Beaudesert Yilbagan (Yugambeh) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 William Street at dawn, 2021 | |||||||||||||
  Beaudesert | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:27°59′17″S152°59′45″E / 27.9880°S 152.9958°E /-27.9880; 152.9958 (Beaudesert (town centre)) | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||
| Established | 1870s[1] | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 43.6 km2 (16.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Elevation | 50 m (160 ft) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 6,752 (2021 census)[3] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 154.86/km2 (401.1/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 4285 | ||||||||||||
| Mean max temp | 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) | ||||||||||||
| Mean min temp | 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) | ||||||||||||
| Annual rainfall | 905.4 mm (35.65 in) | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Beaudesert (Yugambeh:Yilbagan) is a rural town andlocality in theScenic Rim Region ofQueensland, Australia.[4][5] In the2021 census, the locality of Beaudesert had a population of 6,752 people.[3]
Beaudesert is the administrative centre for the Scenic Rim Region.
Beaudesert is south ofBrisbane and west of theGold Coast.
Beaudesert is located on theMount Lindesay Highway, some 70 kilometres (43 mi) south ofBrisbane. The area sources its income predominantly from rural activities such as cropping, grazing and equine activities, as well as tourism.
In theLogan River andAlbert River valleys, Beaudesert is a regional hub serving surrounding communities such asRathdowney,Kooralbyn,Canungra,Tamborine Mountain andJimboomba. It is approximately 91 kilometres from Brisbane and connected by the Mount Lindesay Highway.[citation needed]
The town of Beaudesert is located 46 metres (151 ft) above sea level.
In the east of the locality is the decommissionedNindooinbah Dam. The much largerWyaralong Dam is situated roughly 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to the north west of the town and was completed in 2011.[citation needed]
Beaudesert experiences ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), having hot, wet summers with frequent thunderstorms and mild, dry winters with cool nights, averaging 15-20 ground frosts annually. The maximum recorded temperature is 44.6 °C on 4 January 2014, and the coldest recorded temperature is −5.5 °C on 11 July 1972.The lowest maximum temperature of 12.8°C was recorded on 4 July 2022, and the highest minimum temperature of 27.0°C was recorded on 27 January 2024.[6]
Beaudesert has an average annual rainfall of around 916 millimetres (36.1 in) per year, the vast majority of which falls in summer, with a high annual variability. 2019 saw the driest year on record, with a mere 395.4mm measured. The wettest year on record was 1893, with 1,726.5mm measured.Beaudesert can experience significant and severe storms in the warmer months, producing flash flooding, large hail, and more rarely tornadoes.
| Climate data for Beaudesert (27º58'12"S, 152º59'24"E, 48 m AMSL) (2007–present normals and 1887–present extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.6 (112.3) | 43.1 (109.6) | 38.4 (101.1) | 36.2 (97.2) | 31.8 (89.2) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.1 (84.4) | 35.9 (96.6) | 39.1 (102.4) | 39.8 (103.6) | 43.1 (109.6) | 42.3 (108.1) | 44.6 (112.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.4 (88.5) | 30.7 (87.3) | 29.3 (84.7) | 27.0 (80.6) | 24.2 (75.6) | 21.9 (71.4) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 26.2 (79.2) | 28.2 (82.8) | 29.9 (85.8) | 30.8 (87.4) | 27.1 (80.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.4 (66.9) | 19.1 (66.4) | 18.0 (64.4) | 14.0 (57.2) | 9.8 (49.6) | 7.3 (45.1) | 6.2 (43.2) | 6.6 (43.9) | 10.1 (50.2) | 13.2 (55.8) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.2 (64.8) | 13.2 (55.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 11.6 (52.9) | 12.2 (54.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | −1.7 (28.9) | −3.2 (26.2) | −5.5 (22.1) | −3.8 (25.2) | −1.0 (30.2) | 3.0 (37.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | 9.4 (48.9) | −5.5 (22.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 149.7 (5.89) | 115.3 (4.54) | 135.2 (5.32) | 44.3 (1.74) | 61.6 (2.43) | 38.4 (1.51) | 29.9 (1.18) | 26.9 (1.06) | 35.0 (1.38) | 73.6 (2.90) | 83.5 (3.29) | 124.9 (4.92) | 915.2 (36.03) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 8.4 | 7.4 | 9.4 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 9.6 | 75.7 |
| Source:Bureau of Meteorology (2007–2024 normals and extremes)[7] | |||||||||||||
Yugembah (also known as Yugumbir, Jugambel, Jugambeir, Jugumbir, Jukam, Jukamba) is one of theAustralian Aboriginal languages in areas that include the Beaudesert, Gold Coast, Logan,Scenic Rim,Albert River,Beenleigh,Coolangatta,Coomera,Logan River,Pimpama,Tamborine andTweed River Valley, within the local government boundaries of theCity of Gold Coast,City of Logan, Scenic Rim Regional Council and the Tweed River Valley.[citation needed]
Mununjali (also known as Mananjahli, Manaldjahli and Manandjali) is a dialect of theYugambeh language. The Mununjali language area includes landscape within the local government boundaries of theScenic Rim andBeaudesert Shire Councils.[8]
