Beenleigh, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeenleighCity of Logan, Queensland |
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Aerial view of Beenleigh
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 Beenleigh
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 8,425 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,094/km2 (2,830/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1866 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4207 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 7.7 km2 (3.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Logan City | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Macalister | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Forde | ||||||||||||||
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Beenleigh is a town and suburb in the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 8,425 people lived in Beenleigh.
The town was officially surveyed in 1866. Beenleigh is a stop on the Beenleigh railway line, which first opened in 1885. It was once the main office for the old Shire of Albert. Today, it's famous for the Beenleigh Artisan Distillery, a historic place you can visit. In recent years, many new tall buildings have been built here.
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Where is Beenleigh?
Beenleigh is about 33 kilometers south-east of Brisbane. It is located near where the Logan and Albert Rivers meet. The town is just southwest of the Pacific Motorway. The Gold Coast railway line also runs through it.
Logan River Parklands is a great spot with a boat ramp, barbecues, and picnic areas. Beenleigh used to be its own town, known for sugar and its old distillery. But since the 1980s, it has grown and is now part of the bigger urban area between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
There are two train stations in Beenleigh:
- Holmview railway station (27°42′34″S 153°11′15″E / 27.7095°S 153.1876°E)
- Beenleigh railway station (27°43′03″S 153°12′17″E / 27.7176°S 153.2047°E)
Beenleigh's History
Beenleigh is on the traditional land of the Yugambeh people. They are part of the Bundjalung Indigenous Australian country. The Yugambeh people have lived here for thousands of years. Their language and culture are still important. You can learn about them at the Yugambeh Museum in town.
European settlers first came to Beenleigh in the 1860s. John Davy and Frank Gooding started a sugarcane farm. They named it Beenleigh after their family home in England. The town of Beenleigh was officially surveyed in July 1866.
The first sugarcane mill was built in 1867. By 1885, there were 29 mills working in the area. The Beenleigh Post Office opened on August 1, 1867.
Beenleigh State School opened on February 6, 1871. St George's Anglican Church opened on September 16, 1875. The original church building was moved to the Beenleigh Historical Village in 1981.
In 1885, land was sold near the Beenleigh Railway Station. The Beenleigh Wesleyan Methodist Church opened in November 1886. Dairy farming started in the area in 1889.
The Beenleigh Memorial Park was opened on August 21, 1925.
A large meat processing facility was built in 1952. It is still one of Beenleigh's biggest industries. Beenleigh State High School opened on January 29, 1963. Beenleigh Special School opened in 1981.
St Joseph's Tobruk Memorial School opened on October 25, 1953. Trinity College opened on January 25, 1982.
Beenleigh was the main town for the Beenleigh Shire until 1949. Later, it became part of the Shire of Albert. In 1995, Beenleigh joined the City of Gold Coast. Then, in 2008, it became part of the City of Logan.
In 2004, the first Mitre 10 MEGA store in Australia opened in Beenleigh. It created over 200 jobs.
People of Beenleigh
In 2021, Beenleigh had a population of 8,425 people. About 66.3% of residents were born in Australia. Other people came from New Zealand (7.7%), England (2.8%), and the Philippines (1.7%).
Most people (79.0%) speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Tagalog, Maori (New Zealand), Punjabi, Mandarin, and Filipino.
Historic Places
Beenleigh has some important historic sites:
- Beenleigh Rum Distillery at Distillery Road (27°43′24″S 153°13′19″E / 27.72331°S 153.22196°E)
- St George's Anglican Church at Main Street (27°43′24″S 153°12′48″E / 27.7234°S 153.2133°E)
Schools in Beenleigh
Beenleigh has several schools for different ages:
- Beenleigh State School is a government primary school (Prep to Year 6) at 22 James Street (27°43′04″S 153°11′59″E / 27.7179°S 153.1997°E). It also has a special education program.
- St Joseph's Tobruk Memorial School is a Catholic primary school (Prep to Year 6) at 53 Kokoda Street (27°42′42″S 153°11′59″E / 27.7116°S 153.1996°E).
- Beenleigh State High School is a government secondary school (Year 7 to 12) at Alamein Street (27°42′55″S 153°12′16″E / 27.7153°S 153.2044°E). It also has a special education program.
- Trinity College is a Catholic secondary school (Year 7 to 12) at Scott Street (27°42′37″S 153°11′56″E / 27.7104°S 153.1988°E).
The Beenleigh Special School is actually located in the nearby suburb of Mount Warren Park.
Community Facilities
Beenleigh has many useful facilities:
- Beenleigh Police Station is at 3 Kent Street (27°43′02″S 153°12′06″E / 27.7173°S 153.2016°E).
- The SES Facility is at 36 Martens Street (27°43′30″S 153°13′06″E / 27.7249°S 153.2184°E).
Shopping and Services
Beenleigh is a town with many shops and businesses. It has three shopping centers with major supermarkets like Coles Supermarkets, Woolworths, and Aldi. You can also find a Big W and a Mitre 10 MEGA store.
The town has a community center and two theaters: Crete Street Theatre and Phoenix Ensemble. The Logan City Council runs a public library on Crete Street.
St George's Anglican Church is at 10 Tansey Street (27°43′07″S 153°12′06″E / 27.7186°S 153.2018°E).
There are many parks in the area for recreation:
- Bill Norris Oval (27°42′22″S 153°11′35″E / 27.7062°S 153.1930°E)
- Dauth Park (27°42′42″S 153°12′20″E / 27.7118°S 153.2055°E)
- Hammel Park (27°43′09″S 153°11′45″E / 27.7191°S 153.1959°E)
- Hugh Muntz Park (27°43′07″S 153°12′33″E / 27.7186°S 153.2091°E)
- Logan River Parklands (27°41′55″S 153°11′36″E / 27.6986°S 153.1932°E)
Getting Around
Beenleigh is located on the Pacific Motorway, making it easy to drive to other places. The Queensland Rail Citytrain network offers frequent train services. You can travel to Brisbane and the Gold Coast from the Beenleigh railway station.
What to See and Do
The Beenleigh Historical Village (27°43′23″S 153°12′48″E / 27.7231°S 153.2134°E) is a popular place to visit. It has 20 historic buildings and shows what life was like in the past.
Beenleigh is also home to the Beenleigh Artisan Distillers, Australia's oldest distillery. You can also visit the Yugambeh Language and Research Centre.
Some scenes for the 2024 Netflix TV series Boy Swallows Universe were filmed in Beenleigh. This included the Beenleigh Aquatic Centre and a house on Cameron Street.
Events
Beenleigh hosts several fun annual events:
- The Rum, Rump and Rhumba Festival
- The Beenleigh Cane Gala Ball and Parade
- Eats and Beats Food Trucks
- The Beenleigh Show
Sports and Fun
Beenleigh has many sports facilities. You can play baseball, soccer, BMX, football, tennis, and netball. There are also places for swimming and roller derby. The Logan River is great for boating, with a boat ramp near the Pacific Motorway bridge.
Famous People from Beenleigh
Many notable people have come from Beenleigh, including:
- Alan Cann, a rugby league player
- Tonie Carroll, a rugby league player
- Sonia Kruger, an actress and TV personality
- Phil Stockman, a baseball player
- Brett Voss, an AFL footballer
- Michael Voss, an AFL footballer
