Binjour

Binjour Queensland
The Burnett Highway passing through Binjour, seen through a tree. The former general store can be seen to the left
Binjour
Coordinates	25°32′04″S151°28′09″E / 25.5344°S 151.4691°E / -25.5344; 151.4691 (Binjour (centre of locality))
Population	86 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	1.045/km2 (2.706/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4625
Area	82.3 km2 (31.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	22.3 km (14 mi) ENE of Mundubbera 24.3 km (15 mi) NW of Gayndah 173 km (107 mi) SW of Bundaberg 349 km (217 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	North Burnett Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal division(s)	Flynn
Suburbs around Binjour: Gurgeena Branch Creek Reids Creek Philpott Binjour Reids Creek Philpott Humphery Humphery

Binjour is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Binjour had a population of 86 people. ^[1]

Geography

Binjour is in the Wide Bay-Burnett region on the Burnett Highway 349 kilometres (217  mi ) by road north of the state capital, Brisbane. ^[3]

The Binjour Range Rest Area, at the top of the range, is near the southern end of the Binjour Plateau. ^{[4] [5]} Gurgeena is near the northern end of the plateau.

The Burnett Highway passes through the locality from east to west. It is within the Burnett River drainage basin. ^[6]

History

In 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. ^[7] 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. ^[8] At this time the plateau was unnamed. ^[9] 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. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

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. ^[13] In 1899 Mr St John Wood, District-Surveyor, presented another survey specifically on Murray's Plateau to the Surveyor-General. ^[7] 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 ... ." ^[14] At this time it was being opened up for selection as agricultural farms. ^[12]

On 15 April 1911, the community requested a school be established. Their request was approved on 24 July 1911. Tenders were called to erect the school building in February 1912 with the tender of Mr A. F. Bates for £320 10s accepted in May 1912. ^{[15] [16]} In July 1912, the Queensland Government reserved 4 acres (1.6  ha ) of land for the school. ^[17] A school building was relocated from Wondai and extended with a rear verandah. The resultant building was 42 by 14 feet (12.8 by 4.3  m ) instead with 7-foot (2.1 m) wide verandahs front and rear. The school opened on 15 September 1913 under head teacher John Woodcock. ^[18] By 26 September 1913 there were 29 pupils, increasing to 37 by the end of the year. As many of the settlers in the area were German, many of the children could not speak English. ^[19]

Gleneden State School opened on 19 December 1913 and closed on 22 May 1953. ^[18] It was on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site at 1028 Humphery Binjour Road ( 25°33′32″S151°27′40″E / 25.5588°S 151.4612°E / -25.5588; 151.4612 (Gleneden State School (former)) ). ^{[20] [6]}

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Binjour had a population of 98 people. ^[21]

In the 2021 census, Binjour had a population of 86 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Binjour has a number of heritage-listed sites:

• Church Road ( 25°30′43″S151°26′16″E / 25.5119°S 151.4377°E / -25.5119; 151.4377 (Binjour Apostolic cemetery) ): Binjour Apostolic Cemetery ^[22]
• Redvale Road (corner of Burnett Highway, 25°31′50″S151°25′40″E / 25.5305°S 151.4277°E / -25.5305; 151.4277 (Binjour Cemetery) ): Binjour Cemetery ^[22]

Education

Binjour Plateau State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 18401 Burnett Highway ( 25°30′57″S151°27′24″E / 25.5157°S 151.4566°E / -25.5157; 151.4566 (Binjour Plateau State School) ). ^{[23] [24] [25]} In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 16 children with 3 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). ^[26] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 12 students with 3 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). ^[27]

There are no secondary schools in Binjour. The nearest government secondary schools are 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. ^[6]

Amenities

Apostolic Church on the Burnett Highway, 2014

Binjour Apostolic Church is at 125 Church Road (junction with Burnett Highway, 25°31′12″S151°26′39″E / 25.5199°S 151.4442°E / -25.5199; 151.4442 (Apostolic Church) ). ^[28]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Binjour (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Binjour – locality in North Burnett Region (entry 45318)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 28 December 2020.
3. Google (22 October 2022). "Brisbane to Binjour" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
4. "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.
5. admin (16 September 2012). "Binjour Range Rest Area | FREE CAMPING AUSTRALIA". www.freecampingaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
6. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 22 October 2022.
7. "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.
8. "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.
9. "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.
10. 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.
11. "Outline Map of the Wide Bay & Burnett Districts Illustrating the Pastoral Holdings 1894". Queensland Government. 1894. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
12. "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.
13. "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.
14. "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.
15. "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier . No. 16, 886. Queensland, Australia. 24 February 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 22 October 2022– via National Library of Australia.
16. "EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION". The Telegraph . No. 12, 310. Queensland, Australia. 2 May 1912. p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 22 October 2022– via National Library of Australia.
17. "CROWN LANDS". The Brisbane Courier . No. 17, 018. Queensland, Australia. 29 July 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 22 October 2022– via National Library of Australia.
18. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
19. "History". Binjour Plateau State School. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
20. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m116" (Map). Queensland Government. 1950. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
21. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Binjour (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
22. "North Burnett Local Heritage Register" (PDF). North Burnett Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
23. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
24. "Binjour Plateau State School". Binjour Plateau State School. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
25. "Binjour Plateau State School". Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
26. "Annual Report 2016". Binjour Plateau State School. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
27. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
28. "Communities". Apostolic Church of Queensland . Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.

Further reading

• Bramer, Hermann (1970). Binjour pioneer group.

• 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.

• Binjour Community centenary, 1909-2009 : celebrating 100 years. The Apostolic Church of Queensland. 2009.