Mundoolun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mundoolun Logan City, Queensland
Paddocks along Tremayne Road, 2014
Mundoolun Location in Queensland
Population	1,836 (2021 census)
• Density	42.11/km2 (109.1/sq mi)
Established	1842
Postcode(s)	4285
Area	43.6 km2 (16.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Logan City
State electorate(s)	Scenic Rim
Federal Division(s)	Wright
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall  ? ? 988 mm 38.9 in
Suburbs around Mundoolun: Jimboomba Tamborine Tamborine Cedar Vale Mundoolun Tamborine Veresdale Scrub Birnan Boyland

Mundoolun is a quiet countryside area in Logan City, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 1,836 people lived there. It was one of the very first large farms (called 'pastoral runs') set up near the Logan and Albert Rivers.

Exploring Mundoolun's Location

Mundoolun is nestled in the Albert River valley. The Albert River flows along its eastern side. To the west are the hills of the Birnam Range. The Mundoolun Bridge is like a marker. It shows where the upper and lower parts of the Albert River meet.

Lately, new homes have been built in an area called 'The Mundoolun Estate'. This estate is located east of Mundoolun Road. The Beaudesert–Beenleigh Road also passes through the south-east part of Mundoolun.

A Look Back at Mundoolun's Past

The name Mundoolun comes from an Aboriginal word. It is believed to be mundoolgunn, which means "death adder". This word comes from the Yugambeh dialect of the Bundjalung language.

Mundoolun is part of the traditional lands of the Wangerriburra people. They were also known as the Albert tribe. Their territory covered the middle Albert River basin.

In 1827, Captain Patrick Logan explored this area. He was the leader of the Moreton Bay penal colony. He wrote in his journal about passing through a "rich valley". This is believed to be the Mundoolun area.

The First Big Farm: Mundoolun Station

In 1842, the Moreton Bay penal colony closed. This opened up the land for new settlers. William Humphreys, a sheep farmer, started a large farm here. It was called a 'pastoral run' or 'station'. He named it 'Mount Martin Station' at first. Soon, it became known as 'Moondoolun', then 'Mundoolun'.

In 1844, Humphreys' cousins, Anne and John Collins, joined him. By 1847, the Collins family owned the Mundoolun property.

William Humphreys built a small cottage with a thatched roof. It was made from strong ironbark wood. The cottage was near the Albert River for water. The Collins family built a similar cottage nearby.

Around 1854, the Collins's cottage grew into the 'Old Homestead'. Its outer walls were made from local cedar wood. Wide verandas were common on homes back then. An outdoor cooking shed was added to prevent fires. The Collins's sons, Robert and William, brought cattle to the farm. Sheep were moved away as they didn't do well near the coast. The Fraser family, who are descendants of the Collins, still live in the Old Homestead. In 2011, the property was over 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres).

From 1863 to 1872, a mail coach ran between Casino and Brisbane. It would stop at Mundoolun.

Fighting Tick Fever in Cattle

Tick Fever No. 2 Steer Mundoolun Experiments, 1897

Mundoolun played a big part in fighting a cattle disease. This disease was called tick fever or red water. It was caused by tiny parasites carried by ticks. William Collins, one of the Collins sons, helped with this. He traveled to the United States in 1896 to learn about a similar problem there.

In 1897, important experiments took place at Mundoolun Station. Charles Joseph Pound, a scientist, inoculated cattle. This meant he gave them a small amount of the disease. This helped them become immune, like a vaccine. Pound found that cattle could become immune to tick fever. This could happen naturally or through inoculation.

His work led to a guide for inoculating cattle in 1898. Pound said the Mundoolun experiments proved this method worked.

Moondoolan School

Moondoolan Provisional School opened around 1880. It closed around 1898. In 1892, it was known as one of the best schools in Queensland.

St John's Church: A Special Place

St John's Mundoolun Church, 2013

The Collins family built a private church in 1901. It is called the Memorial Church of St John the Evangelist. They built it to remember John and Anne Collins. The church is west of Mundoolun Road. It was built from local sandstone. The design is in the Early English Gothic style. It has a square bell tower.

The church is next to the family cemetery. It sits on a ridge behind the Mundoolun homestead. This church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999.

In the cemetery, you can find the grave of Bullumm (1850–1931). He was also known as John Allen. He was the last survivor of the Wangerriburra people. He was a lifelong friend of the Collins family. In 1913, Bullumm helped record the Wangerriburra language.

Military Training in Mundoolun

Light-horsemen on parade in an army camp near Mundoolun, 1909

As early as 1901, Mundoolun was used for military training. The Brisbane Courier newspaper reported this. The Field Artillery Section would camp at Mundoolun for practice. Major Chauvel was in command of some units.

These military exercises happened often before World War I. In 1913, a report described the camp. It was called 'Tambourine Camp'. It was located on a slope overlooking the Albert River. The river provided good water for drinking, washing, and swimming.

One member of the Collins family, Douglas Martin Fraser, served in World War I. He was with the 5th Light Horse Regiment in Palestine in 1918.

Military training still happens in the region today. It takes place at the Canungra Military Area. This base was set up during World War II.

Mundoolun Today

Mundoolun used to be in the Shire of Beaudesert. In March 2008, it became part of Logan City.

Mundoolun's Population

In 2011, Mundoolun had 1,327 people. About 50.6% were female and 49.4% were male. The average age was 34 years old. This was a bit younger than the national average of 37. Most people (76.6%) were born in Australia. Other countries of birth included England (7.4%) and New Zealand (4%). Most people (93.4%) spoke only English at home.

In 2016, Mundoolun's population grew to 1,551 people. By 2021, it had reached 1,836 people.

Places of Historical Importance

Mundoolun has some special places listed for their history:

• Mundoolun Road: St John's Church