The town is possibly named afterBeau Desert Park, the property of Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6thMarquess of Anglesey in Staffordshire, England.[1] Yet it is certain that Queensland's Beaudesert was named in about 1841 or 1842 by 'Ned Hawkins', orEdward Brace Hawkins (1821–1849), who was claiming the area as a sheep station on behalf of his employerWilliam Henry Suttor senior (1805–1877) atBathurst. It is not known why Hawkins picked the name Beaudesert.[citation needed]
The town was originally set out in a grid pattern; however, several of the streets followed cart tracks. The area was originally settled for growing cotton and sheep. However, the area is also notoriously short of water and the cotton was not a successful crop. Hoop pine was very successfully collected from the area. In 1863 the cotton workers wereindentured labourers from the South Sea Islands, the first such use in Queensland.[citation needed]
Located in the Beaudesert Historical Museum is the Milbanks Pioneer Cottage. This cottage was originally built in 1875 by Patrick Milbanks on his Kerry property, out of local hand-hewn timbers, slats and shingle roof. It has four-poster bed, large cedarsideboard and numerous articles that portray the life of the early pioneers.[citation needed]
Upper Beaudesert Provisional School opened circa 1882 and closed circa 1885.[9]
Beaudesert Provisional School opened on 26 March 1882 but closed on 9 September 1886. On 13 September 1887, it reopened as Beaudesert State School.[9][10]
On 15 August 1885 at Stretton's Hotel at Beaudesert, auctioneer C.J. Warner offered 125 town lots in the Beaudesert Township Extension estate. The lots were mostly 2 roods (0.50 acres; 2,000 m2) and were on Brisbane Street, Tubber Street, Gordon Street, Birman Street, James Street, Edward Street and Alice Street.[11] The advertising noted that theQueensland Government had voted the funds to extend the railway line fromLogan Village to Beaudesert.[12]
TheBeaudesert railway line fromBethania to Beaudesert opened on 16 May 1888.[13]Beaudesert railway station (27°59′07″S152°59′42″E / 27.9853°S 152.9950°E /-27.9853; 152.9950 (Beaudesert railway station)) served the town.[14] Use of the passenger services declined with the increasing ownership of cars followingWorld War II, leading to the termination of the passenger services in 1961. However the Beaudesert abattoir and the dairy farmers continued to use the freight services on the line until freight services terminated on 20 May 1996.[15]
On Tuesday 24 July 1888, the foundation log of St Thomas' Anglican church was laid byMrs De Burgh Persse ofTabragalba with an address given by ArchdeaconNathaniel Dawes.[16][17][18] On 24 November 1956 the foundation stone for a new church was laid by the Governor of Queensland, John Lavarack, and blessed byArchbishopReginald Halse.The second St Thomas' Anglican Church was consecrated on Sunday 4 July 1965 by ArchbishopPhilip Strong.[19][20][21] The 1888 church was used as the church hall.[22]
On 3 February 1889,Roman Catholic ArchbishopRobert Dunne blessed the foundation stone for the first Catholic church in Beaudesert. The event raised £74 with a further £7 pledged.[23] As 2 February was theFeast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was decided to call the church Our Lady of the Purification, but it was commonly known as St Mary's.[24] Dunne returned on 2 June 1889 to open the new church.[25][26] Internally the church was 50 by 28 feet (15.2 m × 8.5 m) with 14-foot (4.3 m) ceilings. It was built by James Madden ofIpswich, who design the church for free. It was fitted with analtar,altar rails and 20pews.[24] On Sunday 15 September 1907 the second St Mary's was opened, with the original church dismantled and re-assembled atKerry where it was named St John's Catholic Church.[24]
In 1897 a Baptist church was opened in Beaudesert on land purchased for that purpose in 1889.[27][28][29][30] The foundation stone was laid in April 1897 and the church was officially opened on Wednesday 16 June 1897.[31][32]
On 14 April 1901, the foundation stone was laid for St Mary's Convent School. The school opened on 19 August 1901 with an initial enrolment of 101 students and was operated by theSisters of Mercy. The original timber building remained in use until 1939 when its condition was becoming dangerous. The school operated temporarily from the church until a new brick building was erected. The brick building was blessed and opened by ArchbishopJames Duhig on 3 September 1939. The timber building remains on the site as Mercy Hall. Further buildings were added over the years. On 19 August 2013, the 1939 brick building was badly damaged by a fire. However, the exterior and stained glass windows survived and the building was rebuilt, re-opening on 20 February 2015; it is now used for school administration.[9][33]
On 17 December 1901 auctioneers M. Selwyn Smith offered nine grazing and agricultural lots surrounding the town of the Beaudesert ranging in size from 137 to 607 acres (55 to 246 ha; 0.55 to 2.46 km2), totalling 2,235 acres (904 ha; 9.04 km2).[34] The land was being sold following the death of its owner Ernest White.[35]
TheBeaudesert Shire Tramway toChristmas Creek,Lamington andRathdowney, operated by theBeaudesert Shire, opened in 1903 and closed in 1944.
