Beechmont

Beechmont is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia.

Beechmont is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Beechmont had a population of 842 people.

The Beechmont district was occupied by the Yugambeh people before the arrival of European timber cutters in the 1880s. The district takes its current name from the White Beech trees in the area.The Beechmont area was opened up for selection in 1886, however many of the early settlers left after a short stay on the mountain.By the turn of the century, only three families had established themselves in the area.The Beechmont State School opened on 15 August 1904.Fruit such as apples were grown in the 1910s in the rich Beech Mountain soils of the area, but were halted due to fruit fly infestations.St John's Presbyterian Church opened on Sunday 21 February 1932 with a service commencing conducted by Reverend Alexander Duff. It was the first church in Beechmont and part of the Southport parish. In May 1947 two memorial windows were dedicated to Keith Scott and Kent Summerville, members of the congregation who died in the RAAF during World War II. Following the closure of the church in 1980, the memorial windows were removed and on 25 April (Anzac Day) 1998 the windows were unveiled in a memorial gazebo at Graceleigh Park in Beechmont Road (28.1255°S 153.1866°E? / -28.1255; 153.1866? (Memorial gazebo)) adjacent to the Beechmont War Memorial. The church is now used for holiday accommodation.The tourism potential of Beechmont was realised in 1910 as one of the motivations to build a railway line to Canungra, which led to the Queensland Government deciding in 1911 to construct the Canungra branch line from Logan Village railway station on the South Coast railway line to Canungra. Construction began in 1913 and the line opened to Canungra railway station on 2 July 1915.A dairying property located near Beechmont on the Nerang River was advertised to be sold by auction 23 November 1920 by Cameron Brothers auctioneers. The plan shows the land for sale, 858 acres, being subdivision 2 of portion 106, Parish of Gilston, on Beech Mountain, facing the present Binna Burra Road, within 13 miles of Nerang Township.From the 1920s the area became known as a mountain tourist destination.

In July 1936, Dr John Bradfield, the designer of the Story Bridge in Brisbane and the Sydney Harbour Bridge was forced to stop at Beechmont when heavy rain prevented the completion of his journey to Binna Burra.On 4 February 1942, a US P-40 Kittyhawk, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Donald Harry Hunter from 3 Service Flying Training School (3 SFTS) RAAF at Amberley, crashed on the side of Battens Ridge.Hunter was killed in the accident.On 23 January 1971 Rosin Lookout was established as a rest area. It was named after either banana grower Frederick John Rosin, a pioneer of the Nerang district who was the first owner of the land on which the lookout stands or his son John Henry Rosin who owned the land in 1968, when the Beaudesert Shire Council acquired the land.On 18 July 1971, RAAF Sabre jet A94-962 flying out of Numinbah Valley, struck and severed high voltage powerlines between Beechmont and Binna Burra.The jet suffered damage to the nose, canopy, and tailplane but was able to return to Amberley.On Sunday 11 November (Remembrance Day) 1990 the Beechmont War Memorial was unveiled in Graceleigh Park.In the 2016 census the locality of Beechmont had a population of 842 people.As at 2019, there are still dairy farms operational in the area, but only three remain in operation as the area is experiencing increasing levels of development.

Rosins Lookout is a lookout on top of the ridgeline near 1684 Beechmont Road (28.1169°S 153.2025°E? / -28.1169; 153.2025? (Rosins Lookout)). It offers views across over the Numinbah Valley across to Springbrook and Mount Warning. There are barbeque and picnic facilities. The lookout is a popular launch site for hang gliders and paragliders.Beechmont War Memorial is in Graceleigh Park in Beechmont Road (28.1255°S 153.1867°E? / -28.1255; 153.1867? (Beechmont War Memorial)).