Goldsborough, Queensland

Goldsborough Queensland
Mulgrave River at Goldsborough Valley
Goldsborough
Coordinates	17°11′24″S145°44′10″E / 17.19°S 145.7361°E / -17.19; 145.7361 (Goldsborough (centre of locality))
Population	1,099 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	16.677/km2 (43.19/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4865
Area	65.9 km2 (25.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.5 km (6 mi) SW of Gordonvale 32.4 km (20 mi) S of Cairns CBD 1,695 km (1,053 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Cairns Region
State electorate(s)	Mulgrave
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Goldsborough: Lamb Range Little Mulgrave Gordonvale Gadgarra Goldsborough Wooroonooran Gadgarra Gadgarra Wooroonooran

Goldsborough is a locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Goldsborough had a population of 1,099 people. ^[1]

Geography

The Mulgrave River flows from the south to the north-east of the locality, forming its northern boundary. The river which is at 20–60 metres above sea level forms a north–south valley through the locality with mountainous land rising on the east (to an unnamed peak of 560 metres) and to Mount Mac (just beyond the locality's western boundary at 900 metres). ^[3]

The most northerly part of the locality is somewhat lower (100–140 metres above sea level) and is freehold, containing the residential component of the locality and some agriculture use. Further south, the land to the west of the Mulgrave River is freehold but is mostly undeveloped apart from some residential and agriculture use along the river, while the land to the east of the river is undeveloped and forms part of the Wooroonooran National Park, which is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. ^{[3] [4]}

Road access into Goldsborough is via the Gillies Range Road which passes through neighbouring Little Mulgrave to the north of the locality. There is road access to the areas using for housing and agriculture, but beyond that there are only a few tracks through the mountainous terrain. ^[3]

History

River Mulgrave at Goldsborough, 1890

The Goldsborough Valley is the traditional country of the Dulabed Malanbarra Yidinji speaking clan, part of the Yidinji people. ^[4]

In 1879, W Diecke discovered gold near the Mulgrave River resulting in a goldrush for a few years. Alluvial gold was found in the Mulgrave River and its tributaries, the Toohey and Butcher Creeks. Two settlements formed, one called Top Camp on Butcher Creek and the other called Lower Camp or Fanning Town on Toohey Creek. Fanning Town was named after police magistrate Major Matthew Patrick Boyle Fanning but was later renamed Goldsborough. The Mulgrave goldfield yielded 3894 ounces of gold between 1879 and 1886, and by the early 1990s no more gold was found and many storekeepers in the settlements moved to the better located Gordonvale. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

As a result of the gold rush, large quantities of valuable red cedar trees ( Toona ciliata ) were found in the forests, attracting loggers in the 1880s. By the early 1890s little red cedar remained in the area. Some farmers and graziers were also attracted into the area including grazier Frank Kearney after whom Kearneys Falls and Kearneys Flat were named. ^[4]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Goldsborough had a population of 929 people. ^[9]

In the 2021 census, Goldsborough had a population of 1,099 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Goldsborough. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Gordonvale State School and Gordonvale State High School, both in Gordonvale to the north-east. ^[10]

Amenities

Goldsborough Community Church is at 10-12 Aitken Close ( 17°08′56″S145°45′16″E / 17.1490°S 145.75455°E / -17.1490; 145.75455 (Goldsborough Community Church) ). It is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. ^[11]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Goldsborough (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Goldsborough – locality in Cairns Region (entry 48659)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2017.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 21 April 2018.
4. "Goldsborough Valley, Wooroonooran National Park: Nature, culture and history". Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing. Queensland Government. 28 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
5. "Goldsborough Road 2 Park". Cairns Regional Council. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
6. "Goldsborough Valley Cairns, Australia". Cairns Attractions. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
7. "G Suburbs" (PDF). Cairns Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
8. "DEATH OF MAJOR FANNING". Morning Bulletin . Vol. LXVII, no. 12, 378. Queensland, Australia. 22 August 1905. p. 4. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2018– via National Library of Australia.
9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Goldsborough (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
10. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
11. "North Queensland". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.

External links

Media related to Goldsborough, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons