Gatton

History

Jagara is one of the Aboriginal languages of South-East Queensland. There is some uncertainty over the status of Jagara as a language, dialect, or a group or clan within the local government boundaries of Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Regional Council and the Somerset Regional Council. The Gatton area was explored by Major Edmund Lockyer in 1825. A settlement known as Gatton was gazetted in 1855. The name Gatton is taken from the village of Gatton in Surrey, England. The small village did not experience significant growth until the mid-1870s, after the railway to Grandchester attracted people to the area. Catholic priest Father Brun established St Mary's School in 1868. However, in 1892, the only teacher at the school Miss Mary O'Keeffe married James McKeen of Mount Sylvia, and the school closed. The Gatton Congregational Church opened on 26 November 1874. On 14 October 1901 the laying of the foundation blocks of present church was performed by William Drayton Armstrong, the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Lockyer, together with Alexander Brown Wilson, the architect from Brisbane representing the Queensland Congregational Union. In 1965 the front of the church was covered with bricks. In June 1977 many Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches amalgamated to form the Uniting Church in Australia with the church in Gatton now known as Lockyer Uniting Church. In January 1875, Gatton residents convened a meeting to establish a school. In June 1875 tenders were called for the construction of a school building and a teacher's residence. In April 1886, the tender of Mr J. Olsen to construct the church for £260 was accepted. St Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1889 under Father Daniel Walsh, replacing an earlier church. On 29 September…

Most-observed species

• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  4,048
• Pacific Black Duck

  Anas superciliosa J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  3,896
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  3,806
• Australasian Grebe

  Tachybaptus novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1826) · Aves
  3,617
• Masked Lapwing

  Vanellus miles (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  3,382
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  3,321
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  3,210
• Gray Teal

  Anas gracilis Buller, 1869 · Aves
  3,151