Westbrook, Queensland

Westbrook Toowoomba, Queensland
Main Street, Westbrook, looking toward Mount Rascal
Westbrook
Coordinates	27.6047°S 151.8694°E / -27.6047; 151.8694 (Westbrook (town centre))
Population	4,408 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	72.62/km^2 (188.08/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4350
Area	60.7 km^2 (23.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	10.5 km (7 mi) SW of Toowoomba CBD 137 km (85 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Condamine
Federal division(s)	Groom
Localities around Westbrook: Biddeston Wellcamp Glenvale Biddeston Westbrook Drayton Athol Wyreema Finnie

Westbrook is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Westbrook had a population of 4,408 people.^[1]

Geography

Bunkers Hill, 2020

The Gore Highway passes through Westbrook.^[4] The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing passes through the western part of the locality with no intersections.^{[citation needed]} The Toowoomba-Karara Road runs along the south-eastern boundary.

Westbrook has the following mountains:

• Bunkers Hill (27.6258°S 151.8365°E / -27.6258; 151.8365 (Bunkers Hill)) 631 metres (2,070 ft)^[5][6]
• Sugarloaf (27.5968°S 151.8386°E / -27.5968; 151.8386 (Sugarloaf)) 598 metres (1,962 ft)^[5][7]

History

Open carriage outside the Westbrook Station homestead, circa 1877

The name Westbrook comes from the name of the Westbrook pastoral run named by John 'Tinker' Campbell, a pastoralist and merchant, in 1841.^[2][8] The name has been attributed to be self-explanatory: a running brook or stream.^[9][10]

In 1877, 11,500 acres (4,700 ha) of land was resumed from the Westbrook pastoral run to establish smaller farms. The land was offered for selection on 17 April 1877.^[11]

Bunker's Hill State School opened on 1 January 1899 under head teacher Walter Richmond.^[12][13][14]

Westbrook Reformatory School for Boys opened on 5 May 1900, having been relocated from Lytton Hill on the orders of Colonel George Arthur French, Commandant of the newly created Queensland Defence Force.^[15][16] On 30 October 1919, it was renamed Farm Home for Boys, Westbrook to have a "positive 'moral effect' on the boys". On 26 May 1966 it was renamed Westbrook Training Centre. Circa 1987, it was renamed Westbrook Youth Detention Centre. It closed on 30 June 1994.^{[14][17][18][19][20][21]} It was located at a site bounded by Westbrook Wyreema Road, Toowoomba Athol Road and Althus Road (27.6171°S 151.8308°E / -27.6171; 151.8308 (Westbrook Reformatory for Boys (former))).^[22]

Westbrook Presbyterian Church was officially opened on Sunday 15 June 1902 by Reverend Robert Henry Roberts. Reverend Joseph Lundie and Messrs Munro and Robertson, all of Toowoomba, donated the 1-acre (0.40 ha) site, while Frederick George Gray Couper of Westbrook Station gifted the building, a former billiard room at the Westbrook Homestead. Prior to the opening of the church, Presbyterian worship had been held in the home of Mr and Mrs Hugh Campbell.^[23][24] On Saturday 14 June 1952, the church celebrated its golden jubilee with the laying of the foundation stone for a new church building by Ralph Havelock Couper, son of Frederick Couper who donated the original building.^[25][26] On Sunday 14 September 1952, the new church building was officially opened by the Reverend J. Fairlie Forrest with over 200 people attending. The new church cost only £900 due to the men of the congregation providing volunteer labour.^[27] The church was sold circa 1995 and has been converted into a house. It is at 1220 Gore Highway (27.6127°S 151.8324°E / -27.6127; 151.8324 (Westbrook Presbyterian Church (former))).^{[28][29][30][31]}

Westbrook Provisional School opened on 25 July 1887. In 1903, it was renamed Athol Provisional School and became Athol State School on 1 October 1910. It closed on 20 July 1962.^[32][33] It was located on the north-east corner of Athol School Road and Berghofer Road in neighbouring Athol (27.6043°S 151.7504°E / -27.6043; 151.7504 (Athol State School (former))).^[34][35]

Westbrook State School, 1930

Westbrook Crossing State School opened on 9 February 1910, but it was later renamed Westbrook State School. It was officially opened by James Tolmie and Thomas Robert Roberts, the two Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Drayton and Toowoomba.^[36][37] The school closed on 6 July 1969.^[14][38] It was on the north-western corner of Barwick Street and Gore Street (27.6061°S 151.8699°E / -27.6061; 151.8699 (Westbrook State School (formerly))).^[39][40]

On Sunday 20 February 1920 Reverend Father Fouhy opened a Catholic church in Westbrook, about 4 miles (6.4 km) from the railway crossing on the main Westbrook Road. The architects were James Marks and Son of Toowoomba and it was built by H. Andrews.^[41]

Westbrook War Memorial, Anzac Day 1922

On 25 April (Anzac Day) 1922, the Westbrook War Memorial was unveiled by Littleton Groom, the then Attorney-General for Australia and Member for the Darling Downs. The memorial commemorates the service of 47 local men in World War I and is located at Main Street in front of the Westbrook Hall.^[42][43][44]

The town has grown to become a satellite suburb of Toowoomba and is now one of the fastest growing areas of the city, and is home to many of its workers.^[45]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Westbrook had a population of 3,885 people.^[46]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Westbrook had a population of 4,408 people.^[1]

Heritage listings

Westbrook has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Westbrook Homestead, Coupers Road (27.6008°S 151.7936°E / -27.6008; 151.7936 (Westbrook Homestead))^[47]
• Westbrook War Memorial, 114 Toowoomba Road (27.6094°S 151.8667°E / -27.6094; 151.8667 (Westbrook War Memorial))^[48]

