is no longer extant.[17]

Wahoon State School opened on 20 May 1912. In February 1913, it was renamed Haden State School.[18][19]

St John the Evangelist Anglican Church was dedicated in 1924 by The Venerable Edward Castell Osborn. Its closure circa 2013 was approved by Archbishop Phillip Aspinall.[20]

On Sunday 19 April 1931, Bishop James Byrne blessed and officially opened St Leo's Catholic Church.[21]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Haden had a population of 195 people.[1]

St Leo's Catholic Church was destroyed by fire on 7 June 2020.[22][23][24] The fire was deliberately lit.[25]

Haden State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 1520 Haden-Crow's Nest Road (27.2241°S 151.8892°E / -27.2241; 151.8892 (Haden State School)).[26][27] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 22 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[28] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 32 students with 3 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[29]

There are no secondary schools in Haden. The nearest secondary schools are in Crows Nest and Quinalow but these schools only offer secondary education to Year 10. For Years 11 and 12 the nearest secondary school is in Highfields.[30]

Goombungee Haden Cemetery, 2006

The village is serviced by "The Haden Stores."

Haden Hall is on Boundary Road (27.2232°S 151.8815°E / -27.2232; 151.8815 (Haden Hall)).[31]

Three churches continue to operate. However, St Leo's Catholic Church at 34 Boundary Street (27.2226°S 151.8815°E / -27.2226; 151.8815 (St Leo's Catholic Church))[32] is currently destroyed following a fire.[22]

Library services in Haden are provided by the Toowoomba Regional Council's mobile library service. The van visits Haden State School on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.[33]

The Goombungee-Haden cemetery is in Cemetery Road (27.2497°S 151.8630°E / -27.2497; 151.8630 (Goombungee General Cemetery)).[6]

• Jessica van Vonderen, Queensland host of The 7:30 Report is a past pupil of Haden State School[34][35]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haden, Queensland.

• Town map, 1981