Devereux Creek

Devereux Creek Queensland
Devereux Creek
Coordinates	21°06′03″S148°52′51″E / 21.1008°S 148.8808°E / -21.1008; 148.8808 (Devereux Creek (centre of locality))
Population	406 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	7.660/km2 (19.84/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4753
Area	53.0 km2 (20.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.5 km (6 mi) NW of Mirani 35.8 km (22 mi) W of Mackay 1,006 km (625 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Devereux Creek: Kuttabul Kuttabul Hampden Mount Martin Devereux Creek Hampden Mirani Mirani Marian

Devereux Creek is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Devereux Creek had a population of 406 people. ^[1]

Geography

Devereux Creek has the following mountains (from west to east):

• Mount Toby ( 21°06′24″S148°51′28″E / 21.1068°S 148.8577°E / -21.1068; 148.8577 (Mount Toby) ) 359 metres (1,178 ft) ^{[3] [4]}
• Mount McGregor ( 21°07′43″S148°53′09″E / 21.1286°S 148.8859°E / -21.1286; 148.8859 (Mount McGregor) ) 272 metres (892 ft) ^{[3] [5]}
• Mount De Moleyns ( 21°06′35″S148°55′34″E / 21.1097°S 148.9262°E / -21.1097; 148.9262 (Mount De Moleyns) ) 411 metres (1,348 ft) ^{[3] [6]}

The Pioneer River forms the southern boundary of the locality. ^[7] Devereux Creek rises on the slopes of Mount Toby and flows through the locality becoming a tributary of the Pioneer River on that southern boundary ( 21°08′16″S148°54′29″E / 21.13790°S 148.90803°E / -21.13790; 148.90803 (Devereux Creek (watercourse)) ). ^[8]

The land rises from 35 metres (115 ft) above sea level at the river rising to more mountainous terrain in the north of he locality (Mount De Moleyns being the highest peak). Most of the northern part of the locality is within the Mount Martin National Park or the three sections of Mount Toby State Forest. The southern parts of the locality on the flatter land near the river are used for growing sugarcane, while the centre and south-west of the locality is used for grazing on native vegetation and rural residential housing. ^[9]

History

The locality takes its name from the creek, which, in turn, was named after James Devereux, who, in the early days of the Hamilton pastoral station, was lost but then found at the creek. Mount Toby is named after one of the station hands, while Mount De Moleyns is named after a man who lost an eye in an accident while hunting for stock on the mountain. ^[10]

In 1885, 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land was reserved for a school, ^[11] but it was not until 1903 that approval was given to establish a provisional school. ^[12] Devereux Creek Provisional School opened on 20 July 1903. On 1 January 1909, it became Devereux Creek State School. ^[13] In March 1926, the school was described as: ^[14]

"The Devereaux State School has been in existence 23 years. It is only a small building of the old type and capable of accommodating about 24 children. The school has been built in an awkward and out-of-the-way place, with the creek half encircling it close by and a broken gully or two in front ... The children have very little level ground to play upon. In looking back over the earliest records we find that Miss S. Malcomson (now Mrs. M'Faul) was the first teacher In 1903 ... There are only 12 children enrolled at present. These are well supplied with a library, containing 100 books to which the children have free access. Last year saw the first pupil pass for the High School ... "

The school closed in 1928, but re-opened in 1932 as Devereaux Creek State School (spelling variation). It closed permanently in 1970. ^[13] It was on the northern side of Devereux Creek Road (approx 21°07′20″S148°54′25″E / 21.12235°S 148.90707°E / -21.12235; 148.90707 (Devereux Creek State School (former)) ). ^{[15] [16] [17]}

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Devereux Creek had a population of 381 people. ^[18]

In the 2021 census, Devereux Creek had a population of 406 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Devereux Creek. The nearest government primary schools are Mirani State School in neighbouring Mirani to the south and Marian State School in neighbouring Marian to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Mirani State High School, also in Mirani. ^[19]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Devereux Creek (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Devereux Creek – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46774)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2020.
3. "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.
4. "Mount Toby – mountain in Mackay Region (entry 34719)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
5. "Mount McGregor – mountain in Mackay Region (entry 21385)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "Mount De Moleyns – mountain in Mackay Region (entry 9490)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
7. Google (29 August 2021). "Devereaux Creek, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
8. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 23 July 2024.
9. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Land parcel; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 23 July 2024.
10. "North Side District". Daily Mercury . Vol. 59, no. 1160. Queensland, Australia. 27 March 1926. p. 11. Retrieved 23 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
11. "Official Notifications". The Telegraph . No. 3, 880. Queensland, Australia. 21 February 1885. p. 5. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
12. "STATE EDUCATION". The Brisbane Courier . Vol. LX, no. 14, 186. Queensland, Australia. 2 July 1903. p. 3. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
13. "Agency ID 8985, Devereaux Creek State School: Description". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 23 July 2024.
14. "North Side District". Daily Mercury . Vol. 59, no. 1151. Queensland, Australia. 17 March 1926. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
15. "Mirani" (Map). Queensland Government. 1942. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
16. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m309" (Map). Queensland Government. 1952. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
17. "Layers: Locality; Roads and rail; Land parcel; Watercourse". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 23 July 2024.
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Devereux Creek (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
19. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 23 July 2024.