Alberton, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alberton Gold Coast, Queensland
Sugarcane fields, looking south down Cane Farm Road, Alberton, 2022
Alberton Location in Brisbane
Population	547 (2021 census)
• Density	32.18/km2 (83.3/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4207
Area	17.0 km2 (6.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	12.7 km (8 mi) E of Beenleigh 45.1 km (28 mi) N of Southport 46.4 km (29 mi) N of Surfers Paradise 45.5 km (28 mi) SSE of Brisbane
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Coomera
Federal Division(s)	Fadden
Suburbs around Alberton: Eagleby Carbrook Redland Bay Eagleby Alberton Woongoolba Stapylton Gilberton Woongoolba

Alberton is a quiet, countryside area located in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It's a place where people live spread out, often on larger properties. In 2021, about 547 people called Alberton home.

Where is Alberton?

Alberton is bordered by two important rivers. To the north, you'll find the Logan River, and to the west, its smaller branch, the Albert River. These rivers help shape the landscape of the area.

Alberton's Past

Early Days and First People

Alberton State School and students, circa 1892

Long before European settlers arrived, the Aboriginal people had a name for this area: Wobbomerijee. This name meant 'sticky mud', which tells us a bit about the land back then.

European settlers, many of them from Germany, started to arrive in Alberton around 1863. By 1865, a special area was set aside for a town near where the Logan and Albert Rivers meet.

Sugar and Churches

From 1866 to the 1890s, the Ageston sugar plantation and sugar mill were very active. In 1873, it was called "one of the finest plants" in the area.

Alberton Sugar Mill, 1922

In 1869, the first Lutheran church was built on Zipfs Road. The area was known as Elkana, meaning "God has created and blessed". A German school started there in the early 1870s. In 1886, a bigger Lutheran church, St Peter's, was built and opened in 1887. The old German school was taken down in 1919.

Later, the area was named Alberton after Prince Albert, who was married to Queen Victoria. However, the name Elkana is still remembered in Elkana Road.

Transport and Schools

The Alberton Ferry began in 1870, helping people cross the Logan River. It connected Ferry Road in Carbrook with Alberton Road in Alberton. After a new bridge opened in 1931, fewer people used the ferry, and it closed in 1948.

The Alberton Provisional School opened on May 13, 1876. At first, children only went to German school one day a week. On October 13, 1884, it became the Alberton State School. It closed its doors in 1966. The school was located on a 10-acre site at 88 Alberton Road.

In October 1886, a large property called "Yellowwood Estate" was divided into smaller farms and sold. This property was on the Albert River.

The Gem Hotel was built in 1877. It was destroyed by fire in 1933 but was quickly rebuilt by December of the same year.

Discoveries and Changes

In the 1950s, a very old and important Aboriginal cultural site on the Logan River was unfortunately replaced with a pineapple farm. This site had two large circles, which were used for special ceremonies.

In September 2012, archaeologists dug up parts of the old Ageston sugar plantation. They found old stone and steel structures, a special boiler, and pans used for evaporating sugar.

Who Lives in Alberton?

The number of people living in Alberton has changed a bit over the years:

• In 2011, there were 576 people.
• In 2016, the population was 590 people.
• In 2021, it was 547 people.

What Alberton Does

Prawn farming, Alberton, 2014

Alberton is mostly a rural area. This means it has lots of farms. The main types of farming here are growing sugar cane and raising prawns.

Learning in Alberton

There are no schools directly in Alberton. Kids usually go to primary schools in nearby areas like Woongoolba State School or Mount Warren Park State School. For high school, students often attend Beenleigh State High School in Beenleigh.

Places in Alberton

Important Facilities

Alberton Cemetery is located at 80 Zipfs Road. It was started by the early German settlers and is now managed by the Gold Coast City Council.

Fun and Community Spots

The Gem Hotel, 2014

• The Gem Hotel is a well-known spot, found at the corner of Stapylton-Jacobs Well Road and Rotary Park Road.

St Peter's Lutheran Church, Alberton, 2014

• St Peter's Lutheran Church is at 187 Alberton Road.
• The Gold Coast City Council runs a mobile library service that visits St Peter's Lutheran Hall every two weeks.
• The Alberton Cricket Club is located in Zipf Park at 88 Alberton Road, where people can play cricket.
• There's a boat ramp at the end of Alberton Road on the Logan River, managed by the Gold Coast City Council, perfect for launching boats.

Parks to Explore

Alberton has several parks where you can enjoy the outdoors:

• Alberton Park
• August Burow Park
• Beitz Park
• Woolshed Parklands
• Zipfs Park