The Beattie's
John Beattie was born in June 1818 in Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
John Beattie began his schooling in Ireland at a very early age and continued his education until the age of 18 which was unusual for a farmer’s son in those times. After completing his schooling he decided to try his fortune in Australia.
He travelled to Melbourne by steamship in approximately 1836. He worked with his 2 cousins for 5 years carrying stores and supplies to Bendigo, Beechworth and other big mining centres in Victoria.
Once he became familiar with life in Australia he moved to Queensland and worked on a cotton plantation at Redland Bay. Next he turned to timber getting at Mount Cotton until the demand for the supply of timber declined. John Beattie became friendly with the Aboriginals that lived around the area and when he told them that he want a farm of his own they show him the way from Redland Bay to Coomera where they used to have their camp.
As the land was available for selection he made an application and received 160 acres of prime river front land. John Beattie was the first white man to live on the banks of the Coomera River. Later he took up a further selection of 87 acres that joined his land.
When John Beattie first settled in the Coomera District the land was cover with dense timber, scrub and teas tree swamp. The early ploughing was done by bullocks. The main crops were maize, potatoes and sugarcane. Later Lucerne hay was grown and a dairy farm operated. Later horses replaced the bullocks for ploughing.
In 1872 John married Mary Harding, the daughter of Rev. Isaac Harding (from South Africa) the first Methodist minister in the area (stretching from Beenleigh to Murwillumbah). They lived in a slab hut with 4 boys and 5 girls until 1896 when their house and out buildings were constructed. All of their children attended Coomera School. Their eldest daughter Eliza Jane, became a school teacher. In 1907 their eldest sons, William and Alfred, moved to a selection on the Atherton Tablelands. Their 2 younger sons Edwin and George were killed in World War one.
In 1919 William bought his family back to Coomera to help run the family farm. After John’s death William moved his family to a property near Gympie. John and Mary’s 2 daughters, Caroline and Alice continued running the property as a dairy farm.
As more people moved to the Coomera area Coomera Shire Council was formed. John Beattie served on the Coomera Shire Council for 30 years until his death in 1923.
John Beattie began his schooling in Ireland at a very early age and continued his education until the age of 18 which was unusual for a farmer’s son in those times. After completing his schooling he decided to try his fortune in Australia.
He travelled to Melbourne by steamship in approximately 1836. He worked with his 2 cousins for 5 years carrying stores and supplies to Bendigo, Beechworth and other big mining centres in Victoria.
Once he became familiar with life in Australia he moved to Queensland and worked on a cotton plantation at Redland Bay. Next he turned to timber getting at Mount Cotton until the demand for the supply of timber declined. John Beattie became friendly with the Aboriginals that lived around the area and when he told them that he want a farm of his own they show him the way from Redland Bay to Coomera where they used to have their camp.
As the land was available for selection he made an application and received 160 acres of prime river front land. John Beattie was the first white man to live on the banks of the Coomera River. Later he took up a further selection of 87 acres that joined his land.
When John Beattie first settled in the Coomera District the land was cover with dense timber, scrub and teas tree swamp. The early ploughing was done by bullocks. The main crops were maize, potatoes and sugarcane. Later Lucerne hay was grown and a dairy farm operated. Later horses replaced the bullocks for ploughing.
In 1872 John married Mary Harding, the daughter of Rev. Isaac Harding (from South Africa) the first Methodist minister in the area (stretching from Beenleigh to Murwillumbah). They lived in a slab hut with 4 boys and 5 girls until 1896 when their house and out buildings were constructed. All of their children attended Coomera School. Their eldest daughter Eliza Jane, became a school teacher. In 1907 their eldest sons, William and Alfred, moved to a selection on the Atherton Tablelands. Their 2 younger sons Edwin and George were killed in World War one.
In 1919 William bought his family back to Coomera to help run the family farm. After John’s death William moved his family to a property near Gympie. John and Mary’s 2 daughters, Caroline and Alice continued running the property as a dairy farm.
As more people moved to the Coomera area Coomera Shire Council was formed. John Beattie served on the Coomera Shire Council for 30 years until his death in 1923.
The road situated between Coomera State School and Dreamworld is named after the Beattie family -
Beatties Rd Coomera
The Beattie family still own much of the farmlands today. Their open fields, virtually adjoining the Coomera River, can be seen from the local roads. This spacious rural landscape on the flat floodplain stands as a contrast to the nearby Coomera suburbs, and provides scenic views to the river and the distant ranges to the west.
Beatties Rd Coomera
The Beattie family still own much of the farmlands today. Their open fields, virtually adjoining the Coomera River, can be seen from the local roads. This spacious rural landscape on the flat floodplain stands as a contrast to the nearby Coomera suburbs, and provides scenic views to the river and the distant ranges to the west.