Brisbane–Woodford Road, concurrent with Gympie Road enters the suburb from the south (Strathpine) and passes through the centre of the suburb in a south-north direction, exiting across a road bridge over the North Pine River.[4]
The origin of the suburb name is from an early property owner, the blacksmith Stephen Lawn. The property was acquired by Queensland Rail and was named Lawnton.[6][7]
Carl Leis (1839-1926)
Lawnton Cemetery was established in the 1880s on land donated by Carl Leis (1839-1926). Leis was a German immigrant who was a local farmer and also operated as a carrier to the Gympie goldfields using a barge to take goods across the North Pine River.[8][9][10]
Remains of the approaches of the 1913 railway bridge, 2024
The first railway bridge over the North Pine River from Lawnton to Petrie carrying the North Coast railway line was completed in 1888; it carried one railway line.[20] Another bridge was built in 1913 to carry two railway lines.[21][22][23] That bridge was replaced with another bridge completed in 2016 which can carry four railway lines.[24]
Pine Rivers Special School opened in April 1986.[26]
The area east of Gympie Road was previously known as Wyllie (named after Alexander James Wyllie) until September 1989 when the Queensland Government decided to incorporate it within the suburb of Lawnton.[6][27] It was also the location of the World War IIPetrie Airfield.[28]
Demographics
In the 2011 census, Lawnton recorded a population of 5,356 people, 50.9% female and 49.1% male. The median age of the Lawnton population was 36 years, 1 year below the national median of 37. 78.3% of people living in Lawnton were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 5.1%, England 4%, Philippines 1%, India 0.9%, South Africa 0.6%. 90.7% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.8% Hindi, 0.5% Tagalog, 0.3% Dutch, 0.3% Italian, 0.3% Spanish.[29]
In the 2016 census, Lawnton had a population of 5,658 people.[30]
In the 2021 census, Lawnton had a population of 5,905 people.[1]
Economy
The Lawnton industrial estate as well as retail and commerce establishments along Gympie Road provide local services and employment. Alluvial gravel and sand mining also occur in Lawnton. There have been recent industrial and retail developments in Lawnton.[citation needed]
YOS Lawnton is a private secondary (10-12) school for boys and girls at 27-29 Lawnton Pocket Road (27°16′59″S152°59′06″E / 27.2830°S 152.9851°E / -27.2830; 152.9851 (YOS Lawnton)).[31][35] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 50 students with 5 teachers and 11 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[33] This school is a Youth Outreach Service by the Salvation Army which aims to get students who have disengaged with schooling to re-engage.[35]
There is no mainstream secondary school in Lawnton. The nearest government secondary schools are Pine Rivers State High School in neighbouring Strathpine to the south and Bray Park State High School in neighbouring Bray Park to the south-west.[4]
Amenities
Leis Park boat ramp with the Gympie Road bridge in the background, 2024
^"Lawnton Cemetery". Moreton Bay City Council. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
^"OBITUARY". The Daily Mail. No. 7593. Queensland, Australia. 1 July 1926. p. 8. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abInformation board at Leis Park, provided by Moreton Bay Regional Council
^"St. Thomas's, North Pine". The Telegraph. No. 4, 954. Queensland, Australia. 27 August 1888. p. 5. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Epitome of news". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 653. Queensland, Australia. 21 December 1888. p. 4. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 653. Queensland, Australia. 21 December 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"St. Thomas', North Pine". The Telegraph. No. 5, 056. Queensland, Australia. 26 December 1888. p. 2. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"General News". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXVI, no. 721. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1889. p. 170. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Closed Churches". Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^"Progress of Public Works". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXIII, no. 643. Queensland, Australia. 28 January 1888. p. 139. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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