Logan City facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City of Logan Queensland
Location within South East Queensland
Population	345,098 (2021 census) (7th)
• Density	360.23/km2 (933.0/sq mi)
Established	1978
Area	958 km2 (369.9 sq mi)
Mayor	Jon Raven
Council seat	Logan Central
Region	South East Queensland
State electorate(s)	Algester*, Jordan, Logan, Macalister, Scenic Rim*, Springwood*, Stretton*, Waterford, Woodridge
Federal Division(s)	Rankin, Forde, Wright
Website	City of Logan
LGAs around City of Logan: City of Brisbane City of Brisbane City of Redland City of Ipswich City of Logan City of Redland Scenic Rim Scenic Rim City of Gold Coast

The City of Logan is a local government area (LGA) located in the south of Greater Brisbane in South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia. It's like a big town or city that has its own local government. Logan is found between the big cities of Brisbane (to the north) and the Gold Coast (to the south). It also shares borders with the Scenic Rim Region, the City of Ipswich, and Redland City.

Logan is made up of 70 suburbs and 12 different areas called divisions. A councillor is chosen to represent each of these divisions. In June 2018, about 326,615 people lived in Logan. In 2021, the population grew to 345,098 people.

In 2008, Logan grew a lot when it took in parts of the former Albert and Beaudesert areas. The City of Logan stretches from Priestdale in the north to Mundoolun in the south, near the Albert River. To the east, it reaches Carbrook at the Logan River, and to the west, it goes to Lyons.

Logan is home to beautiful natural areas. The Daisy Hill Koala Centre is a great example of Logan's important bushland. This bushland is similar to places like Karawatha Forest, and the Tamborine and Venman Bushland National Parks, which are close to Logan's suburbs.

The area is named after Captain Patrick Logan. The Logan River and important business areas like Logan Central, Shailer Park's Logan Hyperdome, and Browns Plains are also named after him. Other busy suburbs include Beenleigh, Rochedale South, Meadowbrook, Springwood, Woodridge, Eagleby, and the country towns of Jimboomba and Logan Village.

Logan is a key area for transport between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It has a large network of motorways. In the north-east, the Logan Motorway connects to the Pacific Motorway. The Mount Lindesay Highway and the main railway line between Sydney and Brisbane also run through the city from north to south. New buildings and communities are often being built, especially in Yarrabilba and Greater Flagstone. Griffith University has a campus in Meadowbrook, which is becoming a special area for health, research, and education.

History of Logan

A bark dwelling in Logan Village from the past.

The Yugembah people are Aboriginal people from South East Queensland. Their language areas include the Gold Coast, Logan, Scenic Rim, and the Tweed River Valley. This shows the long history of Indigenous people in this region.

Captain Patrick Logan, who was in charge of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, loved to explore. In 1826, he found the Logan River. He saw that the river was good for large boats and could lead to rich farming land. The Governor later named the river after Captain Logan. One of the first big industries in the area was timber. The Logan River was used to float logs, and new railways also increased the need for timber.

The penal settlement in Brisbane closed in 1841, and people quickly started to settle on the land. The first land leases in the Logan area were given out from 1849. More people were encouraged to move there after Queensland became separate from New South Wales in 1859. In 1862, the Logan and Eight Mile Plains Agricultural Reserves were created, which led to many people settling in the area. German immigrants began arriving in groups from 1864, drawn by the chance to own their own farms in Queensland.

A cotton gin, which was later changed into a sugar mill, was built in Loganholme in 1867. Cotton farmers faced challenges from the weather and a lack of workers, even with the use of Kanaka labour. By the 1870s, not many working cotton farms were left along the Logan River. Sugar then became the main industry between 1866 and 1874.

Slacks Creek State School in 1946.

Many small sugar mills were started by farmers to avoid paying big mills for processing. However, these small mills often didn't make enough money. Many farmers stopped growing sugar after a bad frost in 1885 and a huge flood in 1887 that destroyed crops. But some continued, and 1890 was one of the best harvests ever. In 1888, the railway opened in Logan, and within a year, the Cobb and Co coach services stopped running there.

