Belivah is an Aboriginal word, indicating big fella fighting ground, however the specific language and dialect were not recorded.[2]
In December 1872, a Congregational Church opened on Mr McLean's land. It was 16 by 24 feet (4.9 m × 7.3 m) and built of hardwood.[4]
Belivah Provisional School opened circa 1874 and classes were held in a church. In September 1891, the residents were agitating to relocate the school to a location closer to where more children lived, but the Queensland Government did not wish to pay for a new provisional school.[5] In March 1892 the residents commenced the construction of a new school themselves and the Queensland Government agreed to contribute £37 to complete the building.[6] It was renamed Wolffdene Provisional School. On 1 January 1909, it became Wolffdene State School. It closed in 1935 but re-opened on 15 February 1939. It closed permanently on 31 August 1942.[7]
Belivah was named by the Governor in Council on 11 May 1985.[2] The first stages of the suburb’s residential development began in 1991,[8] the Boundaries were amended, and the area was changed to Suburb status on 7 February 2003.[2]
Demographics
In the 2011 census, Belivah had a population of 323 people (48.3% female and 51.7% male).[9] The median age of the Belivah population was 43 years, 6 years above the national median of 37. 67.6% of people living in Belivah were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 9.6%, New Zealand 3.7%, Germany 2.5%, Scotland 1.9%, Zimbabwe 1.9%. 86.7% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 2.8% Mandarin, 1.2% Finnish, 1.2% Persian (excluding Dari), 0.9% Polish, 0.9% Italian.[9]
In the 2016 census, Belivah had a population of 317 people, 48.1% female and 51.9% male. The median age of the Belivah population was 47 years, 9 years above the national median of 38. 73.0% of people living in Belivah were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 8.0%, New Zealand 3.9%, Philippines 2.3%, South Africa 1.9% and Finland 1.6%. 91.4% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1.7% Finnish, 1.0% Dutch, 1.0% Spanish, 1.0% Persian (excluding Dari) and 1.0% Tagalog.[10]
In the 2021 census, Belivah recorded a population of 515 people, 50.3% female and 49.7% male. The median age of the Belivah population was 36 years, 2 years below the national median of 38. 74.8% of people living in Belivah were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 6.0%, England 5.2%, Germany 1.4%, Finland 1.4%, and South Africa 1.4%. 86.2% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 1.9% Mandarin, 1.6% Tongan, 1.4% Finnish, 1.0% Persian (excluding Dari), and 0.8% Polish.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Belivah. The nearest government primary school is Windaroo State School in Mount Warren Park to the north-east. The nearest government secondary school is Windaroo Valley State High School in neighbouringBahrs Scrub to the north.[11]
^"To-day's Deputation". Brisbane. No. 5, 908. Queensland, Australia. 24 September 1891. p. 4. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"To-day, March 3". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLVIII, no. 10, 650. Queensland, Australia. 3 March 1892. p. 4. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
