Archer River, Queensland

Archer River Queensland
Archer River, 2011
Archer River
Coordinates	13°21′10″S142°36′24″E / 13.3527°S 142.6066°E / -13.3527; 142.6066 (Archer River (centre of locality))
Population	27 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.00288/km2 (0.00745/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	9,381.3 km2 (3,622.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	68.7 km (43 mi) NNW of Coen 194 km (121 mi) SE of Weipa 449 km (279 mi) NW of Cooktown 774 km (481 mi) NNW of Cairns 2,446 km (1,520 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Cook
State electorate(s)	Cook
Federal division(s)	Leichhardt
Suburbs around Archer River: Mission River Mission River Wenlock Aurukun Archer River Lockhart River Aurukun Holroyd River Coen

Archer River is a rural locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Archer River had a population of 27 people. ^[1]

Geography

This inland locality takes its name from the Archer River which flows from east to west across the locality towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. ^[3]

Bald Hill is in the east of the locality ( 13°18′04″S143°03′58″E / 13.3012°S 143.0660°E / -13.3012; 143.0660 (Bald Hill) ), rising to 439 metres (1,440 ft) above sea level. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

The Peninsula Developmental Road passes through the locality in a NW-SE direction connecting Weipa on the Gulf of Carpentaria to Lakeland. There are two major road junctions within Archer River from the Peninsula Developmental Road. At 13°04′49″S142°46′06″E / 13.0804°S 142.7682°E / -13.0804; 142.7682 there is a turn-off towards the north onto the Telegraph Road towards Bamaga at the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. At 13°10′24″S142°50′37″E / 13.1733°S 142.8435°E / -13.1733; 142.8435 there is a turn-off towards the north-east on Portland Road to the Lockhart River community on the Coral Sea coast. ^[6]

The Oyala Thumotang National Park (formerly known as Mungkan Kandju National Park and Archer Bend National Park) is in the south-west of the locality. ^[7] Apart from this protected area, the land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation. ^[8]

History

Kaanju (also known as Kaanju and Kandju) is a language of Cape York. The Kaanju language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire Council. ^[9]

Linngithigh (also known as Winda Winda and Linginiti) an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Linngithigh people. The Linngithigh language region includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire Council: Western Cape York, Winda Winda Creek, Mission River, and Archer River. ^[10]

Demographics

In the 2016 census Archer River had a population of 22 people. ^[11]

In the 2021 census, Archer River had a population of 27 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Panning for gold in Wenlock, circa 1930

The Wenlock Goldfield is a heritage-listed site ( 13°05′22″S142°56′37″E / 13.0894°S 142.9435°E / -13.0894; 142.9435 (Wenlock Goldfield) ). ^[12]

Education

There are no schools in Archer River. The nearest government primary school is the Coen campus of the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (with the main campus in Hope Vale). However, most students in Archer River are too distant to attend this school. Also, there are no nearby secondary schools. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school. ^[13]

Amenities

The Archer River Roadhouse ( 13°26′16″S142°56′30″E / 13.4379°S 142.9416°E / -13.4379; 142.9416 (Archer River Roadhouse) ) is located on the Peninsula Developmental Road immediately south of the Archer River. It provides accommodation, laundry, meals, fuel, minor motor vehicle repairs, and internet access. ^[14]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Archer River (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Archer River – locality in Shire of Cook (entry 46121)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2020.
3. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
4. "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
5. "Bald Hill – mountain in Cook Shire (entry 1302)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
7. "Oyala Thumotang National Park". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
8. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
9. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map". State Library of Queensland. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 30 January 2020.
10. "Linngithigh". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
11. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Archer River (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
12. "Wenlock Goldfield (entry 601862)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
13. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
14. "Archer River Roadhouse". Tourism Cape York. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.