Grandchester, Queensland

Grandchester is a rural town and locality in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Grandchester had a population of 444 people.[1]

Grandchester
Queensland
Grandchester railway station
Grandchester
Coordinates27.6594°S 152.4672°E / -27.6594; 152.4672
Population444 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density7.735/km2 (20.03/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4340
Area57.4 km2 (22.2 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)City of Ipswich
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s)Blair
Localities around Grandchester:
Laidley Summerholm Woolshed
Laidley South Grandchester Calvert
Mulgowie Mount Mort Lower Mount Walker

Geography

Grandchester is located 76 kilometres (47 mi) west of the Brisbane CBD.

The district historically known as Hidden Vale (or Hiddenvale) is within the locality, approx 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of the town of Grandchester where Hiddenvale Road has its junction with the Grandchester Mount Mort Road (27.715°S 152.470°E / -27.715; 152.470 (Hidden Vale)).[4] Although unofficial, the name persists in the road name,[4] St Anne's Hidden Vale (Anglican church),[5] Spicers Hidden Vale (a rural resort),[6] and the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre (jointly operated by the resort and the University of Queensland).[7]

History

Grandchester was the initial terminus of the first narrow gauge mainline railway in the world. The first track opened to traffic on 31 July 1865 from Ipswich, as the Queensland Government was keen to prove the viability of its controversial 'pony railway'. The construction of the Victoria Tunnel through the Little Liverpool Range to the west of Grandchester was behind schedule, and so although it served a very small population, Bigges Camp (as it was initially known) became the terminus for 10 months, until the line was extended to Gatton.[8] The original Grandchester railway station, including the former Station Master's residence, still exists.

The name Grandchester derives from the old English name for bigge (Grand) and camp (Chester), which was the initial name of the locality, and suggested by the wife of the Governor of the day when the railway opened.[9]

Grandchester Post Office opened on 1 January 1866 after the arrival of the railway and closed in 1978.[10]

Grandchester Provisional School opened in November 1870 in a tent borrowed from the Queensland Government. which closed after one month in December 1870.[11] Granchester State School opened on 29 January 1878.[11]

On Sunday 18 July 1937 St Anne's Anglican Church was officially dedicated by Archdeacon H.W.H. Stevenson. [12]

Grandchester Sawmills is one of the last known surviving steam-powered flat-belt sawmills in Australia. The engine powering it was manufactured in 1908, and the mill has been in operation from 1945. It was destroyed by a fire, sometime in the early hours of 6 May 2007.[13] Work on the long process of restoring the mill to its former glory started almost immediately in the days following the fire. The mill is operating once again with work still continuing on the restoration. This will ensure that this important piece of history is preserved for the generations that follow.[14]

In the 2011 census, Grandchester had a population of 504 people.[15]

Heritage listings
Grandchester Sawmills, 2015

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

Education

Grandchester State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at School Road (27.6655°S 152.4653°E / -27.6655; 152.4653 (Grandchester State School)).[19][20] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 37 students with 6 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[21]

Amenities

The Ipswich City Council operates a fortnightly mobile library service which visits the Grandchester Hotel.[22]

St Anne's Anglican Church at 798 Hiddenvale Road (27.7155°S 152.4700°E / -27.7155; 152.4700 (29 July 2020)) holds monthly services. It is part of the Rosewood Anglican Parish.[23]

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See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Grandchester (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Grandchester - town in City of Ipswich (entry 14561)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. "Grandchester - locality in City of Ipswich (entry 45095)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. Google (28 July 2020). "Hidden Vale" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  5. "St Anne's Hiddenvale". Rosewood Anglican Parish. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. "Spicers Hidden Vale - Luxury Retreat - Grandchester, QLD". Spicers Retreats. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  7. "Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre". University of Queensland. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, July, 1965 pp121-136
  9. "Grandchester". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  11. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  12. "NEW CHURCH". Queensland Times. LXXVIII, (15, 810). Queensland, Australia. 23 July 1937. p. 9 (DAILY.). Retrieved 29 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  13. Grandchester Sawmill fire Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Ipswich City Council Media Release. 9 May 2007.
  14. History of Heritage Listed Grandchester Sawmill. Grandchester sawmill. Retrieved 4 July 2013
  15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Grandchester (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  16. "Franklyn Vale Homestead (entry 600728)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  17. "Grandchester Railway Complex (entry 600729)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  18. "Grandchester Sawmills (entry 600730)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  19. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  20. "Grandchester State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  22. "Ipswich Libraries: Mobile library schedule of stops - January to June 2018" (PDF). Ipswich City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  23. "St Anne's Hiddenvale". Rosewood Anglican Parish. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
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