Elphinstone, Queensland (Isaac Region)

Not to be confused with Elphinstone, Queensland (Toowoomba Region).

Elphinstone Queensland
Elphinstone
Coordinates	21°28′47″S148°11′06″E / 21.4797°S 148.1849°E / -21.4797; 148.1849 (Elphinstone (centre of locality))
Population	9 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.0431/km2 (0.112/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4742
Area	208.8 km2 (80.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Isaac Region
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Elphinstone: Glenden Glenden Hail Creek Burton Elphinstone Kemmis Burton Burton Kemmis

Elphinstone is a rural locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Elphinstone had a population of 9 people. ^[1]

Geography

The Suttor Developmental Road enters the locality from the east (Kemmis) and exits to the west (Burton). ^[3]

Isaac River rises in the north of the locality and flows south-west, exiting to the west (Burton). ^[4] Anna Creek rises in he centre of the locality and flows south into Lake Elphinstone ( 21°31′54″S148°14′04″E / 21.5317°S 148.2344°E / -21.5317; 148.2344 (Lake Elphinstone) ), ^{[5] [6] [4]} which supplied the water for the now-abandoned town of Elphinstone ( 21°30′49″S148°14′45″E / 21.5137°S 148.2457°E / -21.5137; 148.2457 (Elphinstone (former town)) ). ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Elphinstone has the following mountains and valleys (from north to south):

• Mount Ewan in the north of the locality ( 21°26′37″S148°10′23″E / 21.4435°S 148.1730°E / -21.4435; 148.1730 (Mount Ewan) ), rising to 468 metres (1,535 ft) above sea level ^{[10] [11]}
• Plum Duff in the north of the locality ( 21°27′43″S148°11′47″E / 21.4619°S 148.1964°E / -21.4619; 148.1964 (Plum Duff) ), 365 metres (1,198 ft) ^{[10] [12]}
• Leichhardt Gorge in the north-west of the locality ( 21°29′40″S148°10′14″E / 21.4945°S 148.1706°E / -21.4945; 148.1706 (Leichhardt Gorge) ) ^[10]

The land use is grazing on native vegetation. ^[13]

History

The locality was named after explorer George Elphinstone Dalrymple, the leader of the 1859 and 1860 overland settlement expeditions to Port Denison from Rockhampton. ^[2]

In 1859, Philip Sellheim reported finding Lake Elphinstone, which he called Lake Emilia after his sister. It was also called Lake Barton by W.H. Gaden, but it was ultimately named Lake Elphinstone after the explorer. ^[14]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Elphinstone had a population of 6 people. ^[15]

In the 2021 census, Elphinstone had a population of 9 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Elphinstone. The nearest government primary and secondary school is Glenden State School (Prep–12) in neighbouring Glenden to the north. ^[16]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Elphinstone (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Elphinstone – locality in Isaac Region (entry 47043)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2020.
3. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 16 July 2025.
4. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 16 July 2025.
5. "Anna Creek – river in the Isaac Region (entry 618)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 16 July 2025.
6. "Lake Elphinstone – lake in the Isaac Region (entry 11575)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 16 July 2025.
7. "Lake Elphinstone". Mackay Region Visitor Information Centre. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
8. "Layers: Locality; Land parcel; Road and rail". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 16 July 2025.
9. "8554 Harrybrandt" (Map). Queensland Government. 1978. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
10. "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.
11. "Mount Ewan – mountain in Isaac Region (entry 12048)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
12. "Plum Duff – mountain in Isaac Region (entry 27115)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
13. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 July 2025.
14. "Lake Elphinstone – lake in Isaac Regional (entry 11575)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 May 2024.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Elphinstone (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
16. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 July 2025.