Marburg, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Marburg is a small township of 536 inhabitants located 60 km west of Brisbane
, the capital of the State of Queensland
, Australia. It is a township in the City of Ipswich
.
German settlers arrived in the region around the 1860s. The story goes that, when the station master of the nearby Walloon railway station asked the settlers where they lived, the settlers responded with 'ober dar'. He felt that 'ober dar' should have a proper name and since he had read an article about a town in Germany called 'Marburg
' he decided to register their produce as coming from 'Marburg'. The settlers liked this solution and the name stuck.
The timber, sugar cane and dairy industries put Marburg on its feet. While Marburg in 1868 was a wilderness, in 1900 Marburg had a courthouse, police barracks, a post office, two hotels, five churches, a State school, a School of Arts, several stores, a blacksmith, a butter factory, a sugar factory and a rum distillery. At that time nearly 80 percent of Marburg's population came from Germany or was of German descent.
Marburg grew rapidly in the first half of the twentieth century, as the main road from Brisbane to Toowoomba passed through the town's centre. Marburg became popular as a stopover for travellers.
to Marburg was opened but only a few years later the railway began to suffer from the competition of highway traffic. It still survived until 1965 when the line was closed.
Because of an anti-German sentiment of some State politicians the name of Marburg was changed during the first World War
into Townshend, a name change the locals did not support. Dr. Sirois, the local General Practician at the time, was instrumental in having the name Marburg be re-introduced after the war in 1920, which created a storm of protest but to no avail.
When the Warrego Highway
was built in the 1960s, most of the traffic from Brisbane to Toowoomba bypassed Marburg, and subsequently the town has become less populated.
A small creek, the Black Snake creek, runs through Marburg. It is named after the Red-bellied Black Snake
. The Marburg 'Black Snake Creek Festival' is a yearly occasion. This year the festival commences on Friday night 26 October, from 6.30 pm and on Saturday 27 October. Many different musicians will perform. Many different attractions.
Marburg has active community groups such as the Marburg and District Resident's Association, the Rosewood Scrub Historical Society, the Marburg Show Society, The Marburg Fire and Rescue Station, the Marburg Rural Fire Brigade and the Marburg branch of the State Emergency Services.
The 'Band in the Park' is an initiative of the Marburg and District Resident's Association
on the first Friday of the month at 6.30 pm.
Marburg is well known for its 'Marburg dances' which take place every Saturday night in the hall on the showgrounds. Harness racing
takes place on a regular basis on the Marburg race course.
'Woodlands' is Marburg's finest building. It is listed by the National Trust as a fine example of the nineteenth century plantation owner's residence and for its historic significance in relation to the development of various primary industries in Queensland. It was built between 1888 and 1891 by Thomas Lorrimar Smith who was the owner of the sawmill, sugarmill, distillery and other business interests in the region. At present the property services as a centre for functions such as weddings, business meetings and conferences.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the capital of the State of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia. It is a township in the City of Ipswich
City of Ipswich
The City of Ipswich is a Local Government Area in South East Queensland, covering an area of along the coast about southwest of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. The City of Ipswich has a population of 162,380 .-History:...
.
German settlers arrived in the region around the 1860s. The story goes that, when the station master of the nearby Walloon railway station asked the settlers where they lived, the settlers responded with 'ober dar'. He felt that 'ober dar' should have a proper name and since he had read an article about a town in Germany called 'Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
' he decided to register their produce as coming from 'Marburg'. The settlers liked this solution and the name stuck.
The timber, sugar cane and dairy industries put Marburg on its feet. While Marburg in 1868 was a wilderness, in 1900 Marburg had a courthouse, police barracks, a post office, two hotels, five churches, a State school, a School of Arts, several stores, a blacksmith, a butter factory, a sugar factory and a rum distillery. At that time nearly 80 percent of Marburg's population came from Germany or was of German descent.
Marburg grew rapidly in the first half of the twentieth century, as the main road from Brisbane to Toowoomba passed through the town's centre. Marburg became popular as a stopover for travellers.
History
In 1912 a railway line from RosewoodRosewood, Queensland
Rosewood is a small town in the Bremer Valley, Queensland, Australia. It is located 60 km west of the Brisbane CBD in the Ipswich City Council area and is the terminus of QR Citytrain's Rosewood railway line. Rosewood Railway Station provides Citytrain commuter rail services to Ipswich and...
to Marburg was opened but only a few years later the railway began to suffer from the competition of highway traffic. It still survived until 1965 when the line was closed.
Because of an anti-German sentiment of some State politicians the name of Marburg was changed during the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
into Townshend, a name change the locals did not support. Dr. Sirois, the local General Practician at the time, was instrumental in having the name Marburg be re-introduced after the war in 1920, which created a storm of protest but to no avail.
When the Warrego Highway
Warrego Highway
The Warrego Highway is located in southern Queensland, Australia. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 750 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River, which is the endpoint of the highway...
was built in the 1960s, most of the traffic from Brisbane to Toowoomba bypassed Marburg, and subsequently the town has become less populated.
A small creek, the Black Snake creek, runs through Marburg. It is named after the Red-bellied Black Snake
Red-bellied Black Snake
The Red-bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus, is a species of elapid snake native to eastern Australia. Though its venom is capable of causing significant morbidity, it is not generally fatal and less venomous than other deadly Australian snakes. It is common in woodlands, forests and...
. The Marburg 'Black Snake Creek Festival' is a yearly occasion. This year the festival commences on Friday night 26 October, from 6.30 pm and on Saturday 27 October. Many different musicians will perform. Many different attractions.
Marburg has active community groups such as the Marburg and District Resident's Association, the Rosewood Scrub Historical Society, the Marburg Show Society, The Marburg Fire and Rescue Station, the Marburg Rural Fire Brigade and the Marburg branch of the State Emergency Services.
The 'Band in the Park' is an initiative of the Marburg and District Resident's Association
on the first Friday of the month at 6.30 pm.
Marburg is well known for its 'Marburg dances' which take place every Saturday night in the hall on the showgrounds. Harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
takes place on a regular basis on the Marburg race course.
'Woodlands' is Marburg's finest building. It is listed by the National Trust as a fine example of the nineteenth century plantation owner's residence and for its historic significance in relation to the development of various primary industries in Queensland. It was built between 1888 and 1891 by Thomas Lorrimar Smith who was the owner of the sawmill, sugarmill, distillery and other business interests in the region. At present the property services as a centre for functions such as weddings, business meetings and conferences.