Ballard is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Ballard had a population of 167 people.[1]

Ballard
Queensland
Contractors Yard Ballards Camp during the construction of the Ipswich to Toowoomba Railway, 1865
Ballard is located in Queensland
Ballard
Ballard
Coordinates27°29′58″S 151°58′50″E / 27.4994°S 151.9805°E / -27.4994; 151.9805 (Ballard (centre of locality))
Population167 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density9.94/km2 (25.75/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4352
Area16.8 km2 (6.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Lockyer Valley Region
State electorate(s)Lockyer
Federal division(s)Wright
Suburbs around Ballard:
Highfields Spring Bluff Murphys Creek
Blue Mountain Heights Ballard Withcott
Mount Kynoch Harlaxton Mount Lofty

Geography

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Ballard is located 11 kilometres (7 mi) east from the Toowoomba city centre. Murphys Creek Road passes through the northwest corner.[3]

History

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The locality, historically known as Ballaroo, is named for Robert Ballard, a railway engineer for Peto, Brassey and Betts who oversaw the construction of the main range section of the Ipswich–Toowoomba railway.[2]

In December 1885, "The Highfields Estate" made up of 147 allotments was advertised for sale by Arthur Martin & Co.[4] Despite the use of the Highfields name, the estate is not within present day Highfields but is predominantly within present day Ballard with small areas in Blue Mountain Heights and Murphys Creek. A map advertising the land sale illustrates the location of the estate in proximity to the "S & W Railway line" and the Highfields railway station (now known as Spring Bluff railway station) and shows town allotments in the area of the intersection of Valley View Road and Hanleys Road (27°29′23″S 151°58′06″E / 27.4897°S 151.9682°E / -27.4897; 151.9682 (Town of Ballard)).[5][6] The map describes the estate as the "Sanatorium and Garden of Queensland".[5]

Demographics

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At the 2006 census, tBallard had a population of 355 people.[7]

In the 2016 census, Ballard had a population of 151 people.[8]

In the 2021 census, Ballard had a population of 167 people.[1]

Heritage listings

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Swansons Rail Bridge, 2014

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

Education

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There are no schools in Ballard. The nearest government primary schools are Harlaxton State School in neighbouring Harlaxton to the south, Withcott State School in neighbouring Withcott to the east, and Murphys Creek State School in neighbouring Murphys Creek to the north-west. The nearest government secondary schools are Toowoomba State High School in neighbouring Mount Lofty to the south-east and Centenary Heights State High School in Centenary Heights to the south.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ballard (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ a b "Ballard – locality in Lockyer Valley Region (entry 45006)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Ballard, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Advertising". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. XXIX, no. 5, 869. Queensland, Australia. 24 December 1885. p. 6. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "Sanatorium and Garden of Queensland The Highfields Estate" (1885) [Map]. Collections. State Library of Queensland.
  6. ^ "Spring Bluff – railway station in Lockyer Valley Region (entry 31723)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Ballard (Gatton Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ballard (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  9. ^ "Swansons Rail Bridge (entry 600871)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
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  Media related to Ballard, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons