Laidley Heights, Queensland

Laidley Heights is a rural residential locality on the outskirts of the town of Laidley in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia.^[3] In the 2021 census, Laidley Heights had a population of 1,429 people.^[1]

Laidley Heights Queensland
Looking across Laidley Heights over Lake Dyer, 2015
Laidley Heights
Coordinates	27.6291°S 152.3688°E / -27.6291; 152.3688 (Laidley Heights (centre of locality))
Population	1,429 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	88.76/km2 (229.9/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4341
Elevation	100–160 m (328–525 ft)[2]
Area	16.1 km2 (6.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	5.8 km (4 mi) W of Laidley 15.6 km (10 mi) SE of Gatton 48.5 km (30 mi) W of Ipswich 55.2 km (34 mi) E of Toowoomba 91.4 km (57 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Lockyer Valley Region
State electorate(s)	Lockyer
Federal division(s)	Wright
Suburbs around Laidley Heights: Forest Hill Forest Hill Laidley North Glen Cairn Laidley Heights Laidley Blenheim Laidley Creek West Laidley South

Geography

The locality is bounded to the east by Laidley Creek.^[2]

Lake Dyer is in the east of the locality (27.6288°S 152.3753°E / -27.6288; 152.3753 (Lake Dyer)).^[4][2] Although it is a natural lake, its capacity to store water was increased by the construction of the Bill Gunn Dam (27.6281°S 152.3804°E / -27.6281; 152.3804 (Bill Gunn Dam)),^[5] a 1,050-metre (3,440 ft) earth embankment with a central clay core. As well as the natural inflows to the lake, additional water from Laidley Creek is redirected into Lake Dyer for storage. It is an ungated dam so it commences spilling whenever it is full.^[6]

The land use is a mix of rural residential housing in the central areas of the locality, irrigated horticulture in the east along the creek, and grazing on native vegetation in the remainder of the locality.^[2]

History

The locality was named after the town of Laidley, which, in turn, was derived from the naming of Laidleys Plain by Allan Cunningham after James Laidley New South Wales Deputy Commissary General.^[3]

Official opening of the Laidley and District Golf Club's new nine-hole course, Sunday 15 April 1951

Laidley Golf Club opened on 9 December 1928 with a few holes on the Laidley Showgrounds.^[7] Due to the popularity of the golf club, in 1931, the club decided to establish a new golf course on the Laidley Recreational Reserve (now Anzac Park), which opened in April 1932.^[8] In 1941, the club suspended activities due to World War II. In 1948, the club decided to restart operations by merging with Forest Hill Golf Club and establish a new golf course.^[9] A 101-acre (41 ha) dairy farm overlooking Dyer’s Lagoon (now Lake Dyer) was purchased.^[10][11] Professional golf player Tom Southcombe was engaged to plan the golf course.^[12][13] Although play had already commenced on the nine-hole course, it was not officially opened until Sunday 15 April 1951.^[14][15]

The construction of Bill Gunn Dam was completed in 1987.^[6] It was named after Bill Gunn, the local member in the Queensland Legislative Assembly and also a former member of the Laidley Shire Council.^[16]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Laidley Heights had a population of 1,263 people.^[17]

In the 2021 census, Laidley Heights had a population of 1,429 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Laidley Heights. The nearest government primary schools are Blenheim State School in neighbouring Blenheim to the south-west, Forest Hill State School in neighbouring Forest Hill to the north-west, and Laidley District State School in neighbouring Laidley to the east. The nearest government secondary school is Laidley State High School in Laidley.^[18]

Amenities

Lake Dyer Recreation Reserve is a park to the east of the lake (27.6323°S 152.3785°E / -27.6323; 152.3785 (Lake Dyer Recreation Reserve)).^[5] There are facilities for camping, boating, fishing, swimming, and picnics.^[19] There is a boat ramp on Whites Road into Lake Dyer (27.6319°S 152.3773°E / -27.6319; 152.3773 (Lake Dyer boat ramp)). It is managed by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.^[20]

Laidley Golf Club is to the north of Lake Dyer (27.6241°S 152.3757°E / -27.6241; 152.3757 (Laidley Golf Club)).^[21] It has a 12-hole golf course with clubhouse facilities.^[22]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Laidley Heights (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
3. "Laidley Heights – locality in Lockyer Valley Region (entry 44966)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
4. "Lake Dyer – reservoir in the Lockyer Valley Region (entry 10971)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
5. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
6. "Bill Gunn (Lake Dyer)". Seqwater. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
7. "LAIDLEY FOURSOMES". The Brisbane Courier. No. 22, 114. Queensland, Australia. 11 December 1928. p. 5. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "LAIDLEY GOLF LINKS". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 19 April 1932. p. 13 (FIRST EDITION). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "NEW GOLF SITE FOR LAIDLEY". Queensland Times. No. 19268. Queensland, Australia. 7 September 1948. p. 3 (DAILY). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "LAIDLEY GOLF CLUB HAS LAND FOR LINKS". Queensland Times. No. 19, 330. Queensland, Australia. 18 November 1948. p. 4 (DAILY). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "LAIDLEY GOLF CLUB RE-FORMS". Queensland Times. No. 19, 336. Queensland, Australia. 25 November 1948. p. 6 (DAILY). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "Laidley Golf Club SITE PLEASES VISITORS". Queensland Times. No. 19, 427. Queensland, Australia. 12 March 1949. p. 3 (DAILY). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "New Golf Course At Laidley". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 30 March 1949. p. 26 (CITY FINAL). Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
14. "No Title". Queensland Times. No. 20, 059. Queensland, Australia. 19 April 1951. p. 1 (Daily.). Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "Club History". Laidley Golf Club. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
16. "Gunn, William Angus (Bill)". Former Members. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Laidley Heights (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
18. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
19. "Lake Dyer" (PDF). Seqwater. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
20. "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
21. "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
22. "Laidley Golf Club". Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.