Rosewood History
TIMELINE
1840’s A track developed between Ipswich and the Darling Downs, passing along the southern edge of the Rosewood Scrub.
Samuel Owens received approval to open a wayside inn (Woolpack Inn) at the Old Man Waterhole (Calvert).
1857 1st December – A new publicans’ licence was granted to Michael O’Brien, Rising Sun, Rosewood at a Court of Petty Sessions.
10th December – The bridge over the Three Mile Creek opened for traffic and a good and substantial log causeway at the Seven Mile Creek was finished.
1861 August – The formation of the road through Rosewood Scrub about 9 miles beyond Ipswich was completed.
1865 31st July – The railway line from Ipswich to Bigge’s Camp (Grandchester) opened to traffic.
1866 The Rosewood Gate became a conditional stop on the railway line.
1867 17th August – The Rosewood Scrub was thrown open to free selection by proclamation in the Government Gazette.
1868 1st March – The Macalister’s Crown Lands Alienation Act restricted sales of Crown land to lots of land located in the country.
1869 Preparations for cotton-growing were being made near the Rosewood Gate.
1873 James Foote and William Mathew each gave half a chain of land along the boundary of their properties for a road for public use (John street, Rosewood).
1875 1st February – Rosewood Gate Mixed Primary School opened with Dan Desbois as the first teacher.
1876 Mason’s Bridge was built.
1876 Coal mining began near Walloon. An exploratory shaft was sunk at Rosewood in the hope of finding coal for the locomotives.
1878 July – Under the Electoral Districts Act of 1878, Rosewood Gate became Rosewood.
1879 11th November – The Walloon Division was created as one of 74 divisions within Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.
1884 19th September – Olivia Vance sold by auction 40 township allotments (Elias Harding jnr Auctioneer)
1890 August -The Lanefield Farmers’ Co-operative Company was established.
October – The new police barracks, on the old site, were built.
1892 November – Rosewood Court Room was built. (Contractor James Campbell Thomson)
1903 31st March – Under the Local Authorities Act 1902, the Rosewood Division became the Shire of Rosewood, while the Walloon Division became the Shire of Walloon.
1905 27th July – The new Rosewood State School was officially opened by the Hon. A.H. Barlow, Minister for Public Instruction.
1907 23rd September – The new Rosewood Courthouse and police station was informally opened.
1909 29th October – Vaisey & Co Ltd was registered. The Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail began operations.
1910 13th February – St Brigid’s Catholic Church was opened by Bishop Duhig.
1911 January – The Epidemic Hospital opened to accomodate patients.
1912 26th January – A branch railway line was opened connecting Rosewood to Marburg.
27th January – The School of Arts opened opposite the Rising Sun Hotel.
1915 25th November – The Dungarees left Laidley and marched over the Liverpool Range to Rosewood.
1916 13th October – Five shires of the local government areas in and around Ipswich were abolished (Brassall, Bundanba, Lowood, Purga, Walloon) resulting in an enlarged Shire of Rosewood by including part of the Shire of Walloon.
1922 Q.A.T.B. branch was established in Rosewood.
1923 25th April – The War Trophies were unveiled in Anzac Park.
1924 7th August – The Rosewood Branch of the C. W. A. was formed.
1929 14th April – Rosewood Golf Links opened.
1931 15th December – The electric lights were switched on.
1932 The street lights were switched on.
1939 30th June – The New Majestic Theatre opened (Proprietress Mrs F. Boughen).
1941 The building originally used as the Post Office at Marburg was moved to Rosewood for the Rosewood Post Office.
1946 20th June – The Recreation Footwear Factory commenced operations in John Street.
1948 14th April – At a meeting of citizens in the Rosewood Farmers’ Hall, it was decided to form a Rosewood Chamber of Commerce.
1949 29th January – Rosewood Shire was incorporated into Moreton Shire.
1954 The Memorial Hall was built in William Street.
1968 23rd July – The new bridge opened over the Seven Mile by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Alan Mansfield.
1980 Rosewood State High School opened.
1982 Sellars supermarket and Arcade complex was opened.
1987 October – The Rosewood Aged People’s Home opened. Renamed Cabanda in 1990.
1988 20 November – The Rosewood Historic Railway was opened to the public.
1993 21st December – The electric train service to Rosewood began.
2001 Rosewood Community Centre opened in School Street.
2002 18th July – Rosewood Detention Basin was opened by Wilson Tucket, M.P.
2013 The New Oakleigh Coal Mine, the last near the town, closed down.
2020 25th July – The Rosewood Library was opened by local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe.
2023 October – Renovations began on the exterior of The Rising Sun Hotel. In December the Police Station was demolished. The site was cleared in preparation for the relocation of the old police house from its original position on the corner of Railway and John Street.
2024 In January groundwork began for the erection of a new Rosewood Police Station. It was officially opened Thursday, 26th September by the Honourable Mark Ryan MP (Minister for Police and Community Safety) and Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy APM (Queensland Police Service).