| Goondi Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Goondi Sugar Mill, 1930 | |||||||||||||||
  Goondi | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°30′15″S146°00′19″E / 17.50417°S 146.00528°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 28 (SAL 2021) [1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4860 | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Cassowary Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hill | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Goondi is a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. [2]
Goondi is riverside land wrapped around the southern side of an elbow-shaped bend in the Johnstone River. It is very flat land, being 0 to 10 metres above sea level, and is predominantly used for growing sugar cane and bananas. Reid Creek flows from the north-east of the locality from neighbouring Sundown through to the Johnstone River in the north of the locality. There is very little residential development in Goondi. [3]
The Bruce Highway passes from south to north through the south-western edge of Goondi crossing the Johnstone River at the Sir Joseph McAvoy Bridge, while the North Coast railway line travels from south to north along Goondi's north-eastern border and crosses the Johnstone River. There is a private cane train tramway in the west of the locality, used to transport harvested sugar cane to the local sugar mill. [3]
The name "Goondi' is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning "elbow", referring to the bend in the river. [2]
The Goondi Sugar Mill opened in 1883, between the end of Goondi Mill Road and Knox Avenue near the Johnstone River ( 17°30′22″S146°00′13″E / 17.5062°S 146.0036°E ). [4] During World War 2 with Japanese air attacks on northern Australia an aerial dog fight was sighted above Goondi Mill between a Japanese Zero and an Allied fighter plane, with the Zero being shot down in the cane fields. Goondi Mill and other strategic assets had been mined at the time with explosives, and should the Japanese attack and land troops, destroyed, with planned guerilla warfare resistance based across the Atherton Tablelands. Up until the 1960s the Mill had its own dairy delivering fresh milk door to door daily. It closed in 1987 after being taken over by Bundaberg Sugar. [5]
Goondi Provisional School opened on 17 February 1898. On 1 January 1909, it became Goondi State School. [6] It was originally located on the south side of Goondi Mill Road (approx 17°30′36″S146°00′14″E / 17.5099°S 146.0040°E ), [7] [8] but, by 1974, had relocated to the school's present location in Goondi Bend. [9] [10]
In the 2016 census, Goondi had a population of 56 people. [11]
There are no schools in Goondi. The nearest government primary school is Goondi State School in neighbouring Goondi Bend to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in Innisfail Estate to the east. [3]
Innisfail is a regional town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. The town was originally called Geraldton until 1910. In the 2016 census, the town of Innisfail had a population of 7,236 people, while the locality of Innisfail had a population of 1,145 people.
Mourilyan is a town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was established around the Mourilyan sugar mill which provided much of the employment in the area until it was destroyed by Cyclone Larry on 20 March 2006. In the 2016 census, Mourilyan had a population of 571 people.
Mundoo is a rural town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Mundoo had a population of 224 people.
East Innisfail is a suburban locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census East Innisfail had a population of 1,855 people.
'Sugar Lighters in the Johnstone River, Queensland' In the early days of settlement at Geraldton [now Innisfail], the Johnstone River had a sand bar at the mouth and several shallow stretches in the river. This caused difficulties for shipping. Large ships had to either anchor at the mouth of the river and wait for a suitable high tide so that the bar could be crossed or anchor in Mourilyan Harbour to the south. The problem of large ships being unable to enter the river made it difficult for bags of sugar from the district sugar mills to be transported to southern refineries. To overcome this problem, shallow draft steam ships and lighters [often called sugar lighters] were used to carry the bags of sugar down the Johnstone and out to meet larger ships standing off the coast. or in nearby ports, mainly Cairns. These larger ships then transported the cargo to its destination. These small ships became known as "The Mosquito Fleet".
South Johnstone is a rural town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of South Johnstone had a population of 456 people.
Feluga is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Feluga had a population of 251 people.
Eubenangee is a coastal locality split between the Cairns Region and the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the population of Eubenangee was 242 people.
Coorumba is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Coorumba had a population of 121 people.
Daradgee is a rural town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Daradgee had a population of 74 people.
Wangan is a town and a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Wangan had a population of 612 people.
Goondi Hill is a semi-urban locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Goondi Hill had a population of 510 people.
Goondi Bend is a mixed-use locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Goondi Bend had a population of 594 people.
Innisfail Estate is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Innisfail Estate had a population of 1,338 people.
Goolboo is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Goolboo had a population of 25 people.
Currajah is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Currajah had a population of 57 people.
Upper Daradgee is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Upper Daradgee had a population of 101 people.
Hudson is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Hudson had a population of 238 people.
No. 6 Branch is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, No. 6 Branch had a population of 50 people.
Germantown is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Germantown had a population of 52 people.
Media related to Goondi, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons
