Lockyer Valley

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Lockyer Valley
Light Shining Through Clouds.jpg
Warrego Highway looking towards Toowoomba
Area2,272 km2 (877 sq mi)
Geography
Country Australia
State Queensland
Region South East Queensland
Coordinates 27°33′32″S152°16′42″E / 27.5588°S 152.2782°E / -27.5588; 152.2782  
RiverLockyer Creek
Gatton is the largest town in the valley Gatton Council.jpg
Gatton is the largest town in the valley
Plainland's historic Porter's Hotel Porters Plainland Hotel, Queensland.jpg
Plainland's historic Porter's Hotel

The Lockyer Valley is an area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world, [1] and the intensively cultivated area grows the most diverse range of commercial fruit and vegetables of any area in Australia. The valley is referred to as "Australia's Salad Bowl" to describe the area as one of Australia's premium food bowls. [2]

Contents

The valley is experiencing increasing urbanisation at both its eastern and western extremities. With a combination of vibrant rural living and affordable land and house prices, the region is experiencing rapid growth and development between the Brisbane-Ipswich conurbation in the east and Toowoomba in the west. Urban planning measures have been implemented to preserve the good quality agricultural land and rural feel of the valley. Such measures largely confine future development to non-arable land on the slopes of the hills.

Geography

Lower Lockyer Creek, 2011 Lower Lockyer Creek.jpg
Lower Lockyer Creek, 2011

The valley is enclosed on either side by the Great Dividing Range and lies within the Lockyer Valley Region local government area. The largest town in the Lockyer Valley is Gatton, followed by the towns of Laidley, Withcott, and Plainland. [3] Other notable centres include Hatton Vale, Helidon, Forest Hill, Grantham, and Murphys Creek. [4]

Lockyer Creek and its tributaries drain the valley and forms a tributary of the Brisbane River that eventually empties into Moreton Bay. Many of the creeks in the valley are ephemeral. [5] The valley has a number of small dams that serve local storage needs, including Atkinson Dam built in 1970, Bill Gunn Dam and Lake Clarendon. 12 different land types have been identified in the valley. [5] The banks of waterways in the Lockyer Valley have been identified as the source of silt, which caused problems for the Mount Crosby Pumping Station during Cyclone Oswald. [6] In 2014, $8 million was allocated to prevent soil erosion within the Lockyer Valley. [7]

History

The valley was once home to the "Kitabul People" before the arrival of Europeans in the early 19th century. Today, the Ugarapul People are considered the traditional owners of the Lockyer Valley region. [8] [9]

One of the first white people known to the Indigenous people in the area was said to be "Boralcho" Baker, who lived with the Jagera people from 1826 for 18 years. In 1827, the explorer Allan Cunningham made his first contact. [10]

Squatting licenses were first granted in NSW in 1836 for what was by then considered Crown land. Squatters arrived in the area east of the Darling Downs from 1840 onwards and land clearing began for the grazing of live stock. The squatters lived in very basic huts like the DesJardins cottage, which can be seen at the Laidley Pioneer Village. From the late 1840s, many squatting licenses were turned into longer leases. [11] [5]

Increasing numbers of unfenced grazing sheep and stations saw the traditional food sources of Aborigines decrease considerably. Many of them retreated into the mountains where they found a smaller range of edible food sources than on the grasslands, being one of the reasons for the near complete devastation of the Indigenous inhabitants of the area. [10]

The town of Gatton was gazetted in 1855, making it one of Queensland's earliest European settlements. [12] The valley was populated by German immigrants under a scheme organised by Lutheran Pastor Heussler. [13]

The first rail line in the valley was opened in 1865 when the Ipswich to Grandchester services began operation. A small town developed in the 1870s while a small timber industry grew at about the same time. [13] Structures in the valley were damaged by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the area on 17 November 1960. [14] Between 1922 and 1960 the Laidley Valley railway line operated between Mulgowie and Laidley but was never profitable.

In 1994, a 41 hectare parcel of scrub, known as Berlin Scrub Nature Refuge, was the first land protected as a nature refuge under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 [15] In January 2012, the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre near Gatton began operations.

Climate

With an average annual rainfall of 780 mm, the Lockyer Valley is the driest part of South East Queensland. [5] Rainfall is highly variable and droughts are experienced regularly. [5]

The Lockyer Valley typically experiences temperatures higher than the Brisbane region in summer, but colder in the winter. In November 2008, the valley experienced some of the worst flooding in its recorded history with farmers experiencing total crop failure. The flooding claimed the lives of livestock as well as an elderly female in the Forest Hill area, caught up in the flooding whilst driving.

