Foulden, Queensland

Foulden Mackay,  Queensland
Foulden
Coordinates	21°08′23″S149°08′49″E / 21.1397°S 149.1469°E / -21.1397; 149.1469 Coordinates: 21°08′23″S149°08′49″E / 21.1397°S 149.1469°E / -21.1397; 149.1469
Population	3 (2016 census) [1]
• Density	0.86/km2 (2.2/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4740
Area	3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mackay Whitsunday
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around Foulden: Erakala Glenella Mount Pleasant Erakala Foulden West Mackay Te Kowai Racecourse West Mackay

Foulden is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] It is on the northern bank of the Pioneer River in Mackay. In the 2016 census, Foulden had a population of 3 people. ^[1]

Geography

Foulden is bounded by the Pioneer River to the south and east, Fursden Creek to the north, and the Maraju Yakapari Road to the west. The land is low lying and flat and prone to flooding. The North Coast railway line and the Glenella Connection Road pass through the locality from south to north crossing the river on separate bridges (the road bridge being called the Edmund Casey Bridge) to West Mackay. ^[3]

History

The locality was named and bounded on 3 September 1999. ^[2]

There was previously a bridge, known as the (Old) Hospital Bridge, which connected Talty Road in Foulden to Bridge Street in West Mackay (adjacent to the Mackay Base Hospital). It was the first bridge over the Pioneer River (and was originally known as the Pioneer Bridge). Construction commenced in 1875. The low bridge was prone to flooding. In April 2009 its replacement was open to the west of the Hospital Bridge carrying the newly constructed Glenella Connection Road over the Pioneer River. ^[4] On 5 December 2009, the new bridge was named the Edmund Casey Bridge in honour of long-serving local Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Ed Casey, as part of the Q150 celebrations. ^[5] Local residents campaigned to retain the Old Hospital Bridge for recreational use such as walking, cycling and fishing, but the council insisted the costs of making it safe were too great and that only a short segment connected on the West Mackay side would be preserved as a fishing pier. ^[6] However, in March 2017, Cyclone Debbie damaged the fishing pier., ^[7] necessitating a new fishing pier to be built. The new pier will be L-shaped and more resistant to flood damage. ^[8]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Foulden (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
2. "Foulden – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46786)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 24 November 2018.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 24 November 2018.
4. "New Pioneer River bridge decades in the making". Mackay Daily Mercury . 20 February 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
5. Chapman, Clare (5 December 2009). "Ed Casey bridged Mackay". Mackay Daily Mercury . Retrieved 24 November 2018.
6. Bester, Cait (19 May 2009). "Save the old Hospital Bridge!". Mackay Daily Mercury . Retrieved 24 November 2018.
7. Kippen, Troy (8 June 2018). "Insurer pays out to get a popular fishing spot back". Mackay Daily Mercury . Retrieved 24 November 2018.
8. "New design for fishing pier". Media Statements. Mackay Regional Council. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.