A local newspaper, theBeaudesert Times was established in 1908.[36]
The Beaudesert War Museum was unveiled on 28 September 1921 byQueensland GovernorMatthew Nathan.[37]
In 1936 ex-prime ministerBilly Hughes was injured in a plane crash during an emergency landing in Wood's Paddock.[38]
From the nineteenth century through to the 1980s, it was a thriving centre with a shoe factory and meat works as well as markets, a hospital and an ambulance service. The Enright family managed a major department store.[39] The Blunck family managed an electrical store and a car servicing and sales business.[40]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially opened on Sunday 20 August 1949 by Pastor F. A. Mote, of Sydney, the secretary of the Australasian Inter-Union Conference,[41] and foundation stone for the Beaudesert Baptist Church was laid on 8 October 1949 by C.G. Sweetman, President of the Baptist Union in Queensland.[42][43][44]
From 1954 to 1962, the Beaudesert State School also provided a secondary school program, which ceased when a separate Beaudesert State High School was opened in January 1963.[9][45]
From 1961 until 2001, the controversial child-welfare organisationBoysTown operated in Beaudesert. It had the largest case of child abuse at a single institution in Australia's history.[46]
In 1999, the Biddaddaba History Group brought together the history of the area from the earliest settlement of white people up to 1990 in a comprehensive book available from libraries.[47]
Prior to construction, the site of McAuley College was blessed byArchbishop of Brisbane,Mark Coleridge. It opened on 25 January 2017 with 36 students in Year 7. It was officially opened on 17 November 2017 byScott Buchholz,Member for Wright with a blessing by Coleridge.[48]
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1842 | Nindooinbah pastoral run was established |
| 1850 | Nindooinbah original homestead was built |
| 1885 | Beaudesert Hotel (burned down in 1940 and replaced) |
| 1888 | Beaudesert railway line opened |
| 1901 | St Marys Primary School opened. |
| 1903 | Beaudesert Shire Tramway opened |
| 1904 | The Logan and Albert Co-operative Butter Factory opened and closed 1987. |
| 1919 | Beaudesert RSL Sub Branch in Jane Street |
| 1927 | Visit by The Duke and Duchess of York |
| 1934 | L & A Hotel opened |
| 1944 | Beaudesert Shire Tramway closed |
| 1964 | Beaudesert High School |
| 1993 | A J Bush. Destroyed by fire in 2001. Reopened in 2002 |
| 1995 | Gelita opened |
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1881 | 25 |
| 1891 | 450 |
| 1911 | 1,330 |
| 1947 | 1,548 |
| 1961 | 2,930 |
| 1991 | 4,028 |
| 2001 | 4,460 |
| 2006 | 5,388 |
| 2011 | 5,999 |
| 2016 | 6,395 |
| 2021 | 6,752 |
In the2016 census, the locality of Beaudesert had a population of 6,395 people.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 7.2% of the population. 80.6% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 3.2% and England 2.7%. 89.7% of people only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 23.4%, Anglican 21.3% and Catholic 21.2%.[49]
In the2021 census, the locality of Beaudesert had a population of 6,752 people.[3]
Beaudesert has a number ofheritage-listed sites, including:
Beaudesert State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 17 Tina Street (27°59′20″S153°00′08″E / 27.9888°S 153.0023°E /-27.9888; 153.0023 (Beaudesert State School)).[51][52] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 649 students with 49 teachers (43 full-time equivalent) and 29 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).[53] It includes a special education program.[51]
St Mary's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 1 Bromelton Street (27°59′26″S152°59′29″E / 27.9905°S 152.9913°E /-27.9905; 152.9913 (St Mary's Catholic Primary School)).[51][54] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 352 students with 26 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 19 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).[53]
Beaudesert State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 271–297 Brisbane Street (27°58′15″S152°59′49″E / 27.9707°S 152.9970°E /-27.9707; 152.9970 (Beaudesert State High School)).[51][55] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1442 students with 109 teachers (105 full-time equivalent) and 64 non-teaching staff (43 full-time equivalent).[53] It includes a special education program.[51][56]
McAuley College is a Catholic secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 30 Oakland Way (27°59′23″S153°00′42″E / 27.9897°S 153.0118°E /-27.9897; 153.0118 (McAuley College)).[51][57][58] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 93 students with 13 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 8 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).[53]
