Beenleigh, Queensland

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Beenleigh
city = Logan City
state = qld


caption =
fedgov = Division of Forde
stategov = Electoral district of Waterford
Electoral district of Albert
lga = Logan City
postcode = 4207
pop = 7,816 (2006 census)
dist1 = 34
location1= Brisbane GPO
near-nw = Edens Landing
near-n = Loganholme
near-ne = Eagleby
near-w = Holmview
near-e = Stapylton
near-sw = Bahrs Scrub
near-s = Mount Warren Park
near-se = Yatala

Beenleigh is a suburb in the Logan City area of Queensland, Australia. From March 15, 2008, Beenleigh is part of the Logan City Local Government Area due to council reformation. Surrounding suburbs of Beenleigh include Windaroo, Mt. Warren Park, and Eagleby. Beenleigh and adjoining suburbs are located near the confluence of the Logan and Albert rivers. QR Citytrain provides frequent services to Brisbane and the Gold Coast at Beenleigh railway station.

Beenleigh was first colonised in the 1860s, was once a stand-alone town built on sugar and home to Australia's oldest rum distillery; increasing development in south-east Queensland since the 1980s has seen it enveloped by Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Facilities

Historically, Beenleigh's main industries have been sugar and beef (Teys Brothers abattoir). The abattoir was established in 1952 and is still one of the largest industries in Beenleigh. [http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wtr/speeches/2006/WS09_2006.htm]

Still predominately a self-sufficient town with expanding retail and commercial areas close by, Beenleigh is home to three shopping centres with Coles Supermarkets, Woolworths, BI-LO, Big W, and a recently completed Aldi.

At the heart of Beenleigh stands the Southern District Court complex, first established in 1871. [ [http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=995 Gold Coast City Council - Beenleigh ] ] For many years, the court was constituted solely of three magistrates, this changed with the allocation of a permanent sitting District Court of Queensland Judge in 1998. The first presiding District Court Judge in Beenleigh was Judge O'Brien. [ [http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/publications/annual/annual01dc.pdf] ] Recently, the Southern District Court complex has played an integral role in the development of the progressive Drug Court. [ [http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/courts/pdfs/AICreport.pdf] ]

Education

There are three major high schools within the immediate area of Beenleigh, as well as many primary schools. The town has its own library, community centre and theatre (Crete Street Theatre). Social events of note are the annual Cane Festival and Beenleigh Show.

port and Recreation

Sporting facilities that are represented in Beenleigh cover baseball, soccer, BMX, football, tennis, and swimming. Beenleigh enjoys access to the river via boat ramp located near the northern bridge.

Change of governing council

On 27 July 2007, the Queensland Government's Local Government Reform Commission, examining local government boundaries, recommended Beenleigh and surrounding suburbs transfer from the Gold Coast City Council's jurisdiction to that of the Logan City Council. [ [http://www.strongercouncils.qld.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=104&counid=63 Local Government Reform ] ] This change comes into effect at the 15 March 2008 local government elections.

References