This event was overshadowed by severe flooding in January 2011. [16] The towns of Withcott and Grantham were particularly hard hit. Flood related deaths were recorded in the communities of Spring Bluff, Murphys Creek, Grantham and Postmans Ridge. [17] Many council-owned bridges in the valley were either completely gone or partially destroyed. [18] To repair roads and drains the Lockyer Valley Region local government area initially estimated the repair bill to be A$176 million. [17]

In 2012, a solar powered, radar based, imaging system was installed to detect dramatic rises in creek water levels. The cameras monitor conditions from atop a five to six-metre high pole to avoid damage during floods. An LED spotlight is used to take photos at night. When a flood event is detected the system enters a mode where images are taken more frequently. Real time data is transmitted to the council's disaster centre. [19] The council spent $40,000 on the system.

Agriculture

A farmer working the fields, 1907 StateLibQld 2 157529 Farmer and his two children in the fields in the Lockyer, 1907.jpg
A farmer working the fields, 1907

The valley's main agricultural activities are intensive horticulture, cropping and grazing. [5] Major crops grown in the areas include grains and vegetables. [5] Cultivation of turf and lucerne for both dairy and racehorses is also widespread. [20] Most of the water used in agriculture is sourced from below the surface. [5] Farmers in the valley produce around 40% of the fresh vegetables consumed in South East Queensland. [21] Most farms in the Lockyer Valley are small ranging from 100 to 1,000 hectares in size. [20]

The valley contains fertile black soils which support a $160 million-a-year vegetable industry. [22] A variable climate and all year cropping has placed significant strain on water supply from groundwater aquifers. [20] The viability of agriculture in the Lockyer Valley has been questioned after unreliable rains during drought, pest outbreaks and crop damage during severe weather have led to a decrease in agricultural productivity. Some farmers have instigated the use of laser measurements to ensure irrigation systems are optimally configured and yields are high. Recycled wastewater from the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme could be used for irrigation in the Lockyer. The infrastructure is in place however the cost is prohibitive. [21]

Nearly all the nation's processing beetroot is grown in the Lockyer Valley. [23] In 2002, the number of beetroot farmers had reduced to just eight farms. [23] Golden Circle sources vegetables from the Lockyer Valley.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warrego Highway</span> Highway in Queensland

The Warrego Highway is located in southern Queensland, Australia. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 715 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River, which is the endpoint of the highway. The entire highway is part of the National Highway system linking Darwin and Brisbane: formerly National Highway 54, Queensland began to convert to the alphanumeric system much of Australia had adopted in the early-2000s and this road is now designated as National Highway A2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South East Queensland</span> Region in southern Queensland, Australia

South East Queensland (SEQ) is a bio-geographical, metropolitan, political and administrative region of the state of Queensland in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million people out of the state's population of 5.1 million. The area covered by South East Queensland varies, depending on the definition of the region, though it tends to include Queensland's three largest cities: the capital city Brisbane; the Gold Coast; and the Sunshine Coast. Its most common use is for political purposes, and covers 35,248 square kilometres (13,609 sq mi) and incorporates 11 local government areas, extending 240 kilometres (150 mi) from Noosa in the north to the Gold Coast and New South Wales border in the south, and 140 kilometres (87 mi) west to Toowoomba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatton, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Gatton is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Gatton had a population of 7,101 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laidley, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Laidley is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Laidley had a population of 3,808 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral district of Lockyer</span> State electoral district of Queensland, Australia

Lockyer is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockyer Creek</span> River in Queensland, Australia

The Lockyer Creek is a creek located in South East Queensland, Australia. A tributary of the Brisbane River, the creek is a major drainage system in the Lockyer Valley. Rising on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, the creek flows generally north-easterly for more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) before it reaches its confluence with the Brisbane River north-northeast of Lowood, and downstream from the Wivenhoe Dam. The creek is named after Edmund Lockyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helidon, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Helidon is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Helidon had a population of 1,059 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Gatton</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Gatton was a local government area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 1,571.8 square kilometres (606.9 sq mi), and existed from 1880 until its merger with the Shire of Laidley to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Laidley</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Laidley was a local government area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 700.6 square kilometres (270.5 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until its merger with the Shire of Gatton to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fassifern Valley</span>

Fassifern Valley is a valley of the Scenic Rim in South East Queensland. Towns found in the valley include Harrisville, Kalbar, Roadvale, Warril View and Aratula. Fassifern Valley is known as a carrot-producing area, as well as for growing potatoes, onions, pumpkins and melons. It is one of four vegetable-producing regions in southern Queensland, the others being the Lockyer Valley, the eastern Darling Downs and the Granite Belt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grantham, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Grantham is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. The town is located 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane. In the 2016 census, the locality of Grantham had a population of 634 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockyer Valley Region</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Lockyer Valley Region is a local government area in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, between the cities of Ipswich and Toowoomba. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Gatton and the Shire of Laidley. It has an estimated operating budget of A$35m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murphys Creek, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Murphys Creek is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Murphys Creek had a population of 629 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Liverpool Range</span>

