Beerwah, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeerwahSunshine Coast, Queensland |
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Beerwah fruit and vegetable display, RNA Exhibition, Brisbane, August 1984
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 Beerwah
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 6,769 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 116.51/km2 (301.8/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4519 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 58.1 km2 (22.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Sunshine Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| County | Canning | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Bribie | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) |
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| Federal Division(s) | Fisher | ||||||||||||||
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Beerwah is a rural town and locality in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Beerwah had a population of 6,769 people.
Australia Zoo located here is a major tourist attraction and is visited daily by large numbers of local, national and international tourists. Beerwah has transport links to Brisbane and northbound destinations at Beerwah railway station on the Nambour and Gympie North railway line. Roads in the area include a bypass in the south of the town, Kilcoy-Beerwah Road and Steve Irwin Way.
History
The name Beerwah comes from the Kabi language (Turrbal dialect) word birrawaman, with birra meaning sky and wandum meaning climbing up.
Beerwah Post Office opened by August 1907 (a receiving office had been open from 1891).
The Coochin Creek Provisional School opened in November 1888, becoming Coochin Creek State School on 1 January 1909. In about November 1928, it was renamed Beewah State School. On 10 July 1952, another Coochin Creek State School opened, but it closed on 11 March 1962.
Beerwah State High School opened on 1 January 1992.
Transport
Beerwah is a growing hinterland town. Transport links to Brisbane and northbound destinations at Beerwah railway station on the Nambour and Gympie North railway line.
A small bypass was constructed south of the town, including an overpass of the railway, a large roundabout at Roberts Road, and traffic signals at Kilcoy-Beerwah Road and Steve Irwin Way. This work opened to traffic in October 2009. As part of that project, however, the original level crossing was closed and demolished, causing concern among local residents who claimed it sliced the town in two. In 2010, many residents began to complain about the lack of signage to the town center. The town entrance now features two distinctive large directional signs, one at the Steve Irwin Way entrance, and one at the roundabout after travelling over the railway bridge.
Tourism
Australia Zoo is located in Beerwah. The zoo set up by Bob Irwin and later made famous by his son, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Australia Zoo has been named Australia's major tourist attraction many times.
Another tourist attraction, the Glass House mountain range, is located nearby. The largest mountain in the range is Mount Beerwah 555m tall. Access to the Mount Beerwah summit route has been closed since 2008 due to the erosion and destabilisation of some walking tracks, leading to a high risk of rock fall. Glasshouse Mountains Tourist Drive has become quite the attraction. The Big Mower, one of Australia's big things, is located in Beerwah.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Beerwah recorded a population of 6,769 people, 52% female and 48% male.
The median age was 39 years, compared to the national median age of 38.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 2.8% of the population.
77.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 5.1% and New Zealand 4.8%.
90.8% of people only spoke English at home.
The most common responses for religion in Beerwah were No Religion 32.8%, Anglican 17.2% and Catholic 14.4%.
Education
Beerwah State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 2788 Old Gympie Road (26°51′19″S 152°56′24″E / 26.8554°S 152.9399°E). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 367 students with 40 teachers (32 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (15 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
Glasshouse Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at 58 Roberts Road (26°51′42″S 152°57′06″E / 26.8616°S 152.9518°E). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1074 students with 75 teachers (70 full-time equivalent) and 67 non-teaching staff (48 full-time equivalent).
Beerwah State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 35 Roberts Road (26°51′46″S 152°57′14″E / 26.8627°S 152.9540°E). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 895 students with 86 teachers (79 full-time equivalent) and 44 non-teaching staff (30 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
Notable residents
- Lawrence Daws, painter and printmaker
- The Irwin family: Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin, Bindi Irwin, Robert Irwin, environmentalists and operators of Australia Zoo
