Lockyer Valley
Valley
Location in South East Queensland
Country	Australia
State	Queensland
Region	South East Queensland
River	Lockyer Creek

The Lockyer Valley is area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world.^{[citation needed]} The intensively cultivated area grows the most diverse range of commercial fruit and vegetables of any area in Australia and is often referred to as "South East Queensland’s Salad Bowl".

The valley is experiencing increasing urbanisation at both its eastern and western extremities. As commuters move into the area, its towns are becoming dormitory suburbs and satellite towns of the Brisbane-Ipswich conurbation in the east and Toowoomba in the west. Urban planning measures have been implemented to preserve the good quality agricultural land and rural feel of the valley. Such measures largely confine future development to non-arable land on the slopes of the hills.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Climate 4 Agriculture 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Geography

The valley is enclosed on either side by the northern parts of the Scenic Rim of Great Dividing Range and covers Gatton Shire and Laidley Shire as well as some parts of the Shire of Esk. The largest town in the Lockyer Valley is Gatton. Other centres include Rosewood, Laidley, Forest Hill, Grandchester, Grantham, Helidon and Withcott and Prenzlau.

Lockyer Creek drains the valley and forms a tributary of the Brisbane River that eventually empties into Moreton Bay. Some farmers have instigated the use of laser measurements to ensure irrigation systems are optimally configured and yields are high. The valley has a number of small dams that serve local storage needs, including Atkinson Dam built in 1970, Bill Gunn Dam and Lake Clarendon. Golden Circle sources vegetables from the Lockyer Valley.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] History

Gatton was gazetted in 1855, making it one of Queensland's earliest European settlements.^[1] The valley was populated by German immigrants under a scheme organised by Luteran Pastor Heussler.^[2]

The first rail line in the valley was opened in 1865 when the Ipswich to Grandchester services began operation. A small town developed in the 1870s while a small timber industry grew at about the same time.^[2] Structures in the valley were damaged by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the area on November 17 1960.^[3]

[edit] Climate

The Lockyer Valley typically experiences temperatures higher than the Brisbane region in summer, but colder in the winter. In November 2008, the valley experienced some of the worst flooding in its recorded history with farmers experiencing total crop failure. The flooding claimed the lives of livestock as well as an elderly female in the Forest Hill area, caught up in the flooding whilst driving.

[edit] Agriculture

The valley contains fertile black soils which support a $160 million-a-year vegetable industry.^[4] However the viability of agriculture in the Lockyer Valley has been questioned after unreliable rains during drought, pest outbreaks and crop damage during severe weather have lead to a decrease in agricultural productivity.

Nearly all the nation's processing beetroot is grown in the Lockyer Valley.^[5] In 2002, the number of beetroot farmers had reduced to just eight farms.^[5]

[edit] See also

• Agriculture in Australia
• Fassifern Valley
• List of valleys of Australia

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Lockyer Valley Tourism & Development Association