Croydon Queensland | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Croydon Shire Hall, 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 18°12′S142°14′E / 18.200°S 142.233°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 215 (2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4871 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 116 m (381 ft) [2] | ||||||||||||||
Location |
| ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Shire of Croydon | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Croydon is an outback town and locality within the Shire of Croydon in Queensland, Australia. [3] [4] It is a terminus for the Normanton to Croydon railway line, which operates the Gulflander tourist train. In the 2021 census, the locality of Croydon had a population of 215 people. [1]
National Highway 1 runs through from east to west. [5]
The Richmond–Croydon Road runs along part of the eastern boundary. [6]
Croydon has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh); with a short wet season from December to March; and a long dry season from April to November. Although average daily maxima remain high year-round- exceeding 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) in all months; average minima have greater variation: from 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) in July to 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) in December. Average annual rainfall is 752.7 mm (29.63 in); and the highest daily rainfall recorded was 381.0 millimetres (15.00 in) on the 29th of January 1908. The town is extremely sunny, averaging 201.9 clear days and only 48.6 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) on the 10th of July 1983 to 43.9 °C (111.0 °F) on the 7th of November 1965. [7]
Climate data for Croydon (18º12'00"S, 142º14'24"E, 116 m AMSL) (1889-2024 normals, extremes 1962-2014) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 42.8 (109.0) | 41.2 (106.2) | 39.7 (103.5) | 38.0 (100.4) | 36.8 (98.2) | 35.2 (95.4) | 35.4 (95.7) | 37.2 (99.0) | 39.4 (102.9) | 42.2 (108.0) | 43.9 (111.0) | 43.3 (109.9) | 43.9 (111.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 35.5 (95.9) | 34.5 (94.1) | 34.3 (93.7) | 33.9 (93.0) | 31.6 (88.9) | 29.2 (84.6) | 29.2 (84.6) | 31.2 (88.2) | 34.3 (93.7) | 36.9 (98.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 37.3 (99.1) | 33.8 (92.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 17.9 (64.2) | 14.7 (58.5) | 14.1 (57.4) | 15.7 (60.3) | 19.2 (66.6) | 22.5 (72.5) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.6 (76.3) | 20.5 (68.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 17.2 (63.0) | 13.9 (57.0) | 11.5 (52.7) | 6.0 (42.8) | 3.9 (39.0) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.2 (41.4) | 7.0 (44.6) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 15.0 (59.0) | 2.6 (36.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 223.4 (8.80) | 180.2 (7.09) | 118.6 (4.67) | 24.4 (0.96) | 8.9 (0.35) | 7.8 (0.31) | 4.2 (0.17) | 2.5 (0.10) | 5.3 (0.21) | 14.2 (0.56) | 45.2 (1.78) | 112.4 (4.43) | 752.7 (29.63) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.0 | 11.3 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 47.8 |
Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 50 | 54 | 47 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 30 | 37 | 35 |
Average dew point °C (°F) | 21.1 (70.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 19.8 (67.6) | 15.8 (60.4) | 12.6 (54.7) | 9.6 (49.3) | 7.7 (45.9) | 7.7 (45.9) | 9.0 (48.2) | 12.3 (54.1) | 14.9 (58.8) | 18.3 (64.9) | 14.2 (57.6) |
Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1889-2024 normals, extremes 1962-2014) [8] |
The historic goldrush town of Croydon is located in the heart of the Gulf Savannah, 529 kilometres (329 mi) west of Cairns. [9] Mining in the area quickly drove out the Tagalaka people indigenous to the area.[ citation needed ] Croydon was a large pastoral holding owned by Alexander Brown and Margaret Chalmers that covered an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometres (2,000 sq mi), when first settled in the 1880s. The town's name is derived from a pastoral run name, that was used by their sons, Alexander Brown and William Chalmers Brown, pastoralists; William Chalmers Brown was born in Croydon, England in 1841 and is buried at Toowong cemetery in Brisbane. [3] [4] [10] Gold was discovered in 1885 and by 1887, the town's population had reached 7,000. Croydon Post Office opened on 20 March 1886. [11]
Croydon State School was established on 12 September 1889 but did not open until 7 July 1890. [12] [13]
Gold was to be the main economic production of the area for four decades. The Mining Warden left in 1926 as there were too few miners left on the field. During its heyday, Croydon was the fourth largest town in the colony of Queensland.
