Lowood's Story
Indigenous History
The Jagera, Yuppera and Ugarapul peoples are the traditional owners of the Brisbane Valley district and occupied the region for many thousands of years prior to European settlement.
A Bora Ring, a sacred Aboriginal initiation site, was discovered by an early settler at Clarendon just west of Lowood. In 1981 archaeologists recovered Aboriginal artifacts dating back about 5300 years from an ancient site near Fernvale, about 9km from Lowood.
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Exploration and Settlement
Major Edmund Lockyer and his party were the first Europeans to navigate the upper reaches of the Brisbane River. In 1825 they explored upstream for 241km in a whaleboat and were the first Europeans to travel through the area where Lowood would later develop.
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From the 1840s European settlers began arriving in the region, attracted by the plentiful water and fertile land. By 1848 18 large 'runs' were taken up by Brisbane Valley's first pastoralists including 'Fernie Lawn', 'Wivenhoe' and 'Tarampa' all near where Lowood later developed.
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In the 1870s immigrants from Prussia and Germany settled in the region and introduced their culture, farming techniques and language to this district.
There were still Aborigines living off the abundant plants, insects, animals and birds in the scrub that blanketed the area, and fish in the rivers and creeks.
Industry and the Railway
When Lowood became the first terminus of the Brisbane Valley Branch Line in 1884, it consisted of a handful of scattered homes, Bethel Lutheran Church (1876) and Cairn Hill Provisional School (1881).
The settlement was simply known as "The Scrub", being the northern end of Rosewood Scrub that also extended to Minden, Marburg, Glamorgan Vale and Tarampa. Queensland rail authorities named the station Lowood after the low-growing woods in the surrounding scrub.
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Timber getting and small crop farming became important local industries. A thriving township soon developed around the railway precinct as shops, hotels, farming businesses and permanent homes were established.
Lowood became the market distribution centre for the district. From the 1890s tonnes of local produce were despatched every day by trains to Brisbane.
The district was remarkably productive: sheep, pigs, poultry and beef cattle were raised and Lowood became very well known for its quality dairy produce.
Agricultural crops in the district were as diverse as maize, fruit, lucerne, grapes, onions, potatoes, legumes, cotton, sugar cane and even coffee.
Four Shires and Three Electorates
In the early 1900s Lowood district was divided among four shires - Walloon (based at Marburg), Tarampa (based at Gatton), Rosewood and Esk, and three State electorates - Rosewood, Lockyer and Stanley. From 1912 to 1917 Lowood had its own Shire Council before merging with Esk Shire.
Fires and Flooding Rains
Floods in the 1880s and 1890s destroyed many acres of crops and pastoral land, washed away houses and inundated shops, businesses and large sections of the railway line.
Disastrous fires ravaged parts of the township in 1904, 1925, 1931, 1933 and 1940, each taking its toll on several businesses. Thanks to the heroic efforts of voluntary "bucket brigades" no lives were lost and the town was saved. New buildings soon appeared and life went on.
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Railway Closed, Heritage Remains
Improvements in roads and heavy transport eventually reduced rail freight to uneconomic levels. The Brisbane Valley railway ceased operations in 1989 after 105 years of service.
Lowood's historic railway station and rail yards now form part of a large public park in the town centre, while the former rail corridor to Fernvale has become the popular part of the walking and riding Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
Lowood has preserved a surprising array of historic buildings and sites that are important reminders of the town's character and heritage.