Blenheim, Queensland

Blenheim is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Blenheim had a population of 264 people.^[1]

Blenheim Queensland
View across Blenheim with the public hall in the foreground, 2024
Blenheim
Coordinates	27.6558°S 152.3172°E / -27.6558; 152.3172 (Blenheim (centre of locality))
Population	264 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	7.354/km2 (19.05/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4341
Area	35.9 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	7.4 km (5 mi) SW of Laidley 16.4 km (10 mi) SE of Gatton 50.2 km (31 mi) ESE of Toowoomba 93 km (58 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Lockyer Valley Region
State electorate(s)	Lockyer
Federal division(s)	Wright
Suburbs around Blenheim: Woodlands Glen Cairn Laidley Heights Ropeley Blenheim Laidley Creek West Rockside Mount Berryman Laidley Creek West

History

Originally the district was known as Sandy Creek, but later it was named Blenheim after Blenheim Park in Oxfordshire, England, which was in turn named after the Battle of Blenheim.^[3]

Blenheim State School opened on 7 April 1879, with an initial enrolment of 73 pupils.^[4][5][6]

In 1895, a German Baptist church was established at Blenheim under the leadership of C. Muetzelburg. As time passed, the desire for German-language church services diminished and, due to falling numbers attending, the church was closed and physically relocated to Laidley.^[7]

Blenheim Lutheran Church opened on Sunday 31 March 1912.^[8] In 1938, it was relocated to Laidley to be used as a church hall for the Laidley Lutheran Church.^[9]

Blenheim Public Hall, 2024

Blenheim Public Hall was officially opened in August 1948 by Ted Maher, the member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for West Moreton.^[10] It celebrated its 70th anniversary in August 2018. A mural commissioned for the opening of the building remains in display in the hall.^[11]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Blenheim had a population of 259 people.^[12]

In the 2016 census, Blenheim had a population of 291 people.^[13]

In the 2021 census, Blenheim had a population of 264 people.^[1]

Heritage listings

• Blenheim State School, 81 Blenheim Road (27.6505°S 152.3313°E / -27.6505; 152.3313 (Blenheim State School))^[14]

Education

Blenheim State School, Block A, from north-west

Blenheim State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 81 Blenheim Road (27.6501°S 152.3317°E / -27.6501; 152.3317 (Blenheim State School)).^[15][16] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 81 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).^[17]

There are no secondary schools in Blenheim. The nearest government secondary schools are Laidley State High School in Laidley to the north-east and Lockyer District State High School in Gatton to the north-west.^[18]