The Scenic Rim Regional Council has its headquarters at the Beaudesert Administrative Centre at 82 Brisbane Street (formerly the offices of the Beaudesert Shire Council,27°59′14″S152°59′43″E / 27.9872°S 152.9954°E /-27.9872; 152.9954 (Beaudesert Administration Centre)).[59]
TheScenic Rim Regional Council operates a public library at 58 Brisbane Street (27°59′24″S152°59′45″E / 27.9899°S 152.9958°E /-27.9899; 152.9958 (Beaudesert Library)).[60]
The Beaudesert branch of theQueensland Country Women's Association meets at 86 Brisbane Street (27°59′12″S152°59′44″E / 27.9867°S 152.9955°E /-27.9867; 152.9955 (Beaudesert Country Women's Association)).[61]
St Thomas' Anglican Church is at 7 Albert Street (27°59′29″S152°59′56″E / 27.9913°S 152.9989°E /-27.9913; 152.9989 (St Thomas's Anglican Church)).[62]
St Mary's Catholic Church is in Bromelton Street (27°59′19″S152°59′29″E / 27.9887°S 152.9915°E /-27.9887; 152.9915 (St Mary's Catholic Church)) adjacent to the school.[63]
Beaudesert Congregation Uniting Church is at 48 William Street (corner of Duckett Street,27°59′25″S153°00′01″E / 27.9902°S 153.0003°E /-27.9902; 153.0003 (Beaudesert Congregation Uniting Church)) adjacent to the former church building.[64][65][66]
Beaudesert Baptist Church is at 13 Eaglesfield Street (27°59′13″S152°59′56″E / 27.9870°S 152.9988°E /-27.9870; 152.9988 (Beaudesert Baptist Church)).[42][67]
Beaudesert Seventh-day Adventist Church is at 45 Anna Street (27°59′11″S152°59′56″E / 27.9864°S 152.9990°E /-27.9864; 152.9990 (Beaudesert Seventh-day Adventist Church)).[68][69]
The Arts Centre hosts a number of community groups and there is a wide range of community activity including a very active Bush Bards group.[70]
A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including theBeaudesert Kingfishers who play home games atR.S. Willis Park, Beaudesert Rangers soccer club who play home games at Selwyn Park, Beaudesert and District junior and senior cricket club who play home games at Everdell Park, Beaudesert Warriors rugby union Club who play home games at Everdell Park.[citation needed]
There is a rifle range and pistol club in Sprengler Road in neighbouringTabragalba (27°59′51″S153°04′06″E / 27.9975°S 153.0683°E /-27.9975; 153.0683 (Beaudesert Rifle Club)).[71]
Beaudesert has a racecourse, 50-metre swimming pool, two gyms, showgrounds, caravan park and several hotels and eateries.[citation needed]
The surrounding countryside includes numerous valleys leading up to the ranges dividing Queensland and New South Wales with creeks running through them and accompanying mountain scenery.
Il-Bogan Lagoon is a waterhole in the west of the locality at 3169 Beaudesert Boonah Road (27°59′36″S152°58′17″E / 27.9933°S 152.9714°E /-27.9933; 152.9714 (Il-Bogan Lagoon)).[72] It is on the traditional lands of theMununjali clan and they believe it is the home of a creature that moves through underground tunnels and waterways across their lands (sometimes referred to as abunyip).[73] British settlers also had sightings of strange creatures at the lagoon.[74]
The annual agricultural show held in September is an event that includes a wide range of events and displays. It is run by the Beaudesert Show Society.[75]
A bus runs from Beaudesert toBrowns Plains and Brisbane on weekdays. Centacare St Mary's Community Services and the Beaudesert RSL provide transport for aged, disabled, veterans and hospital/respite requirements.[citation needed]
The standard gaugeBrisbane–Sydney railway line runs throughBromelton, a few kilometres west of Beaudesert. This line is used byNSW TrainLinkSydney toBrisbaneXPT passenger services andAurizon,Pacific National andSCT Logistics freight services to Sydney,Melbourne,Wollongong andAdelaide.[citation needed]
TheBeaudesert railway line ran from the outer Brisbane suburb ofBethania to Beaudesert and was in regular use from 1886 to 1996.[citation needed]
A petition from railway enthusiasts, and considerable grants of government money, resulted in its re-opening in 1999. Beaudesert Rail operated steam-driven tourist trains on the line for a short while thereafter. The company ceased operating in August 2004 after a series of fires, allegedly lit by sparks from the train, were set along the train line.[citation needed] The company was in debt and has ceased to exist, with the rolling stock liquidated and physical infrastructure demolished.[citation needed]
This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map".State Library of Queensland.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved30 January 2020.
Beaudesert travel guide from Wikivoyage
| Geographic | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
