On 19 August 1841, the Balfour brothers - John, Charles and Robert, took up Colinton run which included the present site of the town of Linville. The Balfours originally intended to build their homestead where Linville now stands but decided to establish it instead about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the south, near where Emu Creek enters the Brisbane River.
During their occupancy of Colinton the Balfours built stockyards on the north bank of Greenhide Creek near its junction with the Brisbane River. The yards became known as "Nine Mile Yards". By about 1886 a small private township grew up at the spot and the Nine Mile Receiving Office opened there in 1898. The name was used up till 1901.[4]
Surveyor E.M. Waraker laid out a town at Nine Mile and the plans of sections 2 to 7 of the town, to be known as Linton, were lodged with the Survey office on 6 December 1901. Linton was situated about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south east of where Linville now stands. Local residents wanted the name Linton, which was formed by dropping the syllable "Co" from "Colinton". The postal authorities did not favour this as there was already a place in Victoria called Linton, 30 kilometres (19 mi) west-south-west of Ballarat. A compromise was reached and at the request of residents the name of the receiving office was changed to Linville in November 1905; it became a post office in January 1910.[5]
The railway link allowed the timber industry to develop, with a sawmill opening in 1912 and logging continuing to be an important industry until the 1950s when cattle grazing become the predominant local industry.[4] In 1920 some of the land was allocated to returning soldiers, some of whom setup dairy farms.[4]
Colinton Provisional School opened on 11 November 1901. In April 1905, it was renamed Oakey Provisional School. In September 1906, it was renamed Linville Provisional School. It became Linville State School in 1909.[7][8][9]
Opening of St George's Anglican Church, 19 April 1915
On 1 August 1922, the chairman of the Esk Shire Council, Mr A. Smith, unveiled the Linville War Memorial in George Street; it commemorates those from the district who served in World War I.[15]
On Sunday 1 October 1927, the Linville Methodist Church was opened and dedicated by local minister Reverend Thomas Burgess. The church building was 30 by 20 feet (9.1 by 6.1 m).[16]
Brisbane River in flood, Linville, 2022
At the 2006 census, Linville had a population of 110 people.[17]
In the 2011 census Linville and surrounding districts had a population of 431 people.[18]
In the 2016 census, Linville had a population of 156 people.[1]
On 1 February 2018, Linville's postcode changed from 4306 to 4314.[19]
The town has a general store, the Linville Hotel, and the memorial hall.[citation needed]
There is a free camping area, playground, bbq's and toilets.[citation needed]
Attractions
The old railway station and carriages are in the centre of the town.[citation needed]
The 161 km (100 mi) Brisbane Valley Rail Trail passes through the town of Linville; it is Australia's longest rail trail for hiking, cycling and horse riding.[citation needed]
The Linville War Memorial is in George Street.[20]
^"RELIGIOUS". The Brisbane Courier. No. 17, 863. Queensland, Australia. 17 April 1915. p. 6. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"News from Germany". The Week. Vol. LXXIX, no. 2, 053. Queensland, Australia. 30 April 1915. p. 21. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"TOOGOOLAWAH". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 748. Queensland, Australia. 10 October 1927. p. 3. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
