Beaudesert, Queensland

Beaudesert is south of Brisbane and west of the Gold Coast.

Beaudesert is located on the Mount Lindesay Highway, some 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Brisbane. The area sources its income predominantly from rural activities such as cropping, grazing and equine activities, as well as tourism. It has a racecourse, 50-metre swimming pool, public library, two gyms and mountain scenery.

Wyaralong Dam, 2012

In the Logan River and Albert River valleys, Beaudesert is a regional hub serving surrounding communities such as Rathdowney, Kooralbyn, Canungra, Tamborine Mountain and Jimboomba. It is approximately 91 kilometres from Brisbane and connected by the Mount Lindesay Highway.

The town of Beaudesert is located 46 m above sea level and has an average annual rainfall of around 916 mm per year. The temperature is around 30 °C in summer and falls to around 3 °C in winter. Generally the weather is mild, but some severe storms can arrive each summer.

In the east of the locality is the decommissioned Nindooinbah Dam. The much larger Wyaralong Dam is situated roughly 14 km to the north west of the town and was completed in 2011.

A homestead in the 1890s

Brisbane Street, 1908

Yugembah (also known as Yugumbir, Jugambel, Jugambeir, Jugumbir, Jukam, Jukamba) is one of the Australian Aboriginal languages in areas that include the Beaudesert, Gold Coast, Logan, Scenic Rim, Albert River, Beenleigh, Coolangatta, Coomera, Logan River, Pimpama, Tamborine and Tweed River Valley, within the local government boundaries of the City of Gold Coast, City of Logan, Scenic Rim Regional Council and the Tweed River Valley.

Mununjali (also known as Mananjahli, Manaldjahli and Manandjali) is a dialect of the Yugambeh language. The Mununjali language area includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Scenic Rim and Beaudesert Shire Councils.[5]

The town is possibly named after Beau Desert Park, the property of Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey in Staffordshire, England.[2] Yet it is certain that Queensland's Beaudesert was named in about 1841 or 1842 by 'Ned Hawkins', or Edward Brace Hawkins (1821–1849), who was claiming the area as a sheep station on behalf of his employer William Henry Suttor senior (1805–1877) at Bathurst. It is not known why Hawkins picked the name Beaudesert. He was himself born in Newark-Upon-Trent in Nottinghamshire, the son of Thomas Fitzherbert Hawkins and wife Elizabeth of Bathurst fame, and it does not seem that he or his family had any personal connections to Beaudesert in England. Ned Hawkins moved on, not long after taking up Beaudesert station, to take up Boonara Station in the South Burnett.

In 1842 Nindooinbah pastoral run was established. In 1850 the Nindooinbah Homestead was built.

The town was settled in 1847, on Yugambeh lands, and has grown to a small, bustling centre.

Beaudesert Tramway station in 1927

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 were indentured labourers from the South Sea Islands, the first such use in Queensland. In the 1880s, the Cobb & Co stagecoaches ran between Beaudesert and Jimboomba.

Upper Beaudesert Provisional School opened circa 1882 and closed circa 1885.[6]

Beaudesert Provisional School opened on 26 March 1882 but closed on 9 September 1886. On 13 September 1887 it reopened as Beaudesert State School.[6][7]

On 15 August 1885 at Stretton's Hotel at Beaudesert, auctioner 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.[8] The advertising noted that the Queensland Government had voted the funds to extend the railway line from Logan Village to Beaudesert.[9]

The Beaudesert railway line from Bethania to Beaudesert opened on 16 May 1888.[10] Beaudesert railway station (27.9853°S 152.9950°E / -27.9853; 152.9950 (Beaudesert railway station)) served the town.[11] Use of the passenger services declined with the increasing ownership of cars following World 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.[12]

St Thomas' Anglican Church, with the former church (now hall) to the right and rear, 2020

On Tuesday 24 July 1888, the foundation log of St Thomas' Anglican church was laid by Mrs De Burgh Persse of Tabragalba with an address given by Archdeacon Nathaniel Dawes.[13][14] On Sunday 4 July 1965, a second St Thomas' Anglican Church was consecrated on Sunday 4 July 1965 by Archbishop Philip Strong.[15] The 1888 church was then used as the church hall.[16]

Timber, cattle and dairying were the main industries in the area.

