Gheerulla

Gheerulla Queensland
Gheerulla
Coordinates	26°34′35″S152°48′53″E / 26.5763°S 152.8147°E / -26.5763; 152.8147 (Gheerulla (centre of locality))
Population	291 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	3.237/km2 (8.384/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4574
Area	89.9 km2 (34.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Nicklin
Federal division(s)	Fairfax
Suburbs around Gheerulla: Moy Pocket Belli Park Cooloolabin Kenilworth Gheerulla Kiamba Coolabine Obi Obi Mapleton Kureelpa

Gheerulla is a rural locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Gheerulla had a population of 291 people. ^[1]

Geography

Much of the locality is within the Mapleton National Park, which extends into neighbouring Belli Park, Cooloolabin, and beyond. ^[3] The Blackall Range ( 26°36′25″S152°52′22″E / 26.6070°S 152.8728°E / -26.6070; 152.8728 (Blackall Range) ) runs through the east and north-east of the locality within the national park. ^[3]

Gheerulla has the following mountains and cliffs:

• Mount Thilba Thalba ( 26°34′45″S152°47′10″E / 26.5793°S 152.7860°E / -26.5793; 152.7860 (Mount Thilba Thalba) ) 464 metres (1,522 ft) ^{[4] [5]}

• Gheerulla Bluff ( 26°34′37″S152°47′05″E / 26.5769°S 152.7847°E / -26.5769; 152.7847 (Gheerulla Bluff) ) ^[6]

• Rocky Bluff ( 26°33′03″S152°48′26″E / 26.5508°S 152.8072°E / -26.5508; 152.8072 (Rocky Bluff) ) ^[7]

History

Gheerulla is an Aboriginal word meaning empty creek. ^[8]

The Blackall Range was named in 1868 by Edward Parker Bedwell, a hydrographic surveyor in the Royal Navy, after the Governor of Queensland Samuel Wensley Blackall. ^[9]

St Matthew's Anglican Church was dedicated on 28 June 1926 by Archbishop Gerald Sharp. 200 people attended the opening. ^[10] Its closure circa 2015 was approved by Bishop Jonathan Holland. ^[11] The church was at 2210 Eumundi Kenilworth Road ( 26°33′23″S152°46′22″E / 26.5563°S 152.7729°E / -26.5563; 152.7729 (St Matthew's Anglican Church (former)) ) on a 0.4-hectare (0.99-acre) site. It was sold on 14 March 2016 for $210,000. ^[12]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Gheerulla had a population of 214 people. ^[13]

In the 2021 census, Gheerulla had a population of 291 people. ^[1]

Attractions

There are a number of lookouts in Gheerulla.

Gheerulla Valley Viewpoint is a lookout ( 26°35′45″S152°48′46″E / 26.5958°S 152.8127°E / -26.5958; 152.8127 (Gheerulla Valley Viewpoint) ). ^[8]

Oaky Creek Lookout is a lookout ( 26°33′20″S152°48′01″E / 26.5555°S 152.8002°E / -26.5555; 152.8002 (Oaky Creek Lookout) ). The name is presumed to refer to nearby Oaky Creek. ^[14]

Thilba Thalba Viewpoint is a lookout ( 26°34′46″S152°47′21″E / 26.5794°S 152.7891°E / -26.5794; 152.7891 (Thilba Thalba Viewpoint) ). The name was suggested by the Sunshine Coast Environment Council as part of the Great Walk Project believed to have been found on an old map and probably of Aboriginal origin. ^[15]

Ubajee Viewpoint is a lookout ( 26°36′23″S152°49′55″E / 26.6063°S 152.8319°E / -26.6063; 152.8319 (Ubajee Viewpoint) ). Ubajee is an Aboriginal word in the Gubbi Gubbi and Butchulla languages meaning home. It is pronounced yu'ba'djee. ^[16]

The rugged Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk takes at least four days to complete. It leaves from Baroon Pocket Dam and traverses 58.8 kilometres (36.5 mi) through the Blackall Range. Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Great Walk pass through this area. ^[17]

See also

• List of long-distance hiking tracks in Australia
• Long-distance trail
• Walking
• Hiking
• Backpacking

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gheerulla (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Gheerulla – locality in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 48647)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 31 December 2020.
4. "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.
5. "Mount Thilba Thalba – mountain in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 39759)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "Gheerulla Bluff – cliff in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 49654)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
7. "Rocky Bluff – cliff in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 49049)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
8. "Gheerulla Valley Viewpoint – lookout in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 49655)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
9. "Blackall Range – range in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 2971)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
10. "CHURCH DEDICATED". Daily Mail . No. 7591. Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1926. p. 8. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2019– via National Library of Australia.
11. "Closed Churches". Anglican Church Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
12. "2210 Eumundi Kenilworth Road, Gheerulla, Qld 4574". Realestate.com.au . Retrieved 25 February 2022.
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gheerulla (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
14. "Oaky Creek Lookout – lookout in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 49657)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
15. "Thilba Thalba Viewpoint – lookout in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 49659)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
16. "Ubajee Viewpoint – lookout in Sunshine Coast Regional (entry 49661)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
17. Department of Environment and Science (15 January 2010). "Walking | Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk". Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. Queensland Government . Retrieved 3 October 2022.