Gairloch, Queensland

Gairloch Queensland
Old Gairloch Bridge, 2024
Gairloch
Coordinates	18°36′07″S146°10′41″E / 18.6019°S 146.1780°E / -18.6019; 146.1780 (Gairloch (centre of locality))
Population	31 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	2.31/km2 (5.99/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4850
Area	13.4 km2 (5.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	5.4 km (3 mi) NE of Ingham 121 km (75 mi) NW of Townsville 230 km (143 mi) S of Cairns 1,472 km (915 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Hinchinbrook
State electorate(s)	Hinchinbrook
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Gairloch: Bemerside Bemerside Bemerside Hawkins Creek Gairloch Foresthome Hawkins Creek Ingham Foresthome

Gairloch is a rural locality in the Shire of Hinchinbrook, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Gairloch had a population of 31 people. ^[1]

Geography

The locality is bounded by the Herbert River to the east and by Ripple Creek, a tributary of the Herbert River, to the north. ^[3]

The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the south (Ingham) crossing the river on the Sir John Row Bridge into Gairloch. The highway exits to the north to the locality (Bemerside). ^[4]

The predominant land use is growing sugarcane. ^[5] There is a network of cane tramways to transport the harvested sugarcane to the local sugar mill. ^[4]

History

Historically, Gairloch was south of the Herbert River where the now-abandoned Gairloch railway station was located ( 18°37′41″S146°10′53″E / 18.628181°S 146.1814685°E / -18.628181; 146.1814685 (Gairloch railway station (former)) ). ^[6] The land to the north of the Herbert River was known as North Gairloch. Gairloch and North Garloch were connected via the Garloch Bridge ( 18°37′00″S146°10′59″E / 18.61663°S 146.18307°E / -18.61663; 146.18307 (Gairloch Bridge) ). ^[7] Today, the northern side of the river is known simply as Gairloch and the land known as Gairloch on the southern side of the river is now within the localities of Ingham and Foresthome. The former Gairloch railway station is now within Foresthome. ^[8]

In October 1921, the Queensland Government approved the construction of the North Gairloch State School at a cost of £869. The school opened in July 1922. ^{[9] [10]} In October 1936, tenders were called to build a teacher's residence. ^[11] The school closed circa 1942. ^[12] The school was on the north-western side of Hawkins Creek Road (approx 18°37′33″S146°09′31″E / 18.62575°S 146.15848°E / -18.62575; 146.15848 (North Gairloch State School (former)) ). ^{[13] [14]}

In January 1955, a crocodile was sighted in the Herbert River near Gairloch. ^[15]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Gairloch had a population of 41 people. ^[16]

In the 2021 census, Gairloch had a population of 31 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Ingham has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Gairloch Bridge, Old Bruce Highway between Foresthome and Gairloch ^[17]

Education

There are no schools in Gairloch. The nearest government primary schools are Ingham State School in neighbouring Ingham to the south and Macknade State School in Macknade to the north-east. The nearest government secondary school is Ingham State High School, also in Ingham. There are also non-government primary and secondary schools in Ingham. ^[18]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gairloch (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Gairloch – locality in Shire of Hinchinbrook (entry 42516)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 28 October 2019.
3. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 February 2025.
4. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 February 2025.
5. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 February 2025.
6. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
7. "Ingham" (Map). Queensland Government. 1943. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
8. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 February 2025.
9. "SCHOOLS EXPENDITURE". Daily Mercury . Vol. 56, no. 478. Queensland, Australia. 8 July 1922. p. 5. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
10. "PUBLIC WORKS". The Telegraph . No. 15258. Queensland, Australia. 22 October 1921. p. 10 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 1 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
11. "Advertising". Townsville Daily Bulletin . Vol. LVIII, no. 236. Queensland, Australia. 1 October 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
12. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
13. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m379" (Map). Queensland Government. 1940. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
14. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m379" (Map). Queensland Government. 1950. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
15. "INGHAM DISTRICT". Townsville Daily Bulletin . Vol. LXXV. Queensland, Australia. 12 January 1955. p. 3. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via National Library of Australia.
16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gairloch (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
17. "Gairloch Bridge (entry 602591)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
18. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 February 2025.