Chinese settlers moved into the Croydon area soon after the gold discovery was reported in 1885. From the earliest days of settlement they played a significant role in the viability of the isolated field by supplying fresh vegetables and fruit. They also supported the work of the miners as cooks, carriers and by working on tribute. The Chinese settlement at Croydon developed on the north west fringe of the town. This was a similar pattern to other mining towns in north Queensland. The community constructed a temple, houses and associated facilities such as pig ovens, with the temple as the central focus of the settlement. [14]
In 1917, Dr. Elkington, Director of the Division of Tropical Hygiene, Commonwealth Department of Health, was concerned about health and hygiene of its growing population, contemplated conducting a statistical and social survey of the town, which did not eventuate. Elkington's interest in sociological surveys of gathering social and economic details on a population later developed into the 1924 Sociological Survey of White Women conducted from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Townsville. [15]
Currently, Croydon has a much smaller population, having greatly decreased following the end of the gold rush. The population is now a few hundred people. The town is one of the termini for the Gulflander railway, opened for the gold rush in 1891 but now a tourist railway operated by Traveltrain. In early 2009, the close proximity of a receding cyclone ex-Cyclone Charlotte, caused torrential rain and Croydon to be flooded. [16] An estimated $5 million of damage was made to town infrastructure. [17]
In the 2011 census, the locality of Croydon and surrounding areas had a population of 312 people. [18]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Croydon had a population of 258 people. [19]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Croydon had a population of 215 people. [1]
Croydon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Croydon State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 22–30 Brown Street ( 18°12′13″S142°14′57″E / 18.2037°S 142.2493°E ). [35] [36] In 2014, the school had 42 students enrolled with 2 classes (years P–3 and years 4–6) with 3 teachers. [37] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 36 students with 3 teachers and 7 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). [38]
Croydon has a swimming pool, golf course, lawn bowls, a museum, a tourist information centre, caravan park and a primary school. [39] The Croydon Shire Council operates a public library at 63 Samwell Street. [40]
Water supply is sourced from Lake Belmore. [41]
St Margaret's Church at Lot 9, Alldridge Street is shared by the Anglican and Catholic congregations. It is within the Gulf Savannah Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns. [42]
Croydon was mentioned in the 1950 novel A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute, as an example of a largely abandoned gold rush town. [43]
Normanton is an outback town and coastal locality in the Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. At the 2021 census, the locality of Normanton had a population of 1,391 people, and the town of Normanton had a population of 1,326 people.
Karumba is a town and a coastal locality in the Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Karumba had a population of 487 people.
Forsayth is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Forsayth had a population of 107 people.
Georgetown is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Georgetown had a population of 254 people.
Burketown is an isolated outback town and coastal locality in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Burketown had a population of 204 people.
The Gulflander is a passenger train operated by Queensland Rail on the isolated Normanton to Croydon line in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland, Australia.
Mount Surprise is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Surprise had a population of 138 people.
Ravenswood is a rural town and locality in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Ravenswood had a population of 297 people.
Einasleigh is a town and a locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Einasleigh had a population of 87 people.
The Town of Croydon was a local government area for the governance of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It existed from 1892 to 1908.
Croydon Court House is a heritage-listed former courthouse at Samwell Street, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Colonial Architect's Office and built in 1887. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Croydon Shire Hall is a heritage-listed town hall at Samwell Street, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1892. It is also known as Croydon Shire Office and Croydon Town Hall. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 11 June 1996.
The Normanton to Croydon railway line is a heritage-listed railway line in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland, Australia. The railway line linking Normanton in the Shire of Carpentaria to Croydon in the Shire of Croydon was built between 1888 and 1891 and is the last isolated line of Queensland Rail still in use. It utilises an innovative system of submersible track with patented steel sleepers and retains buildings of considerable architectural and technical interest at its terminus in Normanton. The only train to operate on the line is the weekly Gulflander service operated by a Gardner diesel propelled railmotor and carriages TP1809 and TP1811.
Croydon Hospital Ward is a heritage-listed former hospital at Sircom Street, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1894. It is also known as Croydon State Emergency Services Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Old Croydon Cemetery is a heritage-listed closed cemetery west of the Croydon railway station, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1886 to 1889. It is also known as Croydon Cemetery. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 October 2002.
Croydon Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at Julia Creek Road, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It was opened c. 1889. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 October 2002.
Station Creek Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at Normanton Road, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It was opened c. 1899. It is also known as Golden Gate Cemetery. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 October 2002.
Normanton Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at Burke Developmental Road, Normanton, Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. It was opened c. 1870. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 March 2000.
Burns Philp Building is a heritage-listed former warehouse at the corner of Landsborough Street and Caroline Street, Normanton, Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. It was built by Andrew Murphie. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 14 October 2011.
Mount Chalmers is a rural town and locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Chalmers had a population of 226 people.
Births Jun 1841, Brown, William Chalmers, Croydon
Media related to Croydon, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons