The origin of the suburb name is from an early property owner, the blacksmith Stephen Lawn. The property was acquired by Queensland Rail and was named Lawnton.[6][7]
On Saturday 25 August 1888, Lady Musgrave, wife of the Queensland GovernorAnthony Musgrave laid the foundation stone for St Thomas’ Anglican church at North Pine (as the area was previously known).[8] It was located on the corner of Station Road and Todds Road (27°16′58″S152°58′54″E / 27.2828°S 152.9818°E / -27.2828; 152.9818 (St Thomas's Anglican Church (former)))[9] on land donated by Stephen Lawn and built by James Todd. The church was dedicated on St Thomas's Day 21 December 1888 by Reverend C.G. Robinson, Rural Dean of Brisbane.[10][11][12][13] The pulpit from the Samsonvale Homestead was donated to the church by William Joyner. The church was last used in 1984.[14] Its altar rails were re-conditioned for re-use in the new St Faith's Anglican Church in Strathpine, while the altar and other furnishings from St Thomas's were used to create a St Thomas' Chapel within the new church. The old church was relocated to the Old Petrie Town open-air museum.[15][16]
Pine Rivers Special School opened in April 1986.[18]
The area east of Gympie Road was previously known as Wyllie (named after Alexander James Wyllie) until September 1989 when the Queensland Government decided to incorporate it within the suburb of Lawnton.[6][19] It was also the location of the World War IIPetrie Airfield.[20]
In the 2011 census, Lawnton recorded a population of 5,356 people, 50.9% female and 49.1% male. The median age of the Lawnton population was 36 years, 1 year below the national median of 37. 78.3% of people living in Lawnton were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 5.1%, England 4%, Philippines 1%, India 0.9%, South Africa 0.6%. 90.7% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.8% Hindi, 0.5% Tagalog, 0.3% Dutch, 0.3% Italian, 0.3% Spanish.[21]
In the 2016 census, Lawnton had a population of 5,658 people.[22]
In the 2021 census, Lawnton had a population of 5,905 people.[1]
The Lawnton industrial estate as well as retail and commerce establishments along Gympie Road provide local services and employment. Alluvial gravel and sand mining also occur in Lawnton. There have been recent industrial and retail developments in Lawnton.
YOS Lawnton is a private secondary (10-12) school for boys and girls at 27-29 Lawnton Pocket Road (27°16′59″S152°59′06″E / 27.2830°S 152.9851°E / -27.2830; 152.9851 (YOS Lawnton)).[23][27] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 50 students with 5 teachers and 11 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[25] This school is a Youth Outreach Service by the Salvation Army which aims to get students who have disengaged with schooling to re-engage.[27]
There is no mainstream secondary school in Lawnton. The nearest government secondary schools are Pine Rivers State High School in neighbouring Strathpine to the south and Bray Park State High School in neighbouring Bray Park to the south-west.[4]
^"St. Thomas's, North Pine". The Telegraph. No. 4, 954. Queensland, Australia. 27 August 1888. p. 5. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Epitome of news". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 653. Queensland, Australia. 21 December 1888. p. 4. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 653. Queensland, Australia. 21 December 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"St. Thomas', North Pine". The Telegraph. No. 5, 056. Queensland, Australia. 26 December 1888. p. 2. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"General News". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXVI, no. 721. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1889. p. 170. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Closed Churches". Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
