Merlwood

The Murgon–Gayndah Road enters the locality from the south-east (Barlil / Oakdale), then north towards the centre of the locality and then west, exiting to the west (Cloyna / Warnung).^[3]

The land use is mostly grazing on native vegetation with some crop growing.^[4]

Merlwood State School opened on 23 March 1910 under teacher Alice Amelia Wilson.^[5][6] It closed on 22 January 1967.^[7] It was located on the north-west corner of Pringle Hill Road and Eisenmengers Road (26.1508°S 151.8888°E / -26.1508; 151.8888 (Merlwood State School (former))), just north of the Gayndah Road.^[8][9][10]

A Methodist church was built in 1913 opposite the state school on the north-east corner of Pringle Hill Road and Eisenmengers Road (26.1513°S 151.8895°E / -26.1513; 151.8895 (Merlwood Methodist Church (former))).^[11][12][13] The building was later removed. This church was strongly supported by a prominent local family who were among the first settlers, the Shelton family.^[14][15][16]

There was a cemetery in Melwood with a proposal to appoint cemetery trustees in 1911 and a burial in 1928.^[17][18] According to oral history, it was in the eastern part of Merlwood near Richards Road (26°10'39.9"S 151°53'58.6"E).^{[citation needed]}

In the 2016 census, Merlwood had a population of 88 people.^[19]

In the 2021 census, Merlwood had a population of 104 people.^[1]

There are no schools in Merlwood. The nearest government primary schools are Cloyna State School in neighbouring Cloyna to the north-west, Wheatlands State School in Wheatlands to the south, and Murgon State School in Murgon to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Murgon State High School in Murgon.^[20]