Coominya Soldier Settlement

Last updated

Coominya Soldier Settlement was a soldier settlement in Coominya in the present-day Somerset Region local government area of South East Queensland, Australia. 100 soldiers settled in the settlement.

Approximately 3,000 acres of land was purchased from Messrs Robert, Samuel and William Watson on both sides of the Brisbane Valley railway line (Portions 94 to 141, Parish of Buaraba, and Portions 126 to 151 and 107 to 125, Parish of Wivenhoe). Part of the cattle station Bellevue (Portion 152 to 166, Parish of Wivenhoe) was also purchased and the total surveyed into 109 blocks of between 22 and 37 acres (8.9 and 15.0 ha) and opened for settlement on 1 June 1920.

Based on existing successful farms in the district, soldier settlers were encouraged to grow grapes and citrus trees. Each soldier was granted favourable terms to purchase land and equipment up to the value of £625 ($1,250). This covered the purchase of the land, a four roomed house, a horse and cart, a 6” hand plough, a hand scuffler, a single section harrow and citrus trees and grape cuttings.

A total of 83 houses were built, plus a project office, supervisor's residence, bulk stores and stables and a Bush Nurses cottage and dispensary. (The Bush Nurses’ cottage still exists next to the railway station.) The first overseer was Mr A E Murray followed by Mr Dean. The supervisor's residence still exists next to the campdraft grounds. At the close of the scheme three of the settlement houses were later moved to the Coominya township opposite the school and timber from settlement houses formed the basis of the original part of the public hall. Many of the other settlement houses were moved to Redcliffe by the Mayor of Redcliffe, Mr Wylie.3,5

Although only started in 1920, the Coominya project ceased in 1924, when there were only two soldier settlers still on the land, Mr C Wills and Mr P Smith. Settlers were offered land in other settlement schemes such as Kingaroy, Ridgelands, Roma, Nanango, Cecil Plains, the Callide and Burnett valleys and the Atherton Tableland. The Coominya Soldier Settlement Scheme cost approximately £90,000, of which only approximately £10,000 was recovered. The State legislation was rescinded in 1929.

The causes of failure were ascribed to firstly the poor sandy soil selected for the farms, leading to a lack of response to fertilizers in many cases, lack of water, the inexperience of the settlers in farming methods, the delay in planting trees and vines due to the need to clear and fence the land first, the grapevine disease ‘Downy Mildew’ and poor prices for produce due to the start of the depression in the 1920s.4,5

Although short lived, the soldier settlement had a profound effect on the development of Coominya because of the influx of over 80 families. Churches were built for each denomination, shops were built, the school was extended and an extra teacher was appointed and a Bush Nursing Centre was established.3

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

Esk, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Esk is a town and locality in the Somerset Region in South East Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Esk had a population of 1,698 people.

Scarborough, Queensland Suburb of Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia

Scarborough is a coastal residential suburb on the Redcliffe Peninsula in the north of the Brisbane metropolitan area in Queensland, Australia. It falls within the Moreton Bay Region local government area. Along with its neighbouring coastal suburbs on the Redcliffe Peninsula, the suburb is a popular recreational destination within the Brisbane metropolitan area.

Shire of Pine Rivers Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Pine Rivers was a local government area about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Brisbane in the Moreton Bay region of South East Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 771 square kilometres (297.7 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1888 until 2008, when it amalgamated with councils further north to form the Moreton Bay Region.

Coominya, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Coominya is a town and locality in the Somerset Region in South East Queensland, Australia. The town is located 83 kilometres (52 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane and approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Wivenhoe Dam. In the 2016 census, Coominya had a population of 1,200 people.

Fernvale, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Fernvale is a town and locality in the Somerset Region, South East Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 Australian Census Fernvale had an estimated population of 3,209. It is a rapidly developing rural township located within the urban footprint of the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031.

Soldier settlement (Australia)

Soldier settlement, also known as the Soldier Settlement Scheme or Soldiers Settlement Scheme, administered by the Soldier Settlement Commission, was the settlement of land throughout parts of Australia by returning discharged soldiers under schemes administered by the state governments after World War I and World War II.

Somerset Region Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Somerset Region is a local government area located in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest of Brisbane and centred on the town of Esk. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Esk and the Shire of Kilcoy. It is commonly known as the Brisbane Valley, due to the Brisbane River which courses through the region, although significant parts of the region lie outside the hydrological Brisbane Valley itself.

Vernor, Queensland Suburb of Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia

Vernor is a rural locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Vernor had a population of 233 people.

Bellevue Homestead

Bellevue Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead currently located in Coominya, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1872 to c. 1910. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Anzac Avenue

Anzac Avenue is a heritage-listed major arterial road lined with trees in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It runs 17.8 kilometres (11.1 mi) from Petrie to Redcliffe, with most of the route signed as state route 71. The route was formerly the main route to the Redcliffe peninsula, until the Hornibrook Bridge was built.

The Queensland Acclimatisation Society (QAS) was an acclimatisation society based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia which operated from 1862 to 1956. Its primary interest was in the introduction of exotic plants to Queensland, both for economic and ornamental purposes.

Coominya railway station

Coominya railway station is central to all activities in historic Coominya village, located in the Somerset Region of South East Queensland.

Henry Plantagenet Somerset

Henry Plantagenet Somerset was a pioneer pastoralist and politician in Queensland, Australia. Somerset was a liberal politician who represented the district of Stanley in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1920, and canvassed successfully for the extension of the Brisbane Valley railway through the Brisbane River Valley to the rich timber reserves in the Blackbutt Range and beyond. Both the Somerset Dam and the local government area of Somerset Region are named in his honour.

Shire of Sherwood

The Shire of Sherwood is a former local government area of Queensland, Australia, located in south-western Brisbane in and around the suburb of Sherwood.

Caboonbah Homestead

Caboonbah Homestead was a heritage-listed homestead at Esk-Kilcoy Road, Lake Wivenhoe, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1889 to 1890. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 December 1996. It was destroyed by fire in 2009 and removed from the Queensland Heritage Register in 2014.

Murrumba Homestead Grounds

Murrumba Homestead Grounds is a heritage-listed site at 38 Armstrong Street, Petrie, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 16 February 2009.

Anzac Avenue Memorial Trees

Anzac Avenue Memorial Trees is a heritage-listed memorial at Anzac Avenue, Beerburrum, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1920. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 16 October 2008.

Beerburrum Soldier Settlement

Beerburrum Soldier Settlement was a soldier settlement in Beerburrum, Queensland, Australia, established to provide opportunities for Australian soldiers returning from World War I. It is generally regarded as a failure.

Soldier Settler House, Ubobo

Soldier Settler House is a heritage-listed homestead at Gladstone-Monto Road, Ubobo, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1920. It is also known as Hecstanvale. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 September 2001.

Milman, Queensland Suburb of Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia

Milman is a locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia.