Alberton, Queensland

Alberton is bounded in the north by the Logan River and in the west by its tributary, the Albert River.

Alberton State School and students, circa 1892

The Aboriginal name for the area was Wobbomerijee (where Wobum means mud and Mudtheri means sticky).[2]

European settlement began in 1863 when the first settlers arrived, mostly German immigrants.[3] A town reserve was established in 1865 on the southern bank near the junction of the Logan and Albert Rivers.[4]

The Ageston sugar plantation and sugar mill operated from 1866 to the 1890s and was described as "one of the finest plants in the Moreton district" in 1873.[5]

St Peter's Lutheran Church, Alberton, 2014

In 1869, the first Lutheran church was established near the Lutheran cemetery on Zipfs Road. The area was known as Elkana (meaning "God has created and blessed").[3][6] Later the area was called Alberton after Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, but the name Elkana is preserved in Elkana Road.[7]

In 1870, a ferry service across the river was introduced with the first bridge being built in 1876 at Yatala.[3]

A German school was established early in the 1870s beside the church. The Alberton Provisional School opened on 13 May 1876 with children attending German school on only one day a week. On 13 October 1884 the provisional school became the Alberton State School.[3][8]

In 1886, a new larger Lutheran church (the present St Peter's at 187 Alberton Road) was built. It was consecrated in 1887 by Rev Hellmuth.[3]

In October 1886, a well-known property on the Albert River owned by W. K. Witty called "Yellowwood Estate" was advertised for subdivision into suitable sized farms and then auctioned by Simon Fraser & Son.[9] A map advertising the auction states that 40 choice farms were available and the auction was to be held on Saturday 27 November at the Palm’s Hotel, Beenleigh.[10]

The Gem Hotel, 2014

The Gem Hotel was established prior to 1911,[7] but it was destroyed by fire on 27 June 1933 but was insured.[11] By December 1933, the hotel had been rebuilt and was still operating in April 2014 on the corner of Stapylton-Jacobs Well Road and Rotary Park Road.[12][13]

The German school was demolished in 1919.[3] The Alberton State School closed in 1966.[8][14]

In the 1950s, a very notable Bora ceremonial site on the Logan river was destroyed, and replaced with a pineapple plantation owned by a Mr Inklemann. The site bore the characteristics of the classic twin circles, with a north-south orientation, the large northern ring measuring 70–80 feet in diameter, while the smaller ring lay some 100 feet to its south. In the middle of the latter was a native stone hut, consisting of several stone slabs supporting a stone roof, not unlike the dolmen structures of prehistoric Europe.[15]

In the 2011 census Albertonhad a population of 576.[16]

In September 2012, an archaeological dig was undertaken on the former Ageston sugar plantation, revealing stone and steel structures, a Cornish boiler and evaporating pans.[5]

In the 2016 census, Alberton had a population of 590 people.[1]

Prawn farming, Alberton, 2014

Alberton is primarily a rural area with sugar cane plantations and prawn farms.[7]

The Gold Coast City Council operates a fortnightly mobile library service which visits St Peters Hall in Alberton Road.[17]

There are no schools in Alberton. The nearest primary schools are Woongoolba State School in neighbouring Woongoolba to the south-east and Mount Warren Park State School in Mount Warren Park to the south-west. The nearest secondary school is Beenleigh State High School in Beenleigh to the south-west.[18]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alberton, Queensland.

• Alberton Lutheran Parish