Rosewood History

Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Saturday 13 June 1925, page 15

THE UPPER BREMER.
Rosevale and District.
Fertile Land and Picturesque Scenery

In the vicinity of the upper reaches of the Bremer River, beyond Ipswich, is some of the richest land and most picturesque scenery in Southern Queensland. The valley is 22 miles from Rosewood and about 15 miles from Harrisville.

MORE than 40 years ago the settlers in the Upper Bremer Valley were promised a railway, or at least as one of them put it, “Perhaps it was not a clear-cut pledge so much as an any impression.” However, the hope engendered in the breasts of those old pioneers was strengthened when eventually it developed into Parliamentary approval. Possibly the ‘approval’ will develop into at least a main road. 

Cunningham traversed the valley on his return from the conquest of the Main Range through the gap which bears his name, and described it as being a very level plain and an excellent place on which to lay down a trigonometrical base line. It remained undisturbed for many years until an ex-convict, who was living with the blacks, guided to it a man named Ross, who was shepherding starving sheep during a drought on the eastern side of Mt. Walker. According to Mr. Dan O’Neil, who passed through well over 60 years ago, it was held as a sheep run by a Mr. Ross. Eventually it became part of Franklyn Vale run. 

In the mid 70’s portion of the surrounding ridges was thrown open for selection, but according to Mr. James Kelly, whose father was one of the early settlers, after much agitation the Government of the day negotiated with the owner of Franklyn Vale, who held a pre-emptive right over a couple of thousand acres of the plain, to exchange it for land amongst the valleys in the Liverpool Range, the basis of the exchange being 2¾ acres for every acre of Rosevale relinquished. The land was then cut up into 50 acre blocks and sold for £2 per acre cash – a big price in those days. It was at the sale that the impression of a promise of a railway was given. 

Only a few months ago the member for the Lockyer (Mr. G. Logan) speaking at the Rosevale School picnic, told his hearers that he had been informed by the then Premier that there was no probability of the railway being constructed in the immediate future, but he (the speaker) advised them to make a claim for a grant from the Main Roads Board.

The gazetted main road from Harrisville to Warwick passes within eight miles of Rosevale, and failing the railway the attention of the residents is focussed on the road.

IDEAL LUCERNE LAND
Rosevale Plain contains between 4000 and 5000 acres of rich friable black soil denuded from the basalt of the Main Range, with abundance of water anywhere at a depth of from 9ft to 15ft. It is ideal lucerne land but in the course of a few years one can visualise it as being turned into market gardens, for which its rich soil and abundance of water at shallow depths for irrigation particularly adapts it. But better roads are imperative. 

After a fall of 56 points of rain recently for instance, practically all traffic was forced to stop. At present lucerne and corn growing with pigs and dairying are the chief objectives of the farmers. 

There is a well equipped cheese factory with two 1200 gallon vats, boiler, curing room, &c. but it is not as well supplied with milk as it should be, a number of the farmers arguing that it pays better to separate and send the cream to Booval and keep the skim milk for the pigs and calves then to send the whole milk to the cheese factory. 

The manager (Mr. W. J. Lawrance) sent an exhibit of cheese to the Ipswich Show and secured second prize—sufficient evidence of the quality of the product. He acts also as tester and grader of the cream which is delivered to the factory as a depot for transport to Booval, and the local test and grade are accepted as though made at Booval. If the factory was not there, the probabilities are that the cream would be tested and graded after arrival at Booval. In the summer time the 15 miles rough road journey with the addition of a few hours train travelling, would affect the quality, and the price. The cheese factory for the present year had paid an average of 6½d per gallon for milk.

SUCCESSFUL FARMERS
The successful farmers of the district  include Mr. A. Henrichsen and Messrs. B and J. Christensen. Mr.  Henrichsen had retired and is now living at Wynnum. Of his four sons, one – Dr. William Henrichsen – passed his medical examinations at the Melbourne University, two are training for the mission fields, and one is still in the district in the cattle business.

Both Mr.  Henrichsen and Messrs. Christensen used fertiliser on their lucerne, and reaped some extraordinary crops even in drought years. 

Mr. Albert Zahnow, a well known Rosevale farmer, on this subject said that he had used a special fertiliser composed of super phosphates, lime and nitrate, on his lucerne. There was no doubt as to its effect, but it cost £11/10/ per ton to land at Rosevale, and there was a decided doubt as to whether it paid to use such expensive stuff at the price lucerne brought in a normal season. 

 Another farmer suggested that it would be a good idea, if some steps were taken to arrange supplies of fertilisers to farmers at a minimum cost. He agreed that constant cropping for 40 years must go a good way to exhaust thee fertility of the land. 

Another successful farmer is Mr. A. Jensen. His farm was originally owned by Mr. Carroll, for many years teacher at the Redbank State School, and it was purchased by Mr. Jensen some years ago. Incidentally it may be mentioned that Mr. Carroll planted two English elms, which have grown into noble trees.

The two eldest residents in the vale are Mr. Spann and Mrs. Tierney, both of whom have seen many changes. 

Those who settled in the district found that their prospects were good and they remained, and in many instances the old farms are being worked by the sons of the early selectors. Among theses are Mr. James Kelly (secretary of the local L.P.A.), Messrs. Tim and Michael Dwyer and Thos. Enright who is a grazier.

There is a very comfortable hotel at Rosevale. The post office is situated in the store of Mr. J. Acheson, but there is no branch of the Savings Bank, nor can money order be procured. In fact, only postal notes to a limited amount (about £3) could be issued to any one person. Much smaller places have better facilities.

The telephone service is connected with Harrisville which is open from 9a.m to 6p.m. The school is in charge of Mr.  W. Alexander, and he has a roll of 60 children. When school garden competitions were held the school took first place in the district competition. That was in 1916 but since then competitions have ceased. Mr. Alexander, however, still has a small garden going as he believes it is valuable for the children, arousing their interest in growing plants and giving them a knowledge of and love for the products of the land.

The tanks around the play-shed from which the water is taken in the dry times, are in a “holey” condition, and require either renewing or cementing.

The valley narrows after the plain is left, but the river extends some 12 or 15 miles right into the main range with a low divide between it and Taroom on Warrill Creek. Although ridgy and broken, it is very fertile land all decomposed basalt. Dairying and grazing-chiefly the latter are followed.