County of Stanley, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stanley Queensland
Location within Queensland
Lands administrative divisions around Stanley: Cavendish Canning Pacific Ocean Churchill Stanley Pacific Ocean Churchill Ward Pacific Ocean

Map of Stanley county in 1886, showing its early boundaries.

The County of Stanley is a special kind of land division in Queensland, Australia. It's mainly used to keep track of who owns which piece of land. Think of it like a very old way of organizing property records! This area is centered around the big city of Brisbane.

The county got its name from Edward Stanley. He was an important British prime minister three times during the 1850s and 1860s.

The County of Stanley has natural borders. To the south, it's bordered by the Logan River. In the west, it follows the Brisbane River, which is now part of Lake Wivenhoe. To the north-west, it's bordered by the Stanley River, now Lake Somerset. The Caboolture River forms its northern edge.

This county also includes the islands of Moreton Island and Stradbroke Island. On the mainland, it stretches west to Ipswich, south to Loganlea, and north to Morayfield.

A Look Back: History of Stanley

The County of Stanley has a long history. Before Queensland became its own separate colony in 1859, Stanley was actually a county within New South Wales. Brisbane was first settled in 1826, and the County of Stanley was officially created on 27 February 1843.

Back then, its borders were a bit less clear. It was generally understood to cover the land between the 27th and 28th lines of latitude, stretching from Moreton Bay to the western mountain ranges. This covered a large area of about 1,724 square miles (4,465 square kilometers).

By 1852, about 2,000 people lived in the county. Important crops grown there included wheat, coffee, cotton, and tobacco. Over time, the county's size changed. By 1863, it had shrunk to the borders we know today.

How Stanley's Borders Changed

On 7 March 1901, the Governor of Queensland made new official boundaries for Stanley. This was done under a law called the Land Act 1897.

The new description said that Stanley was bordered:

• On the south by the county of Ward.
• On the west by the western edges of areas like Undullah, Ipswich, and Chuwar, following the Brisbane River and the Stanley River.
• On the north by the northern edges of areas like Pine, Caboolture, and Burpengary.
• On the east by the Pacific Ocean, including Moreton and Stradbroke Islands.

Smaller Areas: Parishes in Stanley

The County of Stanley is further divided into smaller areas called parishes. These are like local neighborhoods or districts within the larger county. Each parish has its own name and often includes specific towns or localities.

Here is a list of the parishes in Stanley: