Plainland is a rural locality and development centre in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, Plainland had a population of 1,930 people - an increase of 21% from the 2016 census.
Plainland Queensland | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Porter's Plainland Hotel, opened in 1908 | |||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() Plainland | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 27.5816°S 152.4163°E / -27.5816; 152.4163 | ||||||||||||||
Population | 1,930 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 86.5/km2 (224.2/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4341 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 22.3 km2 (8.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location | |||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Lockyer Valley Region | ||||||||||||||
County | Churchill | ||||||||||||||
Parish | Laidley | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Lockyer | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Wright | ||||||||||||||
|
Plainland is in the Lockyer Valley, located 75 kilometres (47 mi) west of Brisbane, the state capital, along the Warrego Highway.
Plainland was settled by a dozen German families in 1878. The families were mostly from West Prussia. The community constructed a Lutheran church in 1884 which was replaced in 1897. About 60 families, mainly of German origin were living in the area in 1911—serviced by three blacksmiths, the Plainland Hotel, a state school and a general store.[4]
Plainland State School opened circa 1886. It closed on 1966.[5]
Plainland Post Office opened by 1899 (a receiving office had been open from 1887) and closed in 1966.[6]
The area experienced a general decline in population throughout the mid-20th century until the 1990s when significant development began.
Faith Lutheran College opened on 1999.[5]
At the 2011 census Plainland had a population of 1,672 people.[7]
In the 2016 census, Plainland had a population of 1,596 people.[1]
In the late 2010s. the area experienced a boom in development with projects such as Plainland Crossing and Meadows at Plainland, expanding the availability of rural residential properties.[8][9]
Sophia College opened in 2021 with Year 7 enrolments.[10][11]
A variety of new civic services such as schools, services, and large-chain shopping options have also been developed or announced.[12] The town has also been identified as a growth hub, and the preferred location for a new regional hospital to provide emergency and maternity services to the Lockyer Valley.[13]
A farmers' market is held adjacent to the hotel on Sundays.[4]
Faith Lutheran College is a private secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 5 Faith Avenue (27.5680°S 152.4161°E / -27.5680; 152.4161 (Faith Lutheran College)), operated by Lutheran Education Queensland.[14][15] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 719 students with 56 teachers (53.95 full-time equivalent) and 63 non-teaching staff (48.95 full-time equivalent).[16] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 711 students with 59 teachers (57 full-time equivalent) and 63 non-teaching staff (43 full-time equivalent).[17]
Sophia College is a Catholic secondary school for boys and girls on the south-west corner of Otto Road and Gehrke Road (27.5565°S 152.4226°E / -27.5565; 152.4226 (Sophia College)).[18]