Esk

Esk is a town in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, approximately 90 km northwest of Ipswich on the Brisbane Valley Highway. It was named after the River Esk in Scotland and England. It is the administrative centre of the Somerset Region. At the 2006 census, Esk had a population of 1,166.

The town of Esk is contained in the Queensland Electoral district of Nanango.

Town and district

The small town serves as a centre for a rich farming area, including an ostrich farm. Nearby attractions include Lake Somerset and Lake Wivenhoe, both lakes created by dams, and Ravensbourne and Crows Nest National Parks.

The historic Bellevue Homestead and Caboonbah Homestead (destroyed by fire on 10 May 2009) are located in the area. Also close by are the peaks Glen Rock and Mount Esk.

The land around Esk was first explored by Captain Patrick Logan in 1830. The town was established to service the short-lived copper mines of Eskdale and Cressbrook Creek. Settlers moved into the region during the 1840s. In 1886, the Brisbane Valley railway line reached Esk from Lowood. Several sawmills were built and in 1904 a butter factory opened. The timber industry declined in the 1920s and dairying slowed from the 1960s onwards, which has eventually led to the decline of the town's importance as a major rural centre.