Gurgeena is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Gurgeena had a population of 36 people.[1]
| Gurgeena Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Gurgeena | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 25°27′39″S 151°23′49″E / 25.4608°S 151.3969°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 36 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.081/km2 (2.80/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4626 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 33.3 km2 (12.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | North Burnett Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Callide | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Geography
editGurgeena is on the Binjour Plateau (25°27′37″S 151°23′58″E / 25.4602°S 151.3994°E).[3] Land use is principally agricultural and state forest.[4]
The Binjour Range Rest Area, at the top of the range, is near the southern end of the Binjour Plateau.[5][6] Gurgeena is near the northern end of the plateau.
It is within the Burnett River drainage basin.[7]
History
editIn 1899 land from Boomerang and Buckingah Stations (parts of the Mt Debateable pastoral lease), and land that had been parts of Mundubbera (Mundowran) and Ideraway Stations comprised the Binjour Plateau.[8] These stations had been in existence for more than 50 years.
The Binjour Plateau was first surveyed by Mr R. W. Winks of the Department of Agriculture, Brisbane, surveying for the proposed Degilbo to Gayndah railway line extension. The purpose of the survey was to find land suitable for agriculture. Closer settlement would yield economic benefits for both the railway and the farmers. His report was laid before the Queensland Parliament on 16 November 1897.[9] At this time the plateau was unnamed.[10] Binjour Station and Reid's Creek were at the foot of the eastern edge of the plateau. Reid's Creek was also known as Binjour Creek.[11][12][13]
The plateau was named Mount Murray by the Hon. John Murray, Minister for Railways and Works, when he and others inspected the land in January 1899.[14] In 1899 Mr St John Wood, District-Surveyor, presented another survey specifically on Murray's Plateau to the Surveyor-General.[8] By 1906 the Brisbane Courier reported Murray Plateau "going back to original nomenclature. The name of Binjour, with its native associations, supplants that of Murray in defining the great plateau ... ."[15] At this time it was being opened up for selection as agricultural farms.[16]
Gurgeena State School opened on 7 November 1912 and closed in 1959.[17] The school was on Top Gurgeena Road (25°27′33″S 151°23′55″E / 25.4593°S 151.3986°E).[18][7]
Demographics
editIn the 2016 census, Gurgeena had a population of 35 people.[19]
In the 2021 census, Gurgeena had a population of 36 people.[1]
Education
editThere are no schools in Gurgeena. The nearest government primary school is Binjour Plateau State School in neighbouring Binjour to the south-east. The nearest government secondary schools are Eidsvold State School (to Year 12) in Eidsvold to the north-west, Mundubbera State School (to Year 10) in Mundubbera to the south-west, and Burnett State College (to Year 12) in Gayndah to the south-east.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gurgeena (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Gurgeena – locality in North Burnett Region (entry 48110)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "Binjour Plateau – plateau in North Burnett Region (entry 2699)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Gurgeena · Queensland 4626, Australia". Gurgeena · Queensland 4626, Australia. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Binjour Range Rest Area · Swains Rd, Reids Creek QLD 4625, Australia". Binjour Range Rest Area · Swains Rd, Reids Creek QLD 4625, Australia. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ admin (16 September 2012). "Binjour Range Rest Area | FREE CAMPING AUSTRALIA". www.freecampingaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ a b "THE GAYNDAH RAILWAY". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 8, 260. Queensland, Australia. 2 May 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LIV, no. 12, 433. Queensland, Australia. 17 November 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "REPORT BY R. W. WINKS". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 7, 824. Queensland, Australia. 2 December 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 11 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Queensland State Archives (26 September 1878). "Tracing shewing proposed resumptions from the Ideraway, Yenda, Penang, Nour Nour, Land of Promise, Branch Ck. No. 1, Prazier, Upper Chin Chin, Lower Chin Chin". Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "Outline Map of the Wide Bay & Burnett Districts Illustrating the Pastoral Holdings 1894". Queensland Government. 1894. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "Parish of Binjour To be open for Selection as Agricultural Farms, at the Agent for the Agent General for Queensland in London, on and after Thursday, 9th August, 1906". Queensland Government. 1906. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "QUEENSLAND". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LV, no. 12, 806. Queensland, Australia. 27 January 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE GAYNDAH DISTRICT. Ideal Areas for Settlement". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXII, no. 14, 995. Queensland, Australia. 2 February 1906. p. 14 (Supplement To The Brisbane Courier). Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Parish of Binjour To be open for Selection as Agricultural Farms, at the Agent for the Agent General for Queensland in London, on and after Thursday, 9th August, 1906". Queensland Government. 1906. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m116" (Map). Queensland Government. 1955. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gurgeena (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
Further reading
edit- Binjour Plateau State School : 1913 - 1988 : 75th jubilee. 75th Anniversary Committee, Binjour Plateau State School. 1988. — includes short history of the Binjour District, Binjour Plateau State School, Gurgeena State School, Gleneden State School, Fountainebleau State School, Norwood State School, Reid's Creek Upper State School, and Reid's Creek State School.