Muirlea, Queensland

Muirlea Ipswich,  Queensland
Pine Mountain Road, 2014
Muirlea
Coordinates	27°34′07″S152°43′59″E / 27.5686°S 152.7330°E / -27.5686; 152.7330 (Muirlea (centre of locality))
Population	174 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	25.59/km2 (66.3/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4306
Area	6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.3 km (6 mi) NW of Ipswich CBD 46.5 km (29 mi) WSW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Ipswich
State electorate(s)	Ipswich West
Federal division(s)	Blair
Suburbs around Muirlea: Pine Mountain Pine Mountain Kholo Pine Mountain Muirlea Chuwar Brassall Brassall North Ipswich

Muirlea is a rural locality in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Muirlea had a population of 174 people. ^[1]

Geography

The locality is bounded to the west by the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (the former Brisbane Valley railway line), to the north-east by the Brisbane River, and to the south by the Warrego Highway. ^[3]

The land use is a mixture of rural residential housing, nature reserves, and grazing on native vegetation. ^[3]

History

The district was originally part of Brassall. It takes its present name from its former railway station, which in turn was named in June 1884, coined from the surname of local landowners John Muir and Andrew Muir with lea meaning pasture. ^[2]

The first section of the Brisbane Valley railway line opened was from Wulkuraka to Lowood on 16 June 1884, including Muirlea railway station ( 27°34′25″S152°43′08″E / 27.5735°S 152.7188°E / -27.5735; 152.7188 (Muirlea railway station (former)) ). ^{[4] [5]}

In January 1902, the railway station was severely damaged in a storm, losing its roof. ^[6]

In June 1902, a 2-year-old child wandered onto the railway tracks. The driver of the approaching train managed to stop the train 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m) from the child. ^[7]

In June 1918, two trains collided at the railway station. As the collision occurred at low speed, nobody was injured. ^[8]

In September 1920, a fire at the railway station destroyed the office and its contents. ^{[9] [10]}

In December 1949, a fire destroyed the railway station master's house, which was unoccupied at the time. ^[11]

The railway closed in 1993. ^[12] All that remains of the Muirlea railway station is its sign. ^[13]

In 2013, fire ants were found in the suburb. ^[14]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Muirlea had a population of 190 people. ^[15]

In the 2021 census, Muirlea had a population of 174 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Muirlea. The nearest government primary school is Brassall State School in neighbouring Brassall to the south. The nearest government secondary school is Ipswich State High School, also in Brassall to the south. ^[16]

Amenities

Pond at Kholo Gardens near sunset, 2015

There are a number of parks in the area (from north to south):

• Kholo Bridge Reserve provides access to the Brisbane River for swimming and canoeing at the northern end of Kholo Road ( 27°34′03″S152°44′55″E / 27.5676°S 152.7487°E / -27.5676; 152.7487 (Kholo Bridge Reserve) ) ^{[17] [18]}
• Kholo Gardens is a botanical garden at 243 Riverside Drive ( 27°34′02″S152°44′28″E / 27.5672°S 152.7411°E / -27.5672; 152.7411 (Kholo Botanic Gardens) ) ^{[19] [18]}
• Hillview Drive Reserve is suitable for bushwalking ( 27°34′17″S152°44′19″E / 27.5714°S 152.7387°E / -27.5714; 152.7387 (Hillview Drive Reserve) ) ^{[20] [18]}

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Muirlea (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Muirlea – locality in City of Ipswich (entry 48968)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 16 November 2019.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 18 December 2023.
4. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
5. Kerr, John (1990). Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways. Boolarong Publications. pp. 224–225. ISBN   978-0-86439-102-5.
6. "Pine Mountain and Kholo Districts". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser . Vol. XLII, no. 6391. Queensland, Australia. 16 January 1902. p. 8. Retrieved 18 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
7. "AN EXCITING INCIDENT". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser . Vol. XLIII, no. 6491. Queensland, Australia. 6 September 1902. p. 9. Retrieved 18 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
8. "RAILWAY COLLISION". Queensland Times . Vol. LIX, no. 10, 092. Queensland, Australia. 13 June 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 18 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
9. "STATION FIRE". Daily Standard . No. 2400. Queensland, Australia. 8 September 1920. p. 6 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 18 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
10. "MUIRLEA STATION GUTTED". Queensland Times . Vol. LXII, no. 10, 772. Queensland, Australia. 9 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 18 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
11. "RAILWAY HOUSE BURNT TO GROUND". Queensland Times . No. 19, 633. Queensland, Australia. 3 December 1949. p. 2 (DAILY). Retrieved 18 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
12. "Steaming ahead on the Brisbane Valley rail trail". ABC Brisbane. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
13. Google (18 December 2023). "Remains of Muirlea railway station" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
14. Peter Foley (20 June 2013). "Fire ants detected at Muirlea". The Queensland Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Muirlea (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
16. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
17. "Canoeing and Kayaking". Ipswich City Council. 11 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
18. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
19. "Kholo Gardens". Ipswich City Council. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
20. "Hillview Drive Reserve". Ipswich City Council. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.