to free settlers. By the mid-1860s the local pastoralists were experimenting with sugar cane and cotton. In 1867, a tiny settlement was established as a supply and trading centre for the settlers in the area and to service the needs of miners trekking from Brisbane to the goldfields near Gympie The local shire was constituted in 1879 and in 1888 the railway line from Brisbane was opened. Caboolture Post Office opened on 1 September 1869. Settlement in Caboolture was accelerated with the discovery of gold at Gympie. In 1868, the town was used as a stop-over point by the Cobb and Co coach service connecting Brisbane, Gympie and Maryborough. This function continued with the rail link established in 1888. Caboolture State School opened on 4 August 1873. In 1890 it became Caboolture South State School. In 1908 it was became Morayfield State School. The foundation stone of St Laurence's Anglican Church was laid on Saturday 26 January 1889 by Mrs W.G. Geddies in a service conducted by Canon Glennie and Archdeacon Matthews. Mr W.G. Geddies, one of the oldest settlers in Caboolture had donated the land. It was consecrated in 1959. It was re-built and re-dedicated in 1982. Caboolture North State School opened on 25 November 1889. In June 1912 it became Caboolture State School in June 1912. Between 1940 and 1960 it was called Caboolture Rural State School. It had a secondary department from 1955 to 1961, after which a separate secondary school was established. 20th century St Columban's College, Caboolture: On 5 December 1926 Roman Catholic Archbishop James Duhig laid the foundation stone for St Columban's College at "Highlands", 451 Sandgate Road, Albion in Brisbane. The school officially opened on OSunday 29 January 1928. It was a school for boys operated by the Christian Brothers. In 1985 the Christian Brothers passed the management of the college to the Brisbane Diocese. This triggered a number of changes, a phasing out the primary school to focus on secondary schooling. In 1996 the school accepted enrolments from girls and in 1997 the school relocated to Caboolture. St Peter's Catholic School opened on 30 January 1951 in the parish church (now Mary McKillop Hall). It was initially operated by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart under principal Sister Juan McGrath, assisted by Sister Timothy and Sister Salome. Caboolture State High School opened on 23 January 1961, replacing the secondary