The Little Liverpool Range is a mountain range of the Scenic Rim and Lockyer Creek valley, part of the Great Dividing Range, which is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Hill, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Forest Hill is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Forest Hill had a population of 968 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Bluff, Queensland</span> Suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Spring Bluff is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Spring Bluff had a population of 6 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fordsdale, Queensland</span> Suburb of Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia

Fordsdale is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Fordsdale had a population of 52 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Queensland Gatton Campus</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

University of Queensland Gatton Campus is a heritage-listed university campus of the University of Queensland at Warrego Highway, Lawes, Gatton, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1897 to 1960s. It is also known as the Queensland Agricultural College, the Foundation Precinct Gatton College and Lawes Campus. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 January 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenore Grove, Queensland</span> Suburb of Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia

Glenore Grove is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Glenore Grove had a population of 883 people.

Gatton–Clifton Road is a continuous 63.1 kilometres (39.2 mi) road route in the Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba regions of Queensland, Australia. Most of the road is signed as State Route 80. Gatton–Clifton Road is a state-controlled road, part regional and part district. The district part is rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).

References

  1. ↑ Lockyer Valley community recovery plan. Lockyer Valley Regional Council. 2011. p. 13.
  2. ↑ Quinn, Jamie; Sonia Kirby (2012). "3. The Challenges of Delivering a 'Sustainable Australia'". In Kinnear, Susan; Charters, Kate; Vitartas, Peter (eds.). Regional Advantage and Innovation: Achieving Australia's National Outcomes. Springer. p. 65. ISBN   3790827991 . Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Lockyer Valley Economic Development Plan 2018-2023" (PDF). Lockyer Valley Regional Council. p. 10.
  4. ↑ "Lockyer Valley Visitor Information Centre - Local Town Information and Maps". www.luvyalockyer.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Galbraith, R. (2009). Living in the Landscape: the Lockyer Valley. A guide to property and landscape management (PDF). Brisbane: South East Queensland Catchments Limited. pp. 6–13. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Tony Moore (22 March 2013). "Urgent meetings over water sediment threat". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Tony Moore (21 February 2014). "Government tackles Lockyer Valley erosion". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Gotta love the Lockyer". LGAQ. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Annual Report 2017–2018" (PDF). Lockyer Valley Regional Council. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  10. 1 2 Riethmuller, Neil (2006). The Darling Downs Aborigines: 1787-2004: Genocide and Survival. Toowoomba. ISBN 1920855742, p.7
  11. ↑ W.R.E. Blake (1991). A story of the Laidley Shire : from 1829 onwards to all this. Laidley, pp.16-17
  12. ↑ Terry Ryder (5 February 2009). "Lockyer food bowl banks on diversification". The Australian . News Limited . Retrieved 10 May 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. 1 2 Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 62. ISBN   0-7345-1008-X.
  14. ↑ Daniel Hurst (24 April 2008). "Qld earthquake risk real". Brisbane Times . Fairfax Digital . Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  15. ↑ Kehoe, Jo (2008). "Voluntary Agreements in Queensland, Australia: Contributing Factors and Current Incentive Schemes". In Wilks, Sarah (ed.). Seeking Environmental Justice. Rodopi. p. 84. ISBN   9042023783 . Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Lockyer Valley flash floods death toll now at 13, after five more bodies found, dozens still missing". The Courier Mail . Queensland Newspapers. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  17. 1 2 "Valley damage bill more than $176m". The Chronicle. Toowoomba Newspapers. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  18. ↑ Melanie Maeseele (2 February 2011). "Lockyer to face $1b flood bill". Queensland Times. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  19. ↑ Fidelis Rego (24 July 2012). "Cameras to keep watch on Lockyer flood threat". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 Baldwin, Claudio; Sonia Kirby (2011). "2. Understanding the social obligations of farmers". In Williams, Jacqueline; Martin, Paul; Martin, Paul V. (eds.). Defending the Social Licence of Farming: Issues, Challenges and New Directions for Agriculture. Csiro Publishing. pp. 13–14. ISBN   0643101594 . Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Lockyer recycled water needs government investment". Queensland Farmers Federation. 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  22. ↑ John McCarthy and Peter Morley (7 February 2009). "Lockyer Valley growers urged to move north where there's more rain". The Courier Mail . Queensland Newspapers . Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  23. 1 2 Pip Courtney (13 October 2002). "United team on quest for better beets". Landline . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 12 May 2009.

Coordinates: 27°33′31.8″S152°16′41.4″E / 27.558833°S 152.278167°E / -27.558833; 152.278167

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