Birkdale was named in 1880 by local landowner William Thorne after his birthplace, Birkdale in England. Birkdale State School opened on 27 November 1916 with 28 students. In the 1920s, poultry was a major industry in Birkdale. Birkdale South State School opened on 25 January 1982.
Demographics
In the, Birkdale recorded a population of 14,497 people, 50.8% female and 49.2% male. The median age of the Birkdale population was 39 years, 2 years above the national median of 37. 75.2% of people living in Birkdale were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 5.8%, New Zealand 4.9%, South Africa 1.3%, Netherlands 1.2%, Scotland 0.8%. 90% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1.1% Dutch, 0.5% German, 0.5% Mandarin, 0.4% Vietnamese, 0.4% Italian.
Climate
Birkdale has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. From November through March, thunderstorms are common, with the more severe events accompanied by large damaging hail stones, torrential rain and destructive winds.
George Randall, confectionery manufacturer, migration officer and orchardist
Major features
Major features of Birkdale are a railway station, a canal style housing development known as Aquatic Paradise, a significant shopping precinct located near Aquatic Paradise and a retirement village known as Wellington Manor. It is also home to one of the Redlands Waste Transfer Stations, which is provided to the residents of the city free of charge. It encourages residents to recycle such items as green waste, cardboard etc. and helps in the proper disposal of hazardous materials.
Schools
Birkdale State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at 74 Agnes Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 646 students, predominantly drawn from the suburbs of Thorneside and Birkdale, with 43 teachers and 20 non-teaching staff. Birkdale South State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at 451 Old Cleveland Road East. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 583 students with 44 teachers and 19 non-teaching staff. The school's catchment area has transitioned from small crop farms to residential estates.
