Lowood, Queensland

Lowood is a rural town and locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, the locality of Lowood had a population of 4,159 people.[1]

"Lowood" redirects here. For other uses, see Lowood State High School and Lowood Airfield Circuit.
For the fictional school, see Jane Eyre.

Lowood
Queensland
Post office
Lowood is located in Queensland
Lowood
Lowood
Coordinates27.4627°S 152.5783°E / -27.4627; 152.5783 (Lowood (town centre))
Population4,159 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density155.77/km2 (403.4/sq mi)
Established1872
Postcode(s)4311
Area26.7 km2 (10.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
  • 30.7 km (19 mi) NW of Ipswich
  • 40.5 km (25 mi) SSE of Esk
  • 69 km (43 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)Somerset Region
State electorate(s)Lockyer
Federal division(s)Blair
Localities around Lowood:
Clarendon Patrick Estate Wivenhoe Pocket
Rifle Range Lowood Vernor
Tarampa Tarampa Glamorgan Vale

Geography

The town is on the Brisbane River, 66 km (41 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane, and 31 km (19 mi) north of Ipswich.

Due to its proximity to Brisbane and Ipswich, Lowood is becoming an area for hobby farmers and residential commuters.

History
Intact but abandoned Lowood railway station – the railway line and grassed area are now the Jean Bray Carpark.

Lowood railway station (27.4632°S 152.5816°E / -27.4632; 152.5816 (Lowood railway station (former)))[4] was established as the first terminus of the Brisbane Valley branch railway in 1884 and the town grew from the subdivision around the new railway station.[4] The name Lowood is derived from the "low woods" of brigalow in the Lowood area, as opposed to the taller trees elsewhere in the Brisbane Valley. The name Lowood replaced local names of The Scrub and Cairnhill.[2]

Lowood Post Office opened on 15 October 1888 (a receiving office had been open from 1884).[5]

Cairnhill Provisional School opened on 29 June 1881. On 1 April 1889 it become Lowood State School. On 29 January 1963 a secondary department was opened, which closed in 1983 when Lowood State High School opened.[6]

In 1919, 27 building sites in Morningside Estate were advertised for auction by Kavanagh & Smith Auctioneers.[7] The auction was for resubs 1 to 27 of sub 5 of resub 1 of subs 1A & 3 of resub 2 of sub A of portion 319 (Tarampa).[8] A map produced to advertise the auction shows Morningside Estate is on Peace Street and is close to Lowood Railway Station, the hospital and the state school.[8]

During World War II, an airfield called Lowood, which was actually located at Mount Tarampa, was the site of a military airfield operated by the Royal Australian Air Force. No. 71 Squadron operated from the airfield during 1943, conducting coastal patrol and naval convoy escort missions. After the war, the airfield was converted into a motor-racing circuit, the Lowood Airfield Circuit, and operated for 20 years, the highlight hosting the 1960 Australian Grand Prix.[9] The airfield no longer exists, but a small memorial marks its previous location.[10]

Lowood State High School opened on 24 January 1983 replacing the secondary department attached to Lowood State School in 1963.[6]

The Lowood public library opened in 2000.[11]

At the 2006 census, Lowood had a population of 1,010.[12]

In the 2011 census, Lowood had a population of 3,336 people.[13]

In the 2016 census the locality of Lowood had a population of 4,159 people.[1]

Heritage listings

Lowood has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Education

Lowood State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Peace Street (27.4657°S 152.5816°E / -27.4657; 152.5816 (Lowood State School)).[15][16] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 279 students with 24 teachers (23 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).[17] It includes a special education program.[15][18]

Lowood State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at Prospect Street (27.4671°S 152.5824°E / -27.4671; 152.5824 (Lowood State High School)).[15][19] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 747 students with 68 teachers (67 full-time equivalent) and 39 non-teaching staff (29 full-time equivalent).[17] It includes a special education program.[15]

Transport

Following the withdrawal of the railmotor service to Toogoolawah in 1989, a substitute bus service to Ipswich was introduced by Queensland Rail (QR). Two services are in the morning and return services are in the late afternoon. Time tables are available from QR.

Amenities

The Somerset Regional Council operates a public library at the corner of Michel and Main Streets (27.4634°S 152.5802°E / -27.4634; 152.5802 (Lowood Public Library)).[20][21]

The Lowood branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 106 Main Street (27.4635°S 152.5806°E / -27.4635; 152.5806 (Lowood CWA Hall)).[22][23]

The Fernvale Lowood Uniting Church is at 1503 Brisbane Valley Highway in Fernvale.[24][25]

Attractions

Nearby Lake Wivenhoe is a popular place for activities such as boating and fishing.

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Lowood (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Lowood – town in Somerset Region (entry 20197)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. "Lowood – locality in Somerset Region (entry 44894)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  4. "Railway stations and sidings – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  6. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  7. "Advertising". Queensland Times. Vol. LX, no. 10, 296. Queensland, Australia. 22 February 1919. p. 11 (DAILY.). Retrieved 26 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Morningside Estate 1919". hdl:10462/deriv/207314. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. Australian Grand Prix – The 50-race history, 1986, pages 256 to 266
  10. Oz at war Archived 24 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine – Amateur historian site -Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  11. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Lowood (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
  13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Loowood". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  14. "Dental Surgery (entry 600496)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  15. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  16. "Lowood State School". Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  17. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  18. "Lowood SS – Special Education Program". Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  19. "Lowood State High School". Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  20. "Lowood Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  21. Google (26 February 2021). "Lowood Public Library" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  22. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  23. Google (26 February 2021). "Lowood CWA Hall" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  24. "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  25. "Fernvale-Lowood Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
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