Logan experienced major flooding during the 1974 Brisbane flood. The Wild Water Water Slide Park opened in October 1982. This site later became the Logan Hyperdome, a large shopping centre, which started being built in October 1988 and opened in July 1989. Construction on the Logan Hospital began in February 1989. In August 2011, a house fire in the Logan suburb of Slacks Creek was Queensland's worst.

In 2017, a water treatment plant at Round Mountain became the first in Australia to run completely on its own power, without needing to connect to the main electricity grid.

How Logan City Was Formed

The main street in Beenleigh in 1908.

The government decided to create the new Logan Shire. This new area included the northern parts of the former Albert and Beaudesert Shires. A small part in the north used to belong to the Shire of Tingalpa. About 69,000 people lived north of the Logan River at that time. On May 31, 1978, a new law was introduced to change the boundaries, and it was approved on June 8, 1978. Logan was then officially declared a city on January 1, 1981. The main administration building on Wembley Road opened in February 1981.

The city was named after Captain Patrick Logan, who helped start the Moreton Bay convict settlement. Many places in the area are named after him, such as the Logan River, and suburbs like Loganlea, Logan Village, Loganholme, Logan Reserve, and Logan Central. The Logan Motorway and Logan Road, which connects Logan City to Brisbane, are also named in his honour.

People and Culture

Logan is a growing area with many new developments. Its population is expected to keep growing until 2041, second only to Brisbane in Queensland. The city is very diverse, with people from many different cultures. About one-quarter of Logan's residents were born in other countries.

In the 2016 census, Logan City had 303,386 people. The average age was 34 years old, which is younger than the average for all of Australia. Most people said their background was English, Australian, Irish, Scottish, or German. About 65.8% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included New Zealand, England, the Philippines, India, and Samoa. Indigenous Australians made up 3.2% of the population.

The most common languages spoken, other than English, were Samoan, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, and Spanish. Many people reported having no religious affiliation, while others were Catholic, Anglican, or Uniting Church.

How Logan is Governed

Logan City Council offices and library in 2006.

At the national level, most people in Logan are represented by the Rankin electorate. This area has always chosen a member from the Labor Party since it was created in 1984. Newer parts of Logan are in the Forde area. Some small parts of Logan City, closer to Brisbane, are in the Moreton and Oxley areas. The Division of Wright, created in 2010, covers many of the rural areas in the southern part of the city.

Logan City Council

The Logan City Council has 12 councillors and a mayor who is chosen by the public. Councillors don't officially belong to political parties, but they must say if they are members of any political groups or organisations.

The council manages local services like 6 public swimming pools, over 900 parks, 7 cemeteries, and a waste treatment plant in Browns Plains. This plant uses gas from waste to create power for about 2,000 homes.

Education in Logan

Waterford State School in 2016.

Logan Village State School in 2009.

Logan has many schools for different age groups. Logan Reserve State School opened on January 1, 1868, and teaches students from Prep to Year 6. It also has a C&K Kindy. Another early school was Waterford State School, which opened in 1869. Logan Village State School opened in March 1872 and teaches students from Prep to Year 6. The Centre Education Programme helps students from Year 7 to Year 12. Loganholme State School opened in 1873, and Park Ridge State School opened in 1895.

Woodridge State School opened in 1924, and Woodridge North State School opened in 1967. Logan City Special School helps students from early childhood to Year 12 and opened in 1972.

Woodridge State High School opened in 1972 for students from Year 7 to Year 12. Berrinba East State School opened in 1978. Kingston College (originally Kingston State High School) also opened in 1978 and now teaches students from Year 7 to Year 12, as well as offering continuing education. Marsden State school opened in 1978.

Shailer Park State High School opened in 1980 for students from Year 7 to Year 12. Loganlea State High School opened in 1981. Shailer Park State School opened in 1982. Browns Plains State School opened in 1983, and Browns Plains State High School opened in 1985. Marsden State High School opened in 1987.

Park Ridge State High School opened in 1991. Yarrabilba State School is one of the newer schools, opening in 2018.

