Lowood
Postcode: 4311
Lowood is a town in south east Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Brisbane River, 66 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane or 17km birds line and 31 kilometres north of Ipswich. Situated in the Esk Shire Local government area, at the 2001 census, Lowood had a population of 940.
Lowood was established as the terminus of the Brisbane Valley branch railway in 1884 and the town grew from the subdivision around the new station. The name is derived from the “low wood” or brigalow in the Lowood area, as opposed to the tall trees elsewhere in the Brisbane Valley.
Due to its proximity to Brisbane and Ipswich, Lowood is becoming an area for hobby farmers and residential commuters. Nearby Lake Wivenhoe is a popular place for activities such as boating and fishing.
Lowood played a significant support role during World War II as the site of a training and fighter base for a number of Australian Royal Air Force squadrons and for the 36th Fighter group of the US Force. A partial bunker which doubled as an operations room can still be seen on the northern slops of Mount Tarampa.