Kenilworth, Queensland

Kenilworth Sunshine Coast,  Queensland
Kenilworth Town Park
Kenilworth
Coordinates	26°35′42″S152°43′39″E / 26.595°S 152.7275°E / -26.595; 152.7275 (Kenilworth (town centre))
Population	604 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	3.204/km2 (8.299/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4574
Area	188.5 km2 (72.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	20.2 km (13 mi) S of Imbil 32.8 km (20 mi) W of Nambour 40.1 km (25 mi) NW of Maleny 149 km (93 mi) N of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Nicklin Glass House
Federal division(s)	Fairfax Fisher
Localities around Kenilworth: Lake Borumba Imbil Brooloo Moy Pocket Jimna Kenilworth Gheerulla Coolabine Jimna Conondale Cambroon Kidaman Creek Curramore

Kenilworth is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the locality of Kenilworth had a population of 604 people. ^[1]

Geography

Kenilworth is in the heart of the Mary Valley area of the Sunshine Coast. It is a rural area, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the coast, with dairy farming as the major industry.

The western part of the locality is within the Conondale National Park while the northern part of the locality is within Imbil State Forest. In the south-west is the Walli State Forest. ^[4]

Maleny–Kenilworth Road enters from the south-west, and Obi Obi Road enters from the south-east. ^[5]

History

Dalla (also known as Dalambara and Dallambara) is a language of the Upper Brisbane River catchment, notably the Conondale Range. Dalla is part of the Duungidjawu language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Somerset Region and Moreton Bay Region, particularly the towns of Caboolture, Kilcoy, Woodford and Moore. ^[6]

The Mary River was known to the Aboriginals as the Numabulla and the name for the Kenilworth area being Hinka Booma. In 1842, Andrew Petrie named the river as the Wide Bay River. In 1847, that Governor Fitzroy renamed the river after his wife Mary. ^[7]

Richard Joseph Smith tendered to set up the first cattle run on the east bank of the Mary River in 1850. At the time Mrs Smith was reading Sir Walter Scott's novel "Kenilworth" and she decided to name the property after the novel. ^[2]

In 1877, 17,280 acres (6,990 ha) of land was resumed from the Kenilworth North pastoral run to be used as small farmers. The land was offered for selection from 17 April 1877. ^[8]

In October 1921, the Kenilworth Estate of 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) was auctioned having been subdivided into town lots, dairy blocks and grazing blocks. Up to £30 was paid for a town lot while the dairy blocks fetched up to £18 per acre and grazing blocks up to £7 per acre, realising a total of £46,000 from the sale overall. ^[9]

Other settlers arrived in 1891 originally intending to grow small crops. There was a ready market at the goldfields in Gympie but after the floods of 1893, 1895 and 1898 had wiped out their crops, most ventured into dairying and pig breeding. In 1901, the Kenilworth Farmers' Association was formed and, in 1907, they built the Kenilworth Farmers Assembly Hall. This later housed a library and hosted dances. In 1905, the Association was responsible for establishing a co-operative butter factory which opened in Caboolture in 1907. ^[10]

Also established was the Kenilworth Farmers' Co-operative Store in Eumundi. In 1912, a steam-powered sawmill was built on Coolabine Creek. In 1921 Kenilworth Station was sold off and divided into dairy farms and allotments. By 1925 all the large estates in the district had been subdivided and sold.^{[ citation needed ]}

Kenilworth Post Office opened by 1926 (a receiving office had been open from 1896). ^[11]

The first store was opened in Kenilworth on 2 January 1924 as well as the new hall opening and the first butcher's shop appeared in 1925. ^[12]

Kenilworth Provisional School built by the community opened on 22 January 1900. On 1 January 1909, it became Kenilworth State School. On 19 September 1928, it was renamed Kenilworth Lower State School. It closed on 3 July 1959. ^{[13] [14]} This school was in the area now known as Gheerulla.

Kenilworth Township Provisional School opened 21 October 1924. On 1 October 1926, it became Kenilworth Township State School. On 15 May 1939, it was renamed Kenilworth State School. On 6 March 2003, it became Kenilworth State Community College. On 31 December 2008, the school ceased to provide secondary schooling (previously up to Year 10). ^{[15] [16]}

Kenilworth Hall opened in the Kenilworth Township on 21 October 1924. In 1926, the hall was equipped to show silent movies. The site for a public recreation ground was purchased in 1927 and, in 1933, the hall was moved to this new location. ^[17]

Kenilworth Baptist Church, 1937

Kenilworth Baptist Church was built from timber in 1937. It was officially opened on Sunday 1 August 1937. ^[18] It is no longer operating and the church building is no longer extant. It was at 31 Elizabeth Street ( 26°35′38″S152°43′39″E / 26.59398°S 152.72744°E / -26.59398; 152.72744 (Kenilworth Baptist Church (former)) ). ^[19]

St John Bosco Roman Catholic Church was built from timber in 1938. It was opened by Archibishop James Duhig on Sunday 10 April 1938 on a piece of land donated by Mr C. Sharry on the top of a hill overlooking the town. It was dedicated to Saint John Bosco. ^{[20] [21] [22]}

