Gatton, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gatton Queensland
A Landsat picture of Gatton
Gatton Location in Queensland
Population	7,851 (2021 census)
• Density	183.43/km2 (475.1/sq mi)
Established	1855
Postcode(s)	4343
Elevation	94 m (308 ft)
Area	42.8 km2 (16.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	86 km (53 mi) W of Brisbane 37 km (23 mi) E of Toowoomba
LGA(s)	Lockyer Valley Region
County	Churchill
Parish	Gatton
State electorate(s)	Lockyer
Federal Division(s)	Wright
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 26.8 °C 80 °F 13.0 °C 55 °F 768.6 mm 30.3 in
Localities around Gatton: Ringwood Adare Lake Clarendon Grantham Placid Hills Gatton Lawes Lower Tenthill Woodlands Glen Cairn

Gatton is a country town and area in the Lockyer Valley Region of Queensland, Australia. It is the main town for the Lockyer Valley Region. Gatton is located in the Lockyer Valley part of South East Queensland.

In 2021, about 7,851 people lived in Gatton.

A Look Back at Gatton's History

Before European settlers arrived, the Yuggera Aboriginal language group lived in the Gatton area. The Jagara people are one of the Aboriginal language groups from South-East Queensland.

Warrego Highway leading into Gatton

Major Edmund Lockyer explored the Gatton area in 1825. A settlement called Gatton was officially named in 1855. The town got its name from a village in Surrey, England, also called Gatton.

The local post office opened on January 1, 1866. Frederick Lloyd, a dairyman, was the first postmaster. The town started to grow more in the mid-1870s. This was after the railway line to Grandchester brought more people to the area.

Early Schools and Churches

St Mary's School, a Catholic school, opened in 1868. However, it closed in 1892 when its only teacher got married.

The Gatton Congregational Church opened on November 26, 1874. In 1977, many churches joined together to form the Uniting Church in Australia. The church in Gatton is now called Lockyer Uniting Church.

Gatton State School opened on January 31, 1876. Local people had asked for a school to be built.

St Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1889. It replaced an older church building. The current church building was opened in 1963.

The Queensland Agricultural College opened in Gatton in 1897. It also started an experimental farm.

Our Lady of Good Counsel School, another Catholic school, opened on January 14, 1917. It was started by the Sisters of Mercy.

The Gatton Baptist Church was officially formed in October 1935. They built their first church in 1937. In 2005, the church moved to a new building.

The Salvation Army started a group in Gatton in March 1938. They opened their church in 1974.

Gatton Civic Centre

St Paul's Lutheran Church opened in 1948. It was later replaced by the Peace Lutheran Church, which opened in 1978.

Local News and Transport

The Gatton Star is a local newspaper that started in 1956. It stopped printing copies in 2020 and is now only available online.

Gatton Bus Services started in 1957. The company began with one bus for high school students. Today, it has many buses that help students get to school. They also used to offer tours to show city kids what farm life is like.

Peace Lutheran Primary School opened on January 27, 1982.

In 2009, the Gatton Library moved to the new Cultural Centre.

Gatton's Population

The number of people living in Gatton has grown over the years.

• In 2006, Gatton had 6,869 people.
• In 2016, the population was 7,101 people. About 3.3% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Most people (68.3%) were born in Australia. Other people came from places like Taiwan, India, and South Korea. Most people spoke English at home.
• In 2021, the population grew to 7,851 people.

Important Places and Memorials

Gatton has several places that are important for their history. These include:

• Boer War Memorial, Crescent Street
• Weeping Mother Memorial, Hickey Street
• University of Queensland Gatton Campus, Warrego Highway, Lawes (east of Gatton)

What Gatton is Known For

Gatton is part of the "Salad Bowl" of the Lockyer Valley. This means it's a big farming area. Farmers grow lots of vegetables here. In the past, they grew a lot of fruit too. There are also many beef and dairy farms. The town is also known for growing special hay for animals.

Gatton's Weather

Gatton has a warm, wet climate. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are mild and sunny, but nights can be cool. The warm weather and rain are great for farming. However, sometimes there can be droughts or very hot periods. Gatton is one of the warmest places in south-east Queensland in summer. This is because it's not near the coast and is at a low elevation.

Schools and Learning in Gatton

Gatton State School, 2024

Gatton has several schools for different age groups:

• Gatton State School is a government primary school for students from Early Childhood to Year 6. It also has a special education program.
• Lockyer District State High School is a government high school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It also offers a special education program.
• Our Lady of Good Counsel School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6.
• Peace Lutheran Primary School is a private primary school for students from Prep to Year 6.

The University of Queensland has a campus near Gatton. It's called the University of Queensland Gatton Campus. This campus is a major center for the university's research and teaching about farming and rural life.

Places to Visit and Things to Do

Lake Apex Park, behind the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, 2022

• The Lockyer Valley Regional Council runs a public library. It is located in the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre.
• There are several churches in Gatton, including Peace Lutheran Church, Gatton Church of Christ, Gatton Baptist Church, St Alban's Anglican Church, St Mary's Catholic Church, Lockyer Uniting Church, and The Salvation Army.
• The Gatton Historical Village is a great place to learn about the town's past. It is run by the Gatton & District Historical Society.
• The Queensland Transport Museum is inside the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre. Here you can see old vehicles and models.

Memorials in Gatton

Boer war memorial, Gatton

Gatton has several memorials to remember people who served in wars:

• The Boer War Memorial was dedicated in 1908.
• The Weeping Mother Memorial shows the important role women played during wartime. It was unveiled in 1922.
• The Gatton Shire War Memorial Pool was dedicated in 1959 to honor those who served in wars.
• The National Servicemen's Memorial was put up in 1996. It remembers those who served in the national service from 1951 to 1972.
• The Gatton Agricultural College War Memorial was dedicated in 1997. It remembers staff and students from the college who died in wars.
• The Lone Pine Memorial is a tree grown from seeds that came from the famous Lone Pine at Gallipoli. It was dedicated in 2005. Another Lone Pine Memorial is also at the Gatton Campus.

The Lights on the Hill Truck and Coach Drivers' Memorial is located at Lake Apex Park. It honors truck and coach drivers.

Images for kids

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  A Landsat picture of Gatton

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  Warrego Highway leading into Gatton

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  Gatton Civic Centre

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  Gatton State School, 2024

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  Lake Apex Park, behind the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, 2022

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  Boer war memorial, Gatton