. The German settlers congregated in their little slab church, built in 1870. Later the Church of England, the Congregational Church, and the Church of Christ built Churches. After being thrown open for selection in 1872, the land was soon occupied. The township grew rapidly. General stores were erected, and hotels were built, "The Criterion"; "Farmers Arms". Blacksmiths were kept busy, and so were the butchers. Meringandan State School opened on 24 January 1876. It was built during 1875 by Jack Maag. Isaac John Thomas was appointed the first head teacher of the school,. The enrolment for that year was 80 pupils. It is now within the suburb boundaries of Meringandan West. A branch railway line was constructed from Toowoomba to Cabarlah, the first train running in September, 1883. As Meringandan had a railway station, the settlers in the Goombungee and Haden areas used it to forward their goods. Most of the farmers did their own carting, but well known carriers were Jack Wieck, Herman Lau, George Klein and Jack Lange. In the early 1900s a line of teams stretching a distance of half a mile, waiting to load or unload at the railway station, was a familiar sight. But the construction of the Haden railway line to Haden in 1910 reduced the need to use Meringandan's railway station; meanwhile the use of motor transport was increasing. Following the closure of the railway yards, the railway station was replaced with a park.St Gregory's Anglican Church was consecrated on Sunday 12 September 1886 by Bishop William Webber. It was located on a piece of land near the railway station, donated by Mr Foland. It was built by Mr Maag and was and could seat 150 people. In 1905 it was relocated to Kingsthorpe where it was re-consecrated as St Gregory's by Archbishop St Clair Donaldson on 20 October 1905. It closed circa 1982. On Sunday 2 February 1896 a new Lutheran church opened replacing the previous one that had become dilapidated over its quarter century of use. The new church was built by L. Goebel and Son of Gomoran. The church was with the vestry and the porch with high walls. Inside there was an elevated cedar pulpit. At the beginning of the 1900s, the Court House was moved from Cabarlah and erected at Meringandan. Before 1900, the farmers' wives baked their own bread, but early in the century a bakery