Alberton is bounded in the north by the Logan River and in the west by its tributary, the Albert River.[3]
History
The Aboriginal name for the area was Wobbomerijee (where Wobum means mud and Mudtheri means sticky).[2]
European settlement began in 1863 when the first settlers arrived, mostly German immigrants.[4]
A town reserve was established in 1865 on the southern bank near the junction of the Logan and Albert Rivers.[5]
The Ageston sugar plantation and sugar mill operated from 1866 to the 1890s and was described as "one of the finest plants in the Moreton district" in 1873.[6]
In 1869, the first Lutheran church was established near the Lutheran cemetery on Zipfs Road. The area was known as Elkana (meaning "God has created and blessed").[4][7] A German school was established early in the 1870s beside the church.[4] In 1886, a new larger Lutheran church (the present St Peter's) was built. It was consecrated in 1887 by Rev Hellmuth.[4][8][9] The German school was demolished in 1919.[4]
In October 1886, a well-known property on the Albert River owned by W. K. Witty called "Yellowwood Estate" was advertised for subdivision into suitable sized farms and then auctioned by Simon Fraser & Son.[16] A map advertising the auction states that 40 choice farms were available and the auction was to be held on Saturday 27 November at the Palm's Hotel, Beenleigh.[17]
The Gem Hotel was established in 1877 but it was destroyed by fire on 27 June 1933 but was insured.[10][18] By December 1933, the hotel had been rebuilt.[19][20]
In the 1950s, a very notable Bora ceremonial site on the Logan river was destroyed, and replaced with a pineapple plantation owned by a Mr Inklemann. The site bore the characteristics of the classic twin circles, with a north-south orientation, the large northern ring measuring 70–80 feet in diameter, while the smaller ring lay some 100 feet to its south. In the middle of the latter was a native stone hut, consisting of several stone slabs supporting a stone roof, not unlike the dolmen structures of prehistoric Europe.[21]
In September 2012, an archaeological dig was undertaken on the former Ageston sugar plantation, revealing stone and steel structures, a Cornish boiler and evaporating pans.[6]
Demographics
In the 2011 census, Alberton had a population of 576 people.[22]
In the 2016 census, Alberton had a population of 590 people.[23]
In the 2021 census, Alberton had a population of 547 people.[1]
There are no schools in Alberton. The nearest primary schools are Woongoolba State School in neighbouring Woongoolba to the south-east and Mount Warren Park State School in Mount Warren Park to the south-west. The nearest secondary school is Beenleigh State High School in Beenleigh to the south-west.[3]
^"Advertising". Logan Witness. Vol. IX, no. 445. Queensland, Australia. 30 October 1886. p. 2. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.