Bethania, Queensland

Bethania Logan City,  Queensland
Albert Street, 2014
Bethania
Coordinates	27°41′13″S153°09′27″E / 27.6869°S 153.1575°E / -27.6869; 153.1575 (Bethania (centre of suburb))
Population	6,333 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	1,092/km2 (2,828/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4205
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Area	5.8 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	30 km (19 mi) SSE of Brisbane CBD 52 km (32 mi) NNW of Surfers Paradise
LGA(s)	Logan City
State electorate(s)	Waterford
Federal division(s)	Forde
Suburbs around Bethania: Loganlea Meadowbrook Tanah Merah Loganlea Bethania Loganholme Waterford West Waterford Edens Landing

Bethania ( /bɛθɑːniə/ ) is a suburb in the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Bethania had a population of 6,333 people. ^[1]

Geography

The Logan River and lower grazing lands prone to floods seen from Meadowbrook, 2013

Bethania lies south of the Logan River. The lower lying areas near the river occasionally suffer floods. ^[3]

Bethania is situated on the main Beenleigh railway line and the suburb is served by Bethania railway station ( 27°41′20″S153°09′33″E / 27.6889°S 153.1592°E / -27.6889; 153.1592 (Bethania railway station) ). ^[4]

Beaudesert railway line branches from the South Coast railway line just south of the Bethania railway station at ( 27°41′24″S153°09′36″E / 27.6901°S 153.1600°E / -27.6901; 153.1600 (Beaudesert railway line commences) ) and runs to Beaudesert. It has been out of commission since August 2004.

History

Bethania Lutheran Church and bell tower, 2005

Bethania was founded by Germans during the 1860s and is home to many different nationalities. By 1866 a small township had developed. It is believed the name is derived from Bethany, the biblical village in Israel. ^{[2] [5]}

A Lutheran church was built in 1864 made from slabs on what is now the railway line. A cemetery was established beside the church with graves from 1866. In 1872 the present church was built close to the first church ( 27°41′29″S153°09′41″E / 27.691361°S 153.161392°E / -27.691361; 153.161392 (Bethania Lutheran Church) ). The road to the church became known as Church Road. ^[6]

The first railway bridge was destroyed by flood in 1887. A new concrete, steel and timber bridge lasted until 1972 when it was replaced by a pre-stressed concrete bridge. ^[5]

The suburb was affected badly by the 1974 Brisbane flood. Duck Island became part of the suburb when part of the river was silted up. ^[5] Sand and gravel has been mined from the alluvial deposits in recent years.

Bethania Lutheran Primary School opened on 27 January 1976. ^[7]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Bethania had a population of 4,590 people, 53.3% female and 46.7% male. ^[8] The median age of the Bethania population was 41 years, 4 years above the national median of 37. ^[8] 68.7% of the people living in Bethania were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 6.6%, New Zealand 6%, Scotland 1.4%, Philippines 0.9% and Germany 0.9%. ^[8] 86.9% of the people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.8% Spanish, 0.5% German, 0.5% Hindi, 0.4% Tagalog, 0.3% Samoan. ^[8]

In the 2016 census, Bethania had a population of 5,385 people, 53.5% female and 46.5% male. The median age of the Bethania population was 47 years, 9 years above the national median of 38. 66.7% of the people living in Bethania were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 6.8%, New Zealand 6.3%, Scotland 1.4%, Philippines 1.3%, and China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 1.2%. 86.9% of the people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1.0% Mandarin, 0.9% Cantonese, 0.8% Spanish, 0.4% German, and 0.4% Samoan. ^[9]

In the 2021 census, Bethania had a population of 6,333 people, 55.3% female and 44.7% male. The median age of the Bethania population was 48 years, 10 years above the national median of 38. 65.5% of the people living in Bethania were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 7.6%, England 6.0%, Philippines 1.0%, China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 1.0%, and Scotland 0.9%. 82.1% of the people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1.1% Mandarin, 0.6% Samoan, 0.6% Spanish, 0.5% Cantonese, and 0.5% Hindi. ^[1]

Heritage listing

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

• Bethania Lutheran Church, Church Road ^[6]

Education

Bethania Lutheran Primary School is a private primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 66 Glastonbury Drive ( 27°41′39″S153°09′28″E / 27.6943°S 153.1578°E / -27.6943; 153.1578 (Bethania Lutheran Primary School) ). ^{[10] [11]} In 2023, the school had an enrolment of 328 students with 21 teachers (18 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent). ^[12]

Amenities

Palm Lake Christian Fellowship conduct their services at the Palm Lake Resort at 43 Goodooga Drive; it is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. ^[13]

Transport

Bethania railway station provides access to regular Queensland Rail City network services to Brisbane and Beenleigh.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bethania (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
2. "Bethania – suburb in City of Logan (entry 47854)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2020.
3. "Natural Hazard (Flood) Management Areas - Overlay Map OM17-1" (PDF). Gold Coast City Council . 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
4. "Bethania – railway station in Logan City (entry 2414)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 2 April 2020.
5. Howells, Mary (2003). Logan River Tinnie Trail. Logan City Council. pp. 42, 70–72. ISBN   0975051903.
6. "Bethania Lutheran Church (entry 600002)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bethania (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bethania (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
10. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
11. "Bethania Lutheran Primary School". Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
12. "ACARA School Profile 2023". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority . Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
13. "South Queensland". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.

External links

• "Bethania". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.

• "Bethania". Logan City Council .