The Kenilworth Cheese Factory was originally opened in 1952 by the Kraft Foods Inc. It was purchased from the Kraft Corporation in 1990 by a group of former employees. Today it has retitled its name to Kenilworth Dairies.^{[ citation needed ]}

St Luke's Anglican Church was built from timber in 1954. The foundation stone was laid on Satuday 19 June 1954. ^[23] It opened in 1955. ^[24]

The Kenilworth Library opened in 1986 with a major refurbishment in 2000. ^[25]

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the town of Kenilworth had a population of 238 people. ^[26]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Kenilworth had a population of 559 people. ^[27]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Kenilworth had a population of 558 people. ^[28]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Kenilworth had a population of 604 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

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

• Kenilworth Homestead, Eumundi-Kenilworth Road ^[29]

Education

Kenilworth State Community College

Kenilworth State Community College is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 3717 Maleny-Kenilworth Road ( 26°35′57″S152°43′33″E / 26.5991°S 152.7257°E / -26.5991; 152.7257 (Kenilworth State Community College) ). ^{[30] [31]} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 59 students with 9 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent). ^[32] It includes a special education program. ^[30]

There is no secondary school in Kenilworth. The nearest government secondary schools are Mary Valley State College (to Year 10) in neighbouring Imbil to the north and Maleny State High School (to Year 12) in Maleny to the south-east. ^[4]

Amenities

St Luke's Anglican Church, 2006

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a public library at 4A Elizabeth Street. ^{[33] [34]}

St Luke's Anglican Church is at 17 Anne Street ( 26°35′42″S152°43′34″E / 26.594905°S 152.726°E / -26.594905; 152.726 (St Luke's Anglican Church) ). ^[23]

St John Bosco Roman Catholic Church, 2006

St John Bosco Roman Catholic Church is at 21 Anne Street ( 26°35′40″S152°43′35″E / 26.594578°S 152.7263°E / -26.594578; 152.7263 (St John Bosco Roman Catholic Church) ). ^[20]

Attractions

Kenilworth has a 'Living History' Museum with a theatrette which shows a history of the district to visitors, together with displays covering many areas of history past. ^[35]

Kenilworth Homestead still exists, though the 10,000 hectare cattle station is now reduced to 50 hectares. Since 1875, the Homestead and out-buildings have continually been restored and extended, still keeping as much of its original structure as possible. It is now used as a camping and riding centre.^{[ citation needed ]}

Other attractions include a cheese factory as well as walking, camping and 4-wheel driving in the Kenilworth State Forest. ^[36]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kenilworth (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Kenilworth – town in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 17930)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
3. "Kenilworth – locality in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 48695)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 6 May 2021.
5. Google (3 December 2022). "Nambour" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
6. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Indigenous languages map of Queensland". State Library of Queensland. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 5 February 2020.
7. "Mary River (entry 21155)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 24 July 2015.
8. "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier . Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020– via Trove.
9. "GYMPIE". The Brisbane Courier . Queensland, Australia. 3 October 1921. p. 8. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2020– via Trove.
10. "Kenilworth Town History". heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
11. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
12. Jones, Donna (4 July 2016). "Birth of Kenilworth". Gympie Times . Retrieved 21 July 2024.
13. "Agency ID 9073, Kenilworth Lower State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 6 May 2021.
14. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 6 May 2021.
15. "Kenilworth SS". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
16. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 April 2019.
17. "EUMUNDI". The Brisbane Courier . No. 23, 309. Queensland, Australia. 13 October 1932. p. 15. Retrieved 21 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
18. "Baptist Church at Kenilworth". Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser . Vol. XXXII, no. 1731. Queensland, Australia. 6 August 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
19. Blake, Thom. "Kenilworth Baptist Church". Queensland Religious Places. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
20. Blake, Thom. "St John Bosco Roman Catholic Church". Queensland Religious Places. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
21. "MILLMBERRAN ELECTRICITY MOVE". The Courier-mail . No. 1440. Queensland, Australia. 13 April 1938. p. 11. Retrieved 21 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
22. "R.C. Church Progress On the North Coast". Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser . Vol. XXXII, no. 1766. Queensland, Australia. 8 April 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 21 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
23. Blake, Thom. "St Luke's Anglican Church". Queensland Religious Places. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
24. "KENILWORTH CHURCH FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING". Nambour Chronicle And North Coast Advertiser . Queensland, Australia. 25 June 1954. p. 9. Retrieved 21 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
25. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
26. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Kenilworth (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
27. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kenilworth". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
28. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kenilworth (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
29. "Kenilworth Homestead (entry 602043)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
30. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
31. "Kenilworth State Community College". Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
32. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
33. "Kenilworth Library". plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
34. "Kenilworth Library". Sunshine Coast Regional Council . 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
35. "Kenilworth Museum". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
36. Science, jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of Environment and (4 February 2010). "Visiting safely | Imbil State Forest". Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.

External links

• Aerial and other video of Kenilworth and the Mary River Valley
• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Kenilworth
• Kenilworth Town Website – Includes visitor and other information for the upper Mary Valley region.