Hunt is on for heir to strange block of land

Local sleuths and state bureaucrats are trying to find the true heir to a strange block of land in Logan, south of Brisbane, with only five days left.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads is looking for anyone who believes they have an interest in the August Thorsborne estate.

That tiny block of land, 16 metres long and 60 centimetres wide, is needed to facilitate upgrades to the Holmview station precinct, which is part of Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail.

A published Notice of Intention to Resume states:

"To: The beneficiaries, heirs or any party establishing an interest in the estate of August Thorsborne (deceased) Take notice that on 13 October 2026, the Chief Executive, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) pursuant to the provisions of the Acquisition of Land Act 1967, the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 and the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 issued a notice that intends to take an area of 10 square metres … in the locality of Beenleigh, for a purpose incidental to transport (railway) namely road… Any written objections to the intended take are required by 17 November 2026."

Des Crump is a historian and bottle collector; the reason the latter is important will become clear shortly.

He spoke to Steve Austin about his research into Mr Thorsborne on 612 ABC Brisbane Mornings.

"It's [a] funny little shape, [a] funny little bit of land, but it's surprising that there's no descendants because he (August Thorsborne) had quite a few children," he said.

"It doesn't seem to be specifically connected to where he ran his soft drink business, and he had a brewery, and all those other things that wouldn't fit on that sort of block of land."

Despite the lack of heirs apparent, the family name is still prominent in the areas around Holmview station, with a road and a park named after the family.

The talented Mr Thorsborne

Mr Crump, who has roles at The University of Queensland and the State Archives, has some of the bottles from the soft drink company in his collection.

"(The Thorsborne family) came out from Sweden, ended up in Beenleigh in the 1870s, had interests in the hotel area, mostly known for his soft drink factory," he said.

"It was a Beenleigh Soda with this gauntlet trademark."

He said the bottles in his collection were rare because the early ones had marbles in them and children would break them to get to them.

Mr Thorsborne was also a member of the Beenleigh Shire Council in 1888.

Mr Crump said Mr Thorsborne had 11 children, two died in childhood, and the family had the soft drink factory through to the 1930s.

"So, you think there must still be family there," he said.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said it had released an updated design for the Holmview station precinct as part of Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail.

"The updated design of the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail (LGC) project includes upgrades to local roads and a new road connection from Spanns Road to Thorsborne Street," the spokesperson said.

"Anyone who believes they may have an interest in the August Thorsborne estate or the land is encouraged to contact TMR."