On 3 February 1889 Roman Catholic Archbishop Robert Dunne blessed the foundation stone for the first Catholic church in Beaudesert. The event raised £74 with a further £7 pledged.[17] As 2 February was the Feast 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.[18] Dunne returned on 2 June 1889 to open the new church.[19] 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 of Ipswich, who design the church for free. It was fitted with an altar, altar rails and 20 pews.[18] On Sunday 15 September 1907 the second St Mary's was opened, with the original church dismantled and re-assembled at Kerry where it was named St John's Catholic Church.[18]

Mercy Hall, the original school building, of St Mary's Catholic School, 2020

Brick school building, St Mary's Catholic School, 2020

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 the Sisters 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 Archbishop 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.[6][20]

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).[21] The land was being sold following the death of its owner Ernest White.[22]

The Beaudesert Shire Tramway to Christmas Creek, Lamington and Rathdowney, operated by the Beaudesert Shire, opened in 1903 and closed in 1944.

A local newspaper, the Beaudesert Times was established in 1908.[23]

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.[24] The Blunck family managed an electrical store and a car servicing and sales business.[25] As in many areas, globalisation has seen local factories and family-owned business taken over and closed with profits leaving the town where once they would have been reinvested.

From 1954 to 1962 the Beaudesert State School also provided a secondary school program, which ceased when a separate Beaudesert State High Schoool was opened in January 1963.[6]

Even though the area was known as Beau-desert (beautiful desert), the droughts and the floods were continuous problems in the area. In times of flood, houses, animals and people were washed away. The damage caused by floods is often recounted in historical documentation.

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.[26]

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 cedar sideboard and numerous articles that portray the life of the early pioneers. It was donated to the museum by Patrick Milbanks's grandchildren and relocated to its present site in 1979.

Nindooinbah House, 1939

Beaudesert War Memorial

The Beaudesert War Museum was unveiled on 28 September 1921 by Queensland Governor Matthew Nathan.[27]

In the 2016 census, Beaudesert had a population of 6,395 people.[1]

Beaudesert has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Albert Street: Beaudesert Showgrounds[16]
• 7-9 Albert Street (27.9912°S 152.9988°E / -27.9912; 152.9988 (St Thomas' Anglican Church)): St Thomas’ Anglican Church[16]
• 3180 Beaudesert-Boonah Road: Beaudesert Racecourse and Grandstand[16]
• 33 Brisbane Street: Beaudesert Masonic Centre[16]
• 80 Brisbane Street: Beaudesert Hotel[16]
• 82 & 84 Brisbane Street: Scenic Rim Regional Council Chambers[16]
• Bromelton Street: St Mary's Catholic Church[16]
• William Street: Beaudesert War Memorial[28]

Former Beaudesert Shire

The Tabragalba Divisional Board was incorporated on 11 November 1879 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879, centred on Beaudesert. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Tabragalba became a shire council on 31 March 1903, and on 8 August 1903 was renamed Beaudesert by an Order in Council. Between 23 November 1912 and 14 September 1929, a separate Beaudesert Town Council managed the town itself.

On 9 December 1948, an Order in Council abolished the Shires of Nerang, Tamborine and Waterford and included the latter two and part of Nerang into a new Shire of Beaudesert. Waterford had existed largely unaltered since being created as a Divisional Board in 1879, while Tamborine (spelt Tambourine until 14 January 1939) had split away from Tabragalba on 4 October 1890. The Shire of Beaudesert was split into four divisions with a total of eight councillors-Division 2 with four, Division 4 with two and the others with one each. The chairman (later Mayor) was to be chosen from amongst the councillors. The new council was formally established at elections on 31 May 1949 and a Special Meeting was held on 7 June. It had grown 40% in population and gained 1,045 km2(403 sq mi) in the process.

On 8 June 1978, the Shire of Logan was created out of parts of Beaudesert and the Shire of Albert. The council lost 146.1 km2 (56.4 sq mi) of its area and 11,550 people to Logan. At the 1979 council elections, Beaudesert was resubdivided into eight divisions each electing one councillor.

