Beaudesert, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeaudesertQueensland |
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Main street of Beaudesert
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 Beaudesert
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 6,752 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 154.86/km2 (401.1/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1870s | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4285 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 50 m (164 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 43.6 km2 (16.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Scenic Rim Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Scenic Rim | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Wright | ||||||||||||||
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Beaudesert is a friendly rural town in Queensland, Australia. It's a special place in the Scenic Rim Region. In 2021, about 6,752 people lived here.
Beaudesert is the main town for the Scenic Rim Region. It's where important local government offices are located.
Contents
Where is Beaudesert Located?
Beaudesert is south of Brisbane, a big city in Queensland. It's also west of the famous Gold Coast. You can reach it by driving about 70 kilometers (43 miles) south from Brisbane.
The town is in the beautiful Logan River and Albert River valleys. It's a central spot for smaller towns nearby. These include places like Rathdowney and Tamborine Mountain.
The area gets its money from farming and tourism. People here grow crops, raise animals, and have horse-related activities. The weather is usually mild, but summer can bring some strong storms.
There are two important dams near Beaudesert. The Nindooinbah Dam is in the east. The much larger Wyaralong Dam was finished in 2011. It is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of town.
A Look Back: Beaudesert's History
The land where Beaudesert sits has a long history. It is the traditional home of the Yugambeh people. Another group, the Mununjali people, are also connected to this area.
The town's name might come from a place in England called Beau Desert Park. An early settler, Edward Brace Hawkins, named the area around 1841 or 1842. He was setting up a sheep farm for his boss.
The town itself was settled in 1847. The Nindooinbah Homestead was built in 1850.
Early Days and Growth
Beaudesert was first planned with streets in a grid pattern. Early settlers tried to grow cotton and raise sheep. However, cotton didn't do well because there wasn't enough water. Collecting hoop pine trees was more successful.
In the 1860s, workers from the South Sea Islands came to help with cotton farming. This was one of the first times this happened in Queensland. Later, in the 1880s, Cobb & Co stagecoaches connected Beaudesert to other towns.
The Milbanks Pioneer Cottage is now at the Beaudesert Historical Museum. It was built in 1875 from local wood. It shows what life was like for early settlers.
Schools and Churches
Beaudesert State School first opened in 1882. It closed for a short time but reopened in 1887.
The Beaudesert railway line opened in 1888. It connected Beaudesert to Bethania. Passenger trains stopped running in 1961. Freight trains continued until 1996.
Many churches were built in Beaudesert. St Thomas' Anglican Church had its first building in 1888. A new church was built in 1965. St Mary's Catholic Church opened in 1889. The original building was later moved to Kerry. A new St Mary's church opened in 1907.
St Mary's Convent School opened in 1901. It was run by the Sisters of Mercy. The original wooden building is now called Mercy Hall. A new brick building for the school opened in 1939. It was damaged by fire in 2013 but was rebuilt.
A Baptist church opened in 1897. The Seventh-day Adventist Church opened in 1949.
Modern Times
From the 1800s to the 1980s, Beaudesert was a busy town. It had factories, markets, a hospital, and an ambulance service.
Beaudesert State High School opened in 1963. Before that, the primary school also taught high school students.
McAuley College, a new Catholic high school, opened in 2017. It started with 36 students in Year 7.
Who Lives in Beaudesert?
The population of Beaudesert has grown over the years.
- In 1881, there were only 25 people.
- By 1911, there were 1,330 people.
- In 2021, the population was 6,752 people.
In 2021, about 7.2% of people in Beaudesert were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Most people (80.6%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces were New Zealand and England. English was spoken at home by 89.7% of people.
Important Places: Heritage Listings
Beaudesert has several places listed for their historical importance. These include:
- Beaudesert Showgrounds on Albert Street.
- St Thomas’ Anglican Church on Albert Street.
- Beaudesert Racecourse and Grandstand.
- Beaudesert Masonic Centre on Brisbane Street.
- Beaudesert Hotel on Brisbane Street.
- Scenic Rim Regional Council Chambers on Brisbane Street.
- St Mary's Catholic Church on Bromelton Street.
- Beaudesert War Memorial on William Street.
Schools in Beaudesert
Beaudesert has several schools for students of all ages.
- Beaudesert State School is a government primary school (Early Childhood to Year 6). It's located on Tina Street. In 2018, it had 649 students.
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary school (Prep to Year 6). It's on Bromelton Street. In 2018, 352 students attended.
- Beaudesert State High School is a government secondary school (Years 7-12). It's on Brisbane Street. In 2018, it had 1442 students.
- McAuley College is a Catholic secondary school (Years 7-12). It's on Oakland Way. In 2018, it had 93 students.
What Can You Do in Beaudesert?
Beaudesert has many useful places and activities for its residents.
- The Scenic Rim Regional Council has its main office here.
- There's a public library on Brisbane Street.
- The Queensland Country Women's Association has a branch here.
- You can find several churches, including St Thomas' Anglican Church, St Mary's Catholic Church, and Beaudesert Baptist Church.
- The Arts Centre hosts many community groups.
- Beaudesert has local sporting teams like the Beaudesert Kingfishers (rugby league) and Beaudesert Rangers (soccer).
- There's a rifle range and pistol club nearby.
- The town also has a racecourse, a swimming pool, gyms, and hotels.
Fun Places to Visit: Attractions
The area around Beaudesert is very scenic. It has valleys, creeks, and mountains. You can even camp in some remote areas like the Stockyard Creek valley.
Il-Bogan Lagoon is a special waterhole in the west of Beaudesert. It's on the traditional lands of the Mununjali people. They believe a creature lives there that can travel through underground waterways.
Events in Beaudesert
The town hosts an annual agricultural show in September. It's a big event with lots of displays and activities for everyone to enjoy.
How to Get Around: Transport
Buses
A bus service connects Beaudesert to Browns Plains and Brisbane on weekdays. There are also transport services for older people and those with disabilities.
Trains
The main Brisbane-Sydney railway line passes a few kilometers west of Beaudesert. This line is used by passenger trains and freight trains.
The local Beaudesert railway line used to run from Bethania to Beaudesert. It was used regularly from 1886 to 1996. For a short time, tourist steam trains ran on the line, but this stopped in 2004.
Famous People from Beaudesert
Many notable people have connections to Beaudesert:
- Neville Bonner was the first Indigenous Australian to become a member of parliament. He went to primary school here.
- Caleb Daniel is an AFL player for the Western Bulldogs.
- Jason Day is a top PGA golfer who won the 2015 PGA Championship. He was born in Beaudesert.
- Riley Day is an Australian sprinter who competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She was born in Beaudesert and went to the high school.
- Andrew Gee was a Queensland and Brisbane Broncos rugby league player. He was born here.
- Mel Greig is an Australian radio and television personality. She was born in Beaudesert.
- Pauline Hanson is a well-known politician and leader of the One Nation party.
- Marilyn Leask is a professor of education. She was born and went to school in Beaudesert.
- Rick Price is a musician. He was born in Beaudesert.
- Cecilia Smith was an Aboriginal activist. She was born in Beaudesert.
