Meringandan
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Side box Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Meringandan is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the Template:CensusAU, Meringandan had a population of 530 people.[1]
Geography
The town is located on the Darling Downs near Highfields, Script error: No such module "convert". NNW of Toowoomba.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
It is drained by the meandering Meringandan Creek, which also formed the boundary between the Shire of Crows Nest and the Shire of Rosalie and separated it from neighbouring Meringandan West Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
History
Meringandan is a corruption of the aboriginal words, Moorin meaning fire and Gandan meaning clay. Therefore, Meringandan means 'place of fire and clay'.[2]
Following the settling of the Leslie brothers at Toolburra, near Warwick in 1840, Henry Hughes (1816-1882) and Henry Isaac (1816-1862) occupied Gowrie as a sheep run on the upper section of Gowrie Creek in 1841. They later took over the land to the north up to the Great Dividing Range, the Meringandan run, from C W Pitts. Henry Hughes severed the partnership with Henry Isaac in 1850; he moved to Westbrook run, and Henry Isaac took over the Gowrie aggregation. Henry then took his brother, Fred Isaac (1820-1865), into partnership with him. Fred had reveled in Australian country life and quickly became an accomplished bushman and station manager.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
In 1854, Fred, who had gone home to England for a visit, married his half-cousin, Caroline Sophia née Sparkes (1835-1913), and then returned to run Gowrie. (Their mothers were half-sisters.) By 1860, Henry Isaac had had enough of the pioneering life, so he sold his share of Gowrie to Fred and returned to England, where he died shortly afterwards. To help finance the purchase of Henry's share of Gowrie, Fred partnered with Ernest de St Jean de Satgé (1834-1901), Caroline's second cousin. In 1865, Fred Isaac died, the estate was sold to George King, and the debts owing to Henry Isaac and Ernest de St Jean were settled. George King's sons initially continued to manage the property for sheep raising, but later also bred horses for the Indian remount trade.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
It is local folklore that the first white child born in the Meringandan area was Eliza Hunt, her father being an overseer and stockman on the estate.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
The Lands Alienation Act of 1868 meant that the Meringandan portion of Gowrie Station was resumed and thrown open for settlement. Many German farmers emigrated to Queensland in the 1860s, some coming to the Darling Downs. Many families in this district are of German descent. These pioneers were amazedScript error: No such module "Unsubst". that the minimum amount of land they could select was Script error: No such module "convert"..Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
The German settlers congregated in their little slab church, built in 1870. Later, the Church of England, the Congregational Church, and the Church of Christ built Churches.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
The land was soon occupied after being thrown open for selection in 1872. The township grew rapidly. General stores were erected, hotels were built, "The Criterion," "Farmers Arms." Blacksmiths were kept busy, and so were the butchers. Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Meringandan State School opened on 24 January 1876.[3] It was built in 1875 by Jack Maag. Isaac John Thomas was appointed the first head teacher of the school. The enrolment for that year was 80 pupils.[4] It is now within the suburb boundaries of Meringandan West.[5]
A branch railway line was constructed from Toowoomba to Cabarlah, and the first train ran in September 1883. As Meringandan had a railway station, the settlers in the Goombungee and Haden areas used it to forward their goods. Most farmers did their carting, but well-known carriers were Jack Wieck, Herman Lau, George Klein and Jack Lange.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In the early 1900s, a line of teams stretching for half a mile, waiting to load or unload at the railway station, was a familiar sight. However, the construction of the Haden railway line to Haden in 1910 reduced the need to use Meringandan's railway station; meanwhile, the use of motor transport was increasing. Following the closure of the railway yards, the railway station was replaced with a park.[6]
St Gregory's Anglican Church was consecrated on Sunday, 12 September 1886 by Bishop William Webber.[7] It was located on a Script error: No such module "convert". piece of land near the railway station, donated by Mr Foland. Mr Maag built it, and it was Script error: No such module "convert". and could seat 150 people.[8] In 1905, it was relocated to Kingsthorpe, where it was re-consecrated as St Gregory's by Archbishop St Clair Donaldson on 20 October 1905. It closed circa 1982.[9]
On Sunday, 2 February 1896, a new Lutheran church opened, replacing the previous one that had become dilapidated over its quarter century of use. L. Goebel and Son of Gomoran built the new church. The church was Script error: No such module "convert". with the vestry Script error: No such module "convert". and the porch Script error: No such module "convert". with Script error: No such module "convert". high walls. Inside, there was an elevated cedar pulpit.[10]
At the beginning of the 1900s, the Court House was moved from Cabarlah and erected at Meringandan.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Before 1900, the farmers' wives baked their bread, but early in the century, a bakery was established by O. Wuersching, the first baker employed being Walls.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Brigalow Park Provisional School opened on 17 October 1910. On 1 May 1912, it became Brigalow Park State School. It closed on 13 April 1962.[3]
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, Meringandan had a population of 305 people.[11]
In the Template:CensusAU, Meringandan had a population of 487 people.[12]
In the Template:CensusAU, Meringandan had a population of 530 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Meringandan.[5] The nearest government primary schools are Meringandan State School in neighbouring Meringandan West to the west, Geham State School in Geham to the east, and Highfields State School in Highfields to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Highfields State Secondary College in Highfields to the south-east.[13]
Amenities
Meringandan has a country pub, a convenience store and a butcher. Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
There are two parks.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Library services in Meringandan are provided by the Toowoomba Regional Council's mobile library service. The van visits Meringandan State School and Meringandan Produce Store every Thursday.[14]
Events
It has an annual rodeo which many people attend.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Attractions
It is the gateway to Cooby Dam.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
References
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- ↑ a b c Template:Census 2021 AUS
- ↑ a b Template:Cite QPN
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- ↑ a b Template:Queensland Globe
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- ↑ Template:Census 2011 AUS
- ↑ Template:Census 2016 AUS
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