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Somerset Stories

Esk

DESCRIPTION

History

From the 1840s local pastoralists ran their own station stores. Notable amongst these families were the McConnells of Cressbrook, the Norths at Fairnie Lawn and the Archer Brothers at Duramba. Settlement of land use further diversified in the 1860s and 1970s with the influx of Prussian (German) immigrants to Mt Beppo, Marburg, Tarampa, Lowood and Minden areas introducing wine making and dairying.

A hotel established at Sandy Creek in 1872 at the Teamster’s Camp, soon developed into a town. A town was planned in 1872 and lodged with the surveyor in 1873. Officially called “Gallanani”, said to be an Aboriginal name for Easter Swamp Hen. When the railway arrived in 1886 the town continued as ‘Gallanani’ and the station was called Esk. The town was then known as ‘The Railway Town of Esk’, which was changed by the Survey Office in 1913 to the official name of Esk. The town rapidly developed due to the copper boom at Diara in 1873 and was soon a thriving community becoming the hub of the Brisbane cattle industry and centre of prosperous dairying, agriculture and timber industries with two mills in operation.

In 1875 there were numerous buildings in the township, including a general store, Glenrock Hotel and the Royal Hotel. Buildings were mainly slab huts with shingle roofs. By 1877, Esk boasted a police station and lock-up, post and telegraph office, church manse, primary school, two butchers and accommodation, all located on Ipswich sire of Sandy Creek. 1909 records show wide variety of businesses.

Between 1905 and 1907, the town’s population doubled to six hundred, becoming the hub of the Valley’s cattle, dairying, agriculture and timber industries. The butter factory was established in 1906 providing increased economic prosperity for the town. ‘Gallanani’ became known as the railway town of Esk in 1903.

Other NamesGallananiThe Railway Town of EskTypeTowns & LocalitiesTownsEsk & SurroundsReferencesEsk Factsheet. Esk: Somerset Regional Council. (Held at Esk Library).

Manuscripts & Documents

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 05/10/1967

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 29/06/1967

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 07/03/1967

Letter of Report on Yarraman and Esk Police Stations inspected on 17/08/1964.

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 26/06/1963

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 24/07/1961

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 23/05/1945

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 01/08/1941

Report on inspection of Esk Police Station 16/08/1933

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 22/09/1931

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 26/11/1928

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 06/03/1926

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 01/04/1925

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 09/12/1924

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 19/07/1923

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 31/05/1922

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 20/05/1920

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 30/10/1917

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 29/08/1912

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 27/06/1901

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 04/03/1901

Report on Inspection of Esk Police Station 11/11/1897

Esk Pastoral, Agricultural and Industrial Association, first prize certificate

People & Families

James Jnr Barbour

William Wells

N J McInnes

Kenneth Haslingden

Lester Williams

Jean Bray

Bowden Family

William R Butler

Frederick Lord

Henry Plantagenet Somerset

Graeme Lehmann

Tony Irvin

Lars Andersen

Charles Lumley Hill

Places

Lyceum Hall

Lowood

Esk

Toogoolawah School

Coominya Railway Station

Esk Railway Station

Esk Uniting Church

St Agnes Church and Rectory, Esk

St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Esk

Esk Hospital

Businesses

Esk Shire Council

Somerset Regional Council

Esk Staging Post Inn

Esk Sawmill

Esk Post Office

Esk Club Hotel

Esk Visitor Information Centre

Esk Butter Factory

Audiovisual

An Cuireadh (The Invitation) by Carmel Ryan

Esk Garden and Lifestyle Fair by Lisa Davis

Edward (Ned) McDonald - Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails by Elizabeth DeLacy and Mary Green

The Promise by Donita Bundy

The Leap by Susan Pitkin

Coming Home by Peter Lister

Close to Nature in Somerset by Lesley Whitteker

Pookie's Place by Leigh Pearson

Clubs & Organisations

Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails

Esk Tennis Club

Esk Bowls Club

Esk Country Women's Association

Esk Choir

Esk Show Society

Objects & Artworks

Australia Day trophy for Community Event of the Year 2008 to the Brisbane Valley Arts Council

Australia Day Council Cultural Award 1996 to The Brisbane Valley Arts Council

Plaque for Bertram Butler

G B Bell & Howell movie projector and speaker

Esk Railway door

Esk Shire Council Common Seal

Events

Lyceum Hall Fire

1919 Influenza Pandemic

Esk Railway Line Centenary Steam Train Trip

Publications

Somerset Remembers: A guide to significant memorials in the Somerset Region

CONNECTIONS

SubjectsStation StoresSettlementsDevelopmentsWine makingDairyingAgricultureCattleTimber IndustriesChurchesEmergency ServiceSchoolsButchersAccommodationCollectionTowns & LocalitiesRelated PlacesEskCressbrookDurambaMt BeppoMarburgTarampaLowoodMindenSandy CreekBiarraFairnie LawnRelated BusinessesGeneral storesGlenrock HotelRoyal HotelEsk Post OfficeTelegraph OfficeButchersAccommodationEsk Butter FactoryEsk Police StationRelated PeopleMcConnel FamilyNorth FamilyArcher Brothers at DurambaAddress Esk, Queensland, 4312, AustraliaGeo Coordinates^[1]

Administration

SL IdentifierPLA0019

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Esk