The district was originally part of
Brassall. It takes its present name from its former railway station, which in turn was named in June 1884, coined from the surname of local landowners John Muir and Andrew Muir with lea meaning pasture.[2]
In January 1902, the railway station was severely damaged in a storm, losing its roof.[7]
In June 1902, a 2-year-old child wandered onto the railway tracks. The driver of the approaching train managed to stop the train 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m) from the child.[8]
In June 1918, two trains collided at the railway station. As the collision occurred at low speed, nobody was injured.[9]
In September 1920, a fire at the railway station destroyed the office and its contents.[10][11]
In December 1949, a fire destroyed the railway station master's house, which was unoccupied at the time.[12]
The railway closed in 1993.[13] All that remains of the Muirlea railway station is its sign.[14]
In the
2016 census, Muirlea had a population of 190 people.[16]
In the
2021 census, Muirlea had a population of 174 people.[3]
Education
There are no schools in Muirlea. The nearest government primary school is Brassall State School in neighbouring
Brassall to the south. The nearest government secondary school is
Ipswich State High School, also in Brassall to the south.[17]
Amenities
There are a number of parks in the area (from north to south):
^"RAILWAY COLLISION". Queensland Times. Vol. LIX, no. 10, 092. Queensland, Australia. 13 June 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"STATION FIRE". Daily Standard. No. 2400. Queensland, Australia. 8 September 1920. p. 6 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MUIRLEA STATION GUTTED". Queensland Times. Vol. LXII, no. 10, 772. Queensland, Australia. 9 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.