Samford, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Samford Queensland
Centre of Samford Village
Samford Location in Queensland
Population	656 (2006 census)
Established	1855
Postcode(s)	4520
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	18.7 km (12 mi) SW of Strathpine 21.9 km (14 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	City of Moreton Bay
State electorate(s)	Pine Rivers
Federal Division(s)	Dickson
Localities around Samford: Cedar Creek Yugar Draper Highvale Samford Draper Wights Mountain Camp Mountain Ferny Hills

Samford is a lovely town located in the City of Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia. It's actually made up of two smaller areas: Samford Village and Samford Valley. Back in 2006, about 656 people lived in the town of Samford.

Exploring Samford's Geography

Samford is a very hilly place. It is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) north-west of Brisbane. You can get to Samford from Brisbane by driving along Samford Road. This road goes through the Samford State Forest. The drive from Ferny Grove takes about 10 minutes.

Nature and Wildlife in Samford

Samford is right next to the Samford State Forest. This forest is part of the larger Brisbane Forest Park. Brisbane Forest Park is huge, covering over 26,500 hectares (65,000 acres). It has many different types of habitats. This makes it a safe home for lots of native Australian animals.

Samford Valley is sometimes called the "Home of the Powerful Owl." This is because the area is an important place for these large owls to breed. The D'Aguilar Mountain Range surrounds Samford. This range includes mountains like Camp Mountain, Mount Nebo, and Mount Glorious. These mountains create the beautiful valley where Samford is located.

Samford's Past: A Look at History

Samford was first home to Indigenous people. They called the area Kupidabin. This Aboriginal word from the Waka language means 'place of possums'. They also had a name for D.L. Brown's land in Samford, which was Karandukamari.

Important Aboriginal Ceremonies

Samford was a very important spot for "kippa-ring" ceremonies. These were special initiation ceremonies for young men. Tribes from places like Ipswich, Cressbrook, Mount Brisbane, and Brisbane would travel here. They came to have their "kippas" (young men) initiated into adulthood.

The Waka language group was the Aboriginal tribe that lived in Samford first. Their land also included the upper Brisbane River and the South Burnett area. Even though no Aboriginal tribes live in Samford today, their history is still remembered. You can find a Bora Ring at Wights Mountain. There is also a burial site near Upper Camp Mountain Road. The local historical museum keeps records of their past.

European Settlement and Early Days

Even though Samford is close to Brisbane, European settlers didn't arrive until the mid-1850s. The first land sales happened on February 1, 1855.

Samford State School, around 1872

The Samford Provisional School opened its doors on October 1, 1872. Later, in 1879, it became the Samford State School.

In 1916, a large area called the Highlands Estate was put up for sale. A map from that time shows the land was very close to the Samford railway station. This railway line, called the Enoggera Terror's Creek Line, was being built then.

1920s view of Camp Mountain from Main Street. Notice the old rail crossing and station.

New buildings started appearing on Samford Village's Main Street in 1916. The very first business in the Samford area was a shop and bakehouse. It was owned and built by Alex Lawson.

The Samford railway station opened on July 1, 1918. The railway line eventually reached its end at Dayboro railway station on September 25, 1920.

In 1919, O'Hara's Hotel, also known as the Samford Hotel, moved to its current spot. The land where the hotel used to be was bought by the CSIRO. In the late 1950s, the hotel changed its name again to the Golden Valley Hotel.

Banana Farming and Changes

By 1908, growing bananas became a very important industry in Samford. The banana farms were on the steep hills at the base of the mountains. After World War 1, the government helped soldiers who returned home. They created small farms so these servicemen could start in the banana industry.

In 1926 and 1927, Samford Railway Station sent more bananas to southern markets than any other station in Queensland! However, this success did not last long. A plant disease called banana bunchy top virus spread to Samford. This disease had already destroyed banana farms in New South Wales. It was the main reason why the banana industry in the Pine Rivers Shire declined.

Since the 1960s, many farms have been divided into smaller blocks for homes. The roads have also been improved a lot recently. Because of this, many people who live in Samford now travel to Brisbane for work.

In 2008, local governments joined together. The Shire of Pine Rivers, which included Samford, became part of the Moreton Bay Region. This region was later renamed the City of Moreton Bay.

Samford's Community and Facilities

Samford Village has a mix of old buildings, restaurants, shops, and services. You can see Samford's history as a farming village in its facilities. These include an equipment hire business, hardware stores, and places to buy farm produce. There are also banks, medical clinics, and legal and accounting services.

Fun Places to Visit

A popular place for visitors is the Samford Valley Historical Museum. It's in the middle of the village. John Scott Park is also in the heart of town. This park often hosts community events like free concerts and holiday parties. The park has playgrounds for kids and is a great spot for weekend barbecues.

The Slab Hut Gallery is an information center and art gallery. It's also located in John Scott Park. Near the park, you'll find several gift shops, restaurants, cafes, and a pub.

Scouting and Outdoor Adventures

Besides the Samford Scout Group, the Scout Association of Queensland runs Baden Powell Park. This park has 56 hectares (138 acres) of natural bush land. It borders the Brisbane Forest Park. Inside the park, there are conference rooms, a big kitchen, places to stay, and a camping ground. There's also a swimming pool, a dam, and an abseiling tower. You can find walking trails of different difficulty levels too. Baden Powell Park hosts activities open to the public, like laser skirmish and abseiling.

The Baden-Powell Heritage Centre & Museum is open to scouting groups. It is also open to the public on weekends.

The Moreton Bay City Council has a mobile library service. It visits John Scott Park on Station Street.

The Samford branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall. This hall is at 31 Main Street in Samford Village.

Sports and Activities in Samford

There are many local sports you can play in Samford. These include swimming, horse riding, soccer, football, cricket, netball, tennis, archery, and lawn bowls.

The Moreton Bay City Council bought the old CSIRO land. This land is on the northern edge of the Village and is about 140 hectares (346 acres). The Council is planning to build a big sport and recreation facility there. This will be a major resource for people living in Samford Valley and the wider Moreton Bay region.

Supporting the Samford Community

The Samford Support Network is a group of volunteers. They help community members who are sick, elderly, or have a disability. They also assist those who are going through a tough time.

Learning in Samford: Schools and Education

Samford State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is for both boys and girls and is located on School Road. In 2018, the school had 850 students. It also has a special education program.

There isn't a high school right in Samford. The closest government high school is Ferny Grove State High School in Ferny Grove.

Several private schools offer bus services to Samford. These include St Paul's School, Bald Hills, Padua College, and St. Joseph's Nudgee College in Boondall.