Woodford, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Woodford Queensland
Main street
Woodford Location in Queensland
Population	4,022 (2021 census)
• Density	44.590/km2 (115.49/sq mi)
Established	1841
Postcode(s)	4514
Area	90.2 km2 (34.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	25.3 km (16 mi) NW of Caboolture 73.4 km (46 mi) NNW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Moreton Bay
State electorate(s)	Glass House
Federal Division(s)	Longman
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall  ? ? 1,324 mm 52.1 in
Localities around Woodford: Stony Creek Bellthorpe Stanmore Commissioners Flat Glass House Mountains Neurum Woodford Beerburrum Elimbah Delaneys Creek D'Aguilar Bracalba Wamuran

Woodford is a small town and area in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. It's a rural place, meaning it's in the countryside rather than a big city. In 2021, about 4,022 people lived in Woodford.

The town is well-known for the Woodford Folk Festival. This big event happens every year around the New Year holidays.

Where is Woodford Located?

Woodford is about 73.4 kilometers (45.6 miles) north-north-west of Brisbane, which is the capital city of Queensland. It's also about 24.3 kilometers (15.1 miles) north-west of Caboolture. The town is located on the D'Aguilar Highway, an important road in the area.

A Look at Woodford's Past

An early sketch of Durundur Station by Charles Archer in 1843

First Peoples of the Land

The land where Woodford is today has a long history. It is part of the traditional country of the Duungidjawu people. Their language, also known as Kabi Kabi, was spoken across this region. This area includes places like Caboolture, Kilcoy, Woodford, and Moore.

Another language, Dalla (or Dalambara), was spoken in the Upper Brisbane River area. It was also part of the Duungidjawu language region.

How Woodford Began

In 1841, a family called the Archer brothers started a large farm called Durundur Station. It was located near the Stanley River, close to where Woodford is now.

Later, in 1877, some of the land from Durundur Station was made available for people to settle on. Mr. W. Yates was one of the first to choose a piece of land. He built a hotel near a place where people could cross the river, called a "ford." Because of his hotel, the area became unofficially known as Yatesville.

The first town was actually on a hill closer to the Stanley River. When a mail service started, the town needed an official name. People first chose "McConnel" to honor the main owner of Durundur Station. However, the Postmaster General didn't accept that name. So, they had another meeting and decided on "Woodford." This name honored Henry Conwell Wood, another important person from Durundur Station, and also recognized the "ford" across the river.

Early Industries and Growth

Cutting timber was the main industry in Woodford for a long time. Most of the wood from the area was sent to a sawmill in Caboolture.

Dairying, which is farming cows for milk, also became a big industry. A factory that processed milk was opened in the town in 1904.

Schools and Churches

• The first school, Durundur Provisional School, opened in 1882. It was renamed Woodford Provisional School in 1885 and then Woodford State School in 1887.
• A Catholic chapel opened around 1890. A new Catholic church and school were officially opened in 1930.
• St. Matthias' Anglican Church was built in 1892. It was later moved to a more central spot in 1914 using a bullock wagon!
• Woodford Methodist Church opened in 1912. It later became Woodford Uniting Church and has since closed, but the building is still there.
• Woodford Baptist Church opened in 1924.
• St Joseph's Catholic School opened in 1930 but closed in 1965.

The Railway Line

Woodford used to have a railway line that connected it to Caboolture. The line reached Woodford in 1909. There were two railway stations: Durundur and Woodford. Most of the railway was removed after it closed in the early 1960s.

Modern Times

The Woodford public library opened in 1978. In 1994, the Maleny Folk Festival moved to Woodford and became the Woodford Folk Festival. This festival grew too big for its old location.

Woodford was also a filming location for the horror movie Undead in 2003. The Festival of the Dreaming, which celebrates Indigenous Australian culture, was held in Woodford from 2005 to 2011. It then became part of the Woodford Folk Festival.

A Woolworths supermarket opened in Woodford in 2010. For a while, there was even an Elvis Presley-themed fruit and vegetable shop called Elvis Parsley's Grapelands! New houses were built in the town around 2010 and 2011. The music festival Splendour in the Grass was also held in Woodford in 2010 and 2011.

Who Lives in Woodford?

In 2011, Woodford had 2,517 people. Most people (82.9%) were born in Australia. Other people came from New Zealand (4.6%) and England (3.4%). Most people spoke only English at home.

By 2016, the population grew to 3,458 people. In the most recent count in 2021, Woodford had 4,022 residents.

Learning in Woodford

Woodford State School is a government school for students from Prep (the first year of school) up to Year 10. It's located at 171 Archer Street. The school also has a special education program.

For students who want to continue their schooling up to Year 12, the closest high schools are in Caboolture, Beerwah, and Kilcoy.

Important Places and Services

Community Facilities

• The Woodford Correctional Centre is a prison located on the edge of town.
• The Moreton Bay City Council runs a public library in Woodford at 1 Elizabeth Street.
• Woodford Baptist Church is at 115 Archer Street.
• St Matthias' Anglican Church is at 88 Archer Street.
• St Mary's Catholic Church is at 16 Peterson Road.
• Woodford Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses is at 26 Scotts Lane.

Sports and Recreation

Woodford is home to the Stanley River Cricket Club. This club helps kids and adults play cricket in the local area.

Fun Things to Do in Woodford

Annual Events

• The Woodford Folk Festival is a very popular event held every December. It brings music, arts, and culture to the town.
• The Woodford Markets happen on the third Sunday of each month. You can find local goods and crafts there.
• The Woodford Show is an annual event held in June. It's a traditional country show with rides, animals, and competitions.

Local Attractions

• The Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society has a railway museum at the old Woodford railway station. This group works to save the history of narrow-gauge railways in Queensland. They have old steam, diesel, and petrol trains. You can even ride a steam train on the first and third Sunday of each month!
• The Woodford Historical Society runs a museum at 109 Archer Street. It's part of the library complex and shows the history of the town.

Images for kids

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  An early sketch of Durundur Station by Charles Archer in 1843