Mount Crosby, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Crosby Brisbane, Queensland
Mount Crosby pumping station, 2022
Mount Crosby Location in Queensland
Population	1,860 (2021 census)
• Density	121.6/km2 (315/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4306
Area	15.3 km2 (5.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	10.7 km (7 mi) NE of Ipswich CBD 30.1 km (19 mi) WSW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane
State electorate(s)	Moggill
Federal Division(s)	Blair
Suburbs around Mount Crosby: Kholo Kholo Anstead Kholo Mount Crosby Anstead Chuwar Karana Downs Karalee

Mount Crosby is a quiet, semi-rural area located west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a great place with a mix of nature and history. In 2021, about 1,860 people called Mount Crosby home. It's known for its important role in supplying water to Brisbane.

Exploring Mount Crosby's Geography

Mount Crosby is surrounded by nature. The Brisbane River flows along its south-west and south sides. Locals sometimes call this part of the river the "Devil's elbow."

The area also has two mountains. Holts Hill is about 65 meters above sea level. Mount Crosby, also known as Mount Belle Vue, is taller at 183 meters high.

A historic spot called Colleges Crossing is also here. It used to be a shallow part of the Brisbane River that people could cross. Now, there's a low-level bridge there.

A Look Back at Mount Crosby's History

Pumping engine at the Mount Crosby waterworks, 2017

The Jagera Aboriginal people lived in the Mount Crosby area long ago. They had special ceremonial places on the slopes of Mount Elphinstone.

In 1824, explorer John Oxley explored the Brisbane River. He and Lieutenant Butler climbed the mountain we now call Mount Crosby. They named it Belle Vue Mountain. The name "Mount Crosby" might come from early farmers from a place called Crosbie-on-Eden. Another idea is that it was named after a gold prospector, George Crosby.

Also in 1824, Allan Cunningham explored a shallow part of the Brisbane River. This spot later became known as Colleges Crossing. It was named after farmer George College, who settled in the area around 1852.

The first postal office in the area opened in 1882. It was first called Crosby and later Mount Crosby. It became a full post office around 1924.

Mount Crosby Provisional School opened in 1882 with 22 students. It closed for a short time but reopened in 1893 as Mount Crosby State School. The original school building is now a heritage-listed site.

The Mount Crosby Pumping Station and the first Mount Crosby weir began operating in 1892. They were built to supply water to Brisbane. A small village was created for the workers, with homes, a church, a store, and a bowls club. A special tramway was built to bring coal to the station.

In the early 1940s, Scouts Australia bought land here. They developed it into the Tyamolum Scout Camp.

In 1948, the first part of the Mount Crosby East Bank Water Treatment Plant opened. This was a big step for Brisbane's water supply.

From 1985 to 2003, there was a special school here. It was called the Autism Therapy & Education Centre. It helped children with autism.

In 2000, Mount Crosby became part of the City of Brisbane. Before that, it was part of the City of Ipswich.

Who Lives in Mount Crosby?

Mount Crosby is home to a diverse group of people. In 2021, the population was 1,860.

In 2016, there were 1,832 people living here. Most people (72.9%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included England, South Africa, and New Zealand. Most people spoke only English at home.

Historic Places in Mount Crosby

Mount Crosby has many places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites. Many of them are old cottages that were built for the waterworks employees.

Some of these special places include:

• Many Waterworks Cottages on Brady Court, Scriven Street, and Stumers Road.
• The Shift Operator's House at Holt's Hill Plant.
• The former Mount Crosby State School and Residence.
• The Mount Crosby General Store & Post Office.
• The Mount Crosby Community Hall.
• The Mount Crosby Pumping Station and the Mount Crosby Weir.

Learning in Mount Crosby

There are no schools directly inside Mount Crosby. However, Mount Crosby State School is very close by. It's a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located in the neighbouring area of Karana Downs.

For high school, students usually go to Ipswich State High School in Brassall, which is in Ipswich.

Important Facilities

Mount Crosby plays a key role in providing water to Brisbane. It has several important water facilities:

• The Mount Crosby Weir and Pumping Station on Stumer Road.
• The Mount Crosby Eastbank Water Treatment Plant.
• The Camerons Hill Reservoirs.

There is also a SES Unit located on Stumers Road. This unit helps the community during emergencies.

Community Life and Amenities

Mount Crosby has several places for people to gather and enjoy.

The Brisbane City Council's mobile library visits Mount Crosby every two weeks. It stops outside the Mount Crosby State School.

The Mount Crosby Bowls Club is a popular spot for locals. It's located on Mount Crosby Road.

The Mount Crosby Post Office is part of the general store. It helps residents send and receive mail.

The Tyamolum Scout Park and Camping Ground is a great place for outdoor activities. It has bunk-style accommodation and areas for tent camping.

There are also several parks in the area where people can relax and play:

• Banksia Drive Reserve
• Bullock Dray Road Park
• Jack Kerr Court Park
• Malcolm Mcdougall Park
• Platypus Park
• Scriven Street Reserve
• Stumers Road Reserve
• Swensons Road Nature Reserve