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Woodford Error: unknown |state= value (help)
Main street
Population	5,000
Established	1841
Postcode(s)	4514
Location	72 km (45 mi) NW of Brisbane central business district
LGA(s)	Moreton Bay Region
State electorate(s)	Nanango
Federal division(s)	Fisher
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall  ? ? 1,324 mm 52.1 in

Woodford is a small town in Queensland, Australia, on the D'Aguilar Highway 72 km north-west of Brisbane and 24 km west of Caboolture. Its local government area is the Moreton Bay Region. The town is noted for its folk festival that takes place over the New Year holidays. The Woodford Correctional Centre is on the outskirts of town.

History

In 1841 the Archer brothers established Durundur station along the Stanley River, near where Woodford now stands. After the lease of Durundur expired in October, 1878, some land was thrown open for selection. Mr W. Yates was the first to take possession of his selected portion of the country and he built a hotel near a ford across the river. The hotel, and the town which developed around it, became known, unofficially, as Yatesville.

The town was positioned on a hill closer to the Stanley River than the present day town. When the introduction of a regular mail service required the town to have an official name a meeting was called and 'McConnel' was decided on in honour of the senior partner of Durundur Station ‑ but the Postmaster General would not accept that name. Therefore, another meeting was called and those present called it ‘Woodford' in honour of the junior partner, Mr H.C.Wood, and in recognition of the importance to the community of the ford across the river.

Timber cutting was the town's first primary industry, followed by dairying. A co-operative dairy factory opened in the town in 1904. Most of the timber sourced from the area is sent to a saw mill in Caboolture.

Woodford is the terminus for the disused Kilcoy branch railway line, which reached Woodford in 1909 and extended from Caboolture to Kilcoy. Between Caboolture (where it branches from the North Coast railway line) and Wamuran, the tracks and corridor are mostly still in place. Beyond Wamuran, the railway was removed after its closure in the mid 1960s, and much of the land has been sold.

Culture

Woodford's main claim to fame is the Woodford Folk Festival which is held in the town in December each year.

In 2010 and 2011, the Australian music festival Splendour in the Grass was held in Woodford in the same location as the Folk Festival. The Aboriginal cultural event, the Dreaming Festival, is also held at the same site.

One of the major sporting events in the town each year is the Woodford Annual Fun Run for Peace, which is organised by the Anglican Church. The Anglican parish is also well known for its ecumenical activities and anti-war stance. The local Roman Catholic Church also has a strong ecumenical focus.

Woodford is the home of the Stanley River Cricket Club, which supports junior and senior cricket in the local area.

There is a small rail museum in the town which operates a steam train on the first and third Sunday of each month. On the third Sunday of each month, a small market is held in the middle of the town, consisting mainly of white elephant stalls.

Woodford was also one of the principal locations for the low-budget horror film, Undead.

A well-known local landmark up until its closure in 2010 was the Elvis Presley-themed fruit and vegetable shop, "Elvis Parsley's Grapelands."

An agricultural show is held in June each year and attracts a number of visitors.

The town has its own community newspaper.

Urbanisation

Once a very insular country town, Woodford is now rapidly urbanising with new housing subdivisions being established on Kropp Road and Ironbark Drive during 2010 and 2011. Another new housing estate will be constructed on the outskirts of the town in 2012. In addition, a Woolworths shopping centre opened in the town in 2010.

A sandmining operation has been proposed for the nearby area which, if approved, will further change the culture of the town.

References

1. "History of the Archer brothers". The Archer brothers in Queensland. The State Library of Queensland. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
2. Lydia Beanland (Thursday, 1 December. 1932.). "The Family of Thomas and Lydia Emma Kinton BEANLAND". North Coast and Stanley District News. Denver Beanland. Retrieved 6 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. Horton, Helen (1988). Brisbane's Back Door: The story of the D'Aguilar Range. Bowen Hills, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. p. 8. ISBN 0-86439-036-X.
4. ^ Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 159. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
6. Woodford Fun Run for Peace. Anglican Parish of Kilcoy and Woodford. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
7. Ecumenical Covenant Anglican Parish of Kilcoy and Woodford. Retrieved 5 December 2011
8. About Us Anglican Parish of Kilcoy and Woodford. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
9. Stanley River Catholic Church
10. Stanley River Cricket Club Retrieved 20 December 2011.
11. Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society Retrieved 20 December 2011.
14. The New Woodford Woodford Newspaper. Retrieved 20 December 2011

External links

• Anglican Parish of Kilcoy-Woodford

26°57′18″S 152°46′41″E / 26.955°S 152.778°E / -26.955; 152.778

• Use dmy dates from October 2010
• Suburbs of Moreton Bay Region