Industries in Logan

Logan has many industrial and business areas. These are mostly in the north and east of Woodridge, and west of Springwood and Daisy Hill. They are found in the area where Logan Road/Pacific Highway and Kingston Road meet, and also along Compton Road. The Crestmead industrial estate is designed for light to medium manufacturing businesses.

Logan is known for having many poker machines, with over 2,128 machines in 41 registered places. Each machine pays out a high amount, making it the highest in the state.

Australia's oldest rum distillery that is still working is located at Beenleigh. Tourism is also becoming an important part of the local economy, with more cultural and sporting events happening in the city.

Transport in Logan

Loganlea railway station in 2012.

Logan City has train services on Queensland Rail's Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines. The train stations include Trinder Park, Woodridge, Kingston, Loganlea, Bethania, Edens Landing, Holmview, and Beenleigh. Gold Coast trains only stop at Beenleigh and Loganlea.

In 2004, a system called Translink was introduced in South East Queensland. This system made it easier to use public transport with one ticket. Now, TransLink bus routes serve most of the developed areas of Logan City.

Logan City Bus Service is a bus company that operates services between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Logan City. It used to be called Greenline Bus Service and was bought by Clark's Bus Service in 1987. In 1995, they also bought Rochedale Bus Service. The name Logan City Bus Service was adopted in 2003. Logan City Bus Service runs many services under the Translink name. Most of these services are based around the Loganholme and Springwood bus stations along the Pacific Motorway, and the Browns Plains bus station further west. They also run buses during busy times between Logan City and Brisbane City.

Fun and Sports in Logan

Scrubby Creek and bikeway at the Gold Coast railway line crossing at Kingston in 2013.

Logan has 924 parks and reserves, many with different facilities. Logan also offers many active choices like local swimming pools, sports clubs, cycling tracks, walking tracks, little athletics, and go-karting. You can also find tinnie trails (self-guided heritage trails), golf courses, basketball/volleyball parks, skate parks, BMX tracks, and walking groups.

Logan City has been developing new bistro areas across the region. There are also cinemas, shopping centres, and many parks. The city also has a free public art gallery. The famous Australian band Savage Garden, who sold 25 million albums, is from Logan. Olympic swimmer Jodie Henry, who won three gold medals and set a world record at the 2004 Olympics, is also from Logan.

Logan City Council is turning the old Kingston Butter Factory into a cultural landmark. It will host entertainment and arts programs all year. The outdoor stage opened in March 2022, and the Butterbox Theatre and Living Arts Museum were set to open in mid-2022.

Logan City is home to the Souths Logan Magpies rugby league team, which is one of the oldest rugby league clubs in Australia. It is also home to the Logan Thunder WNBL team, a professional women's basketball team.

Every Saturday, a free 5 km timed run takes place at four different locations in Logan City. These events are called Logan River parkrun, Yarrabilba parkrun, Riverdale parkrun, and Berrinba parkrun.

In 2021, the "Proud City of Logan" campaign was launched. This local government project featured six local champions who were chosen to show the diverse people and lifestyles in the city.

A "Proud City of Logan" campaign sign featuring Shaun Davies.

Logan City Council runs public libraries in Beenleigh, Greenbank, Jimboomba, Logan Central, Logan Hyperdome (Shailer Park), Logan North (Underwood), Logan Village, Logan West (Browns Plains), and Marsden.

A community arts centre is located at the old Kingston Butter Factory, which is now a protected heritage site.

Climate in Logan

Logan City has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Suburbs of Logan

Riverdale Park at Meadowbrook in 2013.

A new housing estate at Logan Reserve in 2014.

Henry Jordan Park, Waterford West in 2013.

More than 80% of Logan is considered non-urban, meaning it's mostly rural land, semi-rural areas, or conservation zones.

Before 2008, Logan had clear borders with nearby areas like Beaudesert, Albert (which later joined Gold Coast), and Brisbane. The following suburbs were part of Logan before 2008:

In 2008, areas in northern Beaudesert and the Beenleigh area from the Gold Coast were added to Logan. This change brought Logan Reserve and Greenbank under one local government. The following areas were also added:

¹ - split with the Scenic Rim Region

See also

In Spanish: Logan City para niños