Lower Tenthill, Queensland

Lower Tenthill is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Lower Tenthill had a population of 236 people.^[1]

Lower Tenthill Queensland
Houses and fields of lettuce, Lower Tenthill, 2022
Lower Tenthill
Coordinates	27.6038°S 152.2386°E / -27.6038; 152.2386 (Lower Tenthill (centre of locality))
Population	236 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	9.04/km2 (23.42/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4343
Area	26.1 km2 (10.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	7.5 km (5 mi) SW of Gatton 33.0 km (21 mi) E of Toowoomba 99.1 km (62 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Lockyer Valley Region
State electorate(s)	Lockyer
Federal division(s)	Wright
Suburbs around Lower Tenthill: Grantham Placid Hills Gatton Winwill Lower Tenthill Woodlands Ma Ma Creek Upper Tenthill Ropeley

Geography

Agriculture has developed along Tenthill Creek which also forms part of both the south-western and north-eastern boundary of Lower Tenthill. Lower Tenthill Weir on Tenthill Creek, has a storage capacity of 70 ML and is used for the purpose of recharging groundwater supplies.^[3] The northern boundary follows Lockyer Creek. Two other creeks cross the area - Ma Ma Creek and Deep Creek. The locality is within the North East Coast drainage basin.^[4]

The Gatton-Helidon Road runs just inside part of the northern boundary. The Gatton–Clifton Road (State Route 80) passes through from north to west.^[5]

History

The name Tenthill comes from the name of a pastoral property established by 1845 by Phillip Friell.^[6]

Tent Hill State School opened in 1873.^[7] It was renamed Tent Hill Lower State School in 1876, but it was also unofficially known as Lower Tent Hill State School.^[8]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Lower Tenthill recorded a population of 333 people.^[9]

In the 2016 census, Lower Tenthill had a population of 252 people.^[10]

In the 2021 census, Lower Tenthill had a population of 236 people.^[1]

Education

Older school building, circa 2022

Newer school building, circa 2022

Tent Hill Lower State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 90 Lower Tenthill Road (27.59202°S 152.23628°E / -27.59202; 152.23628 (Tent Hill Lower State School)).^[11][12] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 66 students with 6 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).^[13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 69 students with 5 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).^[14]

There are no secondary schools in Lower Tenthill. The nearest government secondary school is Lockyer District State High School in neighbouring Gatton to the north-east.^[4]