Pine Mountain, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pine Mountain Ipswich, Queensland
Pine Mountain Community Hall, 2014
Pine Mountain Location in Queensland
Population	1,695 (2021 census)
• Density	43.80/km2 (113.4/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4306
Area	38.7 km2 (14.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	City of Ipswich
State electorate(s)	Ipswich West
Federal Division(s)	Blair
Suburbs around Pine Mountain: Borallon Lake Manchester Kholo Wanora Pine Mountain Kholo Ironbark Blacksoil Brassall Muirlea

Pine Mountain is a quiet, mostly rural area located in the city of Ipswich, in Queensland, Australia. It's a place where you'll find lots of open spaces and farms. In 2021, about 1,695 people lived in Pine Mountain.

Geography of Pine Mountain

Olive orchard, 2014

Pine Mountain is surrounded by natural features. The Brisbane River forms its northern and eastern borders. A smaller stream called Sandy Creek is to the north-west. To the south, you'll find the Warrego Highway, and the Brisbane Valley Highway is to the west and south-west.

Natural Features

A special part of the Brisbane River in the eastern area is called Worlds End Pocket. It's like a small bend or "pocket" in the river.

Pine Mountain also has two hills:

• Flinton Hill is in the northern part of the area. It is about 105 metres (344 feet) high.
• Pine Mountain (the hill itself) is in the east. It stands about 233 metres (764 feet) tall. The whole area gets its name from this mountain.

Most of Pine Mountain is made up of large rural properties and farms. Many of these have old farmhouses and buildings. You'll also see many Araucaria cunninghamii trees, which are also known as hoop pines.

History of Pine Mountain

The first people to live in the Pine Mountain area were the Ugarapul Aboriginal people. In 1824, explorers John Oxley and Allan Cunningham met an elderly Aboriginal man here. He was friendly and helped them find places to cross the river. He even traveled with them to the base of Pine Mountain.

Naming the Area

The mountain was first called Pine Ridge by John Oxley in 1824. Later, it became known as Pine Mountain. The entire area then took its name from this mountain.

Early Settlement and Farming

By the 1850s, people came to Pine Mountain to cut down trees. The hoop pines were very useful for timber. Some logs were taken to Ipswich by bullock teams, while others were floated down the Brisbane River.

After the land was cleared, settlers started farming. They grew crops like lucerne, maize, and cotton. Fruit orchards were also planted, and dairy farming became important. Over time, a small butter factory, a school, and several churches were built. Today, only the Catholic Church remains from these early buildings.

Schools in Pine Mountain

• Pine Mountain State School opened around 1864. It taught children for many years before closing in 1963.
• Another school, Riverside Pine Mountain Provisional School, was open from 1876 to 1882.

Churches in Pine Mountain

Several churches were important to the early community:

• The Congregational Church started services around 1863. A chapel was moved from Bremer Mills in 1873 to serve as a church and even a temporary school.
• St John's Catholic Chapel opened in 1865. It was built with help from many people in the community. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1874. A new church, St Andrew's Catholic Church, was built in 1879. Later, in 1934, a new St Michael's Catholic Church was built.
• A United Methodist Free Church also opened in 1874. It was built on land donated by Reuben Worley.
• St Peter's Anglican Church opened around 1886 and closed in 1962.

The Railway Line

The Brisbane Valley railway line was built in 1884. This railway connected Ipswich to Lowood and passed through Pine Mountain. The line is still there today, but it is no longer used for trains.

Population of Pine Mountain

In 2016, Pine Mountain had a population of 1,667 people. By 2021, the population had grown slightly to 1,695 people.

Places to Visit

St Michael's Catholic Church is located at 856 Pine Mountain Road. It is a local landmark.