Education

Bunker's Hill State School, circa 2022

Bunker's Hill State School is a government primary (Preparation to Grade 6) school for boys and girls at 315 Bunkers Hill School Road (27.6060°S 151.8333°E / -27.6060; 151.8333 (Bunker's Hill State School)).^[49][50] In 2012, it had 205 students enrolled with 17 teachers (12.6 full-time equivalent).^[51] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 253 students with 19 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 14 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).^[52]

There are no secondary schools in Westbrook. The nearest government secondary school is Harristown State High School in Harristown to the north-east.^[53]

Amenities

Library services in Westbrook are provided by the Toowoomba Regional Council's mobile library service. The van visits Main Street every Saturday.^[54]

There are a number of parks in the area:

• Carla Cresent Park (27.5998°S 151.8713°E / -27.5998; 151.8713 (Carla Cresent Park))^[55]
• Centenary Park (27.6055°S 151.8704°E / -27.6055; 151.8704 (Centenary Park))^[55]
• Ferguson Road Park (27.5988°S 151.8768°E / -27.5988; 151.8768 (Ferguson Road Park))^[55]
• Michael Street Park (27.6026°S 151.8760°E / -27.6026; 151.8760 (Michael Street Park))^[55]
• Westbrook Park (27.6073°S 151.8693°E / -27.6073; 151.8693 (Westbrook Park))^[55]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Westbrook (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Westbrook – town in Toowoomba Region (entry 37091)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
3. "Westbrook – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 48092)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
5. "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "Bunkers Hill – mountain in Toowoomba Region (entry 5290)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
7. "Sugarloaf – mountain in Toowoomba Region (entry 32754)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
8. "IN THE TRACKS OF EARLY SQUATTERS". Sunday Mail. No. 379. Queensland, Australia. 25 July 1937. p. 42. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Sketcher". The Queenslander. No. 2457. Queensland, Australia. 18 April 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 16 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "State School Exercise, Class IV". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser. No. 4119. Queensland, Australia. 13 October 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020 – via Trove.
12. "Agency ID 96, Bunkers Hill State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
13. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
14. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
15. "Lytton Hill (entry 601366)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
16. "Review of the Year". The Telegraph. No. 8, 462. Queensland, Australia. 2 January 1900. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "Agency ID 11373, Westbrook Reformatory for Boys". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
18. "Agency ID 11374, Farm Home for Boys, Westbrook". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
19. "Agency ID 11375, Westbrook Training Centre". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
20. "Agency ID 48, Westbrook Youth Detention Centre". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
21. "Queensland state school - centre closures" (PDF). Queensland Government. 20 August 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
22. "9242-142 Westbrook" (Map). Queensland Government. 1984. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
23. "WESTBROOK". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser. No. 6294. Queensland, Australia. 19 June 1902. p. 4. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
24. "NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WESTBROOK". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. XLIV, no. 10, 544. Queensland, Australia. 17 June 1902. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
25. "Jubilee of Westbrook Church". Pittsworth Sentinel. Vol. 52. Queensland, Australia. 13 June 1952. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
26. "Jubilee of Westbrook Church". Pittsworth Sentinel. Vol. 52. Queensland, Australia. 17 June 1952. p. 3. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
27. "Dedication of New. Westbrook Church". Pittsworth Sentinel. Vol. 52. Queensland, Australia. 16 September 1952. p. 3. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
28. "1220 Gore Highway, Westbrook" (Map). Google Maps. October 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
29. "Westbrook Presbyterian Church - Former". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
30. White, Barclay (9 February 2018). "The country home with divine history - realestate.com.au". Realestate.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
31. "1220 Gore Highway, Westbrook, Qld 4350". Realestate.com.au. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
32. "Agency ID 6098, Athol State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
33. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
34. "Parish of Westbrook sheet 1" (Map). Queensland Government. 1932. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
35. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
36. "M.U.I.O.O.F., No. 44". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LII, no. 8937. Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1910. p. 4. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
37. "Westbrook Crossing School". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LII, no. 8939. Queensland, Australia. 1 March 1910. p. 8. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
38. "Agency ID 6042, Westbrook State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
39. "Toowoomba" (Map). Queensland Government. 1944. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
40. "Parish of Westbrook sheet 1" (Map). Queensland Government. 1932. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
41. "R.C. CHURCH AT WESTBROOK". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LII, no. 8925. Queensland, Australia. 12 February 1910. p. 4. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
42. "Westbrook War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
43. "PERSONAL". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 22 April 1922. p. 19. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
44. "OBSERVANCE IN TOOWOOMBA". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 26 April 1922. p. 8. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
45. "Westbrook". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
46. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Westbrook (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
47. "Westbrook Homestead (entry 600636)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
48. "Westbrook War Memorial (entry 600637)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
49. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
50. "Bunker's Hill State School". Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
51. "2012 School Annual Report" (PDF). Bunker's Hill State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
52. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
53. "Queensland State and Non-State Schools". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
54. "Mobile library". Toowoomba Regional Council. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
55. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

Further reading

• Shaw, Richard; Shaw, Elizabeth (1999), Bunker's Hill State School centenary : 100 years of memories, Bunker's Hill Centenary Committee — includes Athol State School (1887-1962), Westbrook State School (1910-1969), Couper Memorial School (1946-1948), and Westbrook Training Centre (1900-1994)

External links

• "Westbrook". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
• "Town map of Westbrook". Queensland Government. 1978.