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, Beaudesert was abolished and became one of only three Queensland councils, alongside Taroom and Tiaro, to be split in two. The Scenic Rim Regional Council was born. The northern area, which while still largely rural was part of Brisbane's growth corridor, became part of Logan City, while the southern rural section became part of the Scenic Rim Region alongside the Shire of Boonah.

Beaudesert Shire Council building now houses the Scenic Rim Region Council. There are 6 Councillors and a Mayor for an area of 4,238sq km and a regional population of 38,000.

Bromelton SDA was declared in 2008, and covers 15,000 hectares of land approximately six kilometres west of Beaudesert. About 1,800 hectares has been earmarked for industrial development. It will accommodate industrial activities of regional, state and national significance, maximising the use of the areas existing standard gauge rail. The railline connects Bromelton to the Port of Brisbane, to other parts of Queensland, and to other States.

Mirvac has commenced work on a site bordered by Sandy Creek Road and Beaudesert Boonah Road. The Bromelton SDA applications will be reviewed by the Co-ordinator General for approval. The Scenic Rim Regional Council will be responsible for operational works, clearing of vegetation, plumbing and Reconfiguration of Lots (ROLs) applications after the MCUs have been approved by the State Government.

There are a number of schools in Beaudesert including:

• Beaudesert Special School
• Beaudesert State Primary School
• Beaudesert State High School
• Mcauley College Beaudesert
• St Mary's Catholic School

as well as pre-schools and childcare centres.

McAuley College is a Catholic secondary school (Year 7 to Year 12).[29]

The Scenic Rim Regional Council operates a public library at 58 Brisbane Street.[30]

The Beaudesert branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 86 Brisbane Street.[31]

According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 6,395 people in Beaudesert.

• 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%.[32]

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.[33]

A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area, including the Beaudesert Kingfishers who play home games at R.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.

There is a rifle range and pistol club in Sprengler Road, Tabragalba (27.9975°S 153.0683°E / -27.9975; 153.0683 (Beaudesert Rifle Club)).[34]

• Neville Bonner, the first indigenous Australian to become a member of parliament, attended Beaudesert Primary School.[35]
• Caleb Daniel, current AFL player for the Western Bulldogs.
• Jason Day, a leading PGA golfer who won the 2015 PGA championship, was born in Beaudesert. His father, Abby (Alvyn) Day was also born in Beaudesert but he died due to cancer when Jason was 12 years old. Jason's mother sold the family home to send Jason to Kooralbyn secondary school near Rathdowney as a boarder and then, when this school closed to Hills Academy where the school had a golf course. (Adam Scott, also an Australian golfer, also attended Kooralbyn). Colin Swatton was a teacher at Koralbyn and became Jason's caddie in a partnership which took them to the PGA win. Jason's first set of golf clubs was given to him when he was 4 years old by his father who found them at the local tip.[36]
• Riley Day, Australian sprinter, most notably competing in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, was born in Beaudesert and attended Beaudesert State High School. She shares no relation to golfer Jason Day, also born in Beaudesert.
• Queensland and Brisbane Broncos player Andrew Gee was born in Beaudesert.
• Mel Greig, an Australian radio and television personality, was born in Beaudesert.
• Marilyn Leask, professor of education, was born in Beaudesert and attended the primary and high schools. She is descended from pioneering families who migrated from the UK in the middle of the 19th century.
• Rick Price, musician, was born in Beaudesert.
• Jim McClure, Captain of the 2020 Under 15s SEQ State Challenge Cricket Team.
• Beau Allen, Professional golfer who has won the PGA Tour 12 times.

• Beaudesert Shire
• List of tramways in Queensland

• Henry, Jim; Shaw, Leah (1988), In good faith : a history of the Parish of St. Thomas, Beaudesert 1888-1988, ISBN 978-0-7316-4698-2
• Rivers of faith : commemmorating the 100th anniversary of the opening of the first St. Mary's Church Beaudesert in 1889, St.Mary's Catholic Church, 1989
• St. Mary's School (Beaudesert, Qld.) (2001), Memories : St Mary's Catholic School, Beaudesert, the first 100 years 1901-2001, The School

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beaudesert, Queensland.

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Beaudesert
• Town map of Beaudesert, 1978