Kin Kin

Kin Kin Queensland
The Country Life Hotel on Main Street, Kin Kin, 2018
Kin Kin
Coordinates	26°15′48″S152°52′24″E / 26.2633°S 152.8733°E / -26.2633; 152.8733 (Kin Kin (town centre))
Population	844 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	8.560/km2 (22.170/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4571
Elevation	64 m (210 ft)
Area	98.6 km2 (38.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	30.6 km (19 mi) ESE of Gympie 34.7 km (22 mi) NE of Tewantin 65.7 km (41 mi) NNW of Maroochydore 160 km (99 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Noosa
State electorate(s)	Noosa
Federal division(s)	Wide Bay
Localities around Kin Kin: Neusa Vale Neusa Vale Coondoo Como Cedar Pocket Mothar Mountain Kin Kin Como Cootharaba Cooran Pinbarren Cootharaba

Kin Kin is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 844 people. ^[1]

Geography

Kin Kin lies between Pomona to the south, and Gympie to the north, in South East Queensland. The town is a hub for recreational activities related to nearby Lake Cootharaba and the Great Sandy National Park. ^[4] Kin Kin is in the Noosa Biosphere, Queensland's first UNESCO Biosphere. ^[5]

In the west of Kin Kin is Woondum National Park and Woondum Forest Reserve. The hills and mountains in this area are covered by eucalypt forest and rainforest. ^[6]

History

There has long been debate over the origin of the name Kin Kin. It is most widely believed to mean "plenty black ants" after the small black ants very common in the area. ^{[4] [7] [8]} This is reflected in the local school newsletter "Kin Kin ANTics" and the large ant sculpture outside the Kin Kin General store, home of Black Ant Gourmet. Some sources suggest the name comes from the Aboriginal kauin kauin meaning red soil. ^{[9] [10]}

Axeman Hillcoat felling a tree in the Kin Kin district ca. 1915

Illawarra Dairy Cattle on Mr G Grevetts farm at Kin Kin, circa 1931

Timber-getters moved into the area in the late 1870s. ^[4] Later it became a smallcrop and dairy farming community, from then on land and farm usage started to change and there was a decline in production farms. Early deforestation and clearing of land led to small produce and dairy farming from the early 1900s. The banana industry boomed in the years after World War 1, but experienced a significant decline in the 1930s as prices fell. Beans and Zucchini were major crops for many years, but smallcropping declined from the 1980s and is now undertaken on a limited basis.^{[ citation needed ]}

The family of William Douglas Francis, one of Queensland's pioneering botanists, moved to the area circa 1906. Many native trees first identified by him are found in the area. ^[11]

Kin Kin State School opened on 26 May 1909 with the arrival of the first teacher Kathleen Storer. In 1917 it was renamed Kin Kin Junction State School (to avoid confusion with the school in the town of Kin Kin, now known as Kin Kin State School). It closed on 18 August 1981. ^{[12] [13]} It was at 984 Pomona Kin Kin Road ( 26°17′03″S152°52′35″E / 26.2841°S 152.8764°E / -26.2841; 152.8764 (Kin Kin Junction State School (former)) ). ^{[14] [15]} The Kin Kin Arboretum now occupies the site and the school building was relocated in 1986 to the Kin Kin Sports Group for use as a community centre. ^[16]

Moran Group Provisional School opened on 7 March 1910. On 1 September 1914 it became Moran Group State School. It closed on 17 August 1952. ^[12] It was located on Moran Group Road (approx. 26°13′15″S152°52′55″E / 26.2207°S 152.8819°E / -26.2207; 152.8819 (Moran Group State School (former)) ). ^{[17] [18] [15]}

Wahpunga State School opened on 15 August 1910 and closed on 31 December 1967. ^[12] It was located at 502 Gympie Kin Kin Road ( 26°14′15″S152°54′28″E / 26.2375°S 152.9079°E / -26.2375; 152.9079 (Wahpunga State School (former)) ) and is now Wahpunga School Park. ^{[19] [18] [15]}

Kin Kin School of Arts opened on Friday 14 July 1911. It comprised a reading room, a library room, and a hall. The building as a whole was 50 by 28 feet (15.2 by 8.5 m) with a small stage, furnished with a piano by Mr. Sedgeman of Gympie. ^[20]

Kin Kin Methodist Church opened on 10 December 1916. In 1977 with the amalgamation of the Methodist Church into the Uniting Church in Australia, it became Kin Kin Uniting Church (also known as Kin Kin Junction Uniting Church). It closed as a church in April 2002. It was at 980 Pomona Kin Kin Road ( 26°17′04″S152°52′33″E / 26.2845°S 152.8758°E / -26.2845; 152.8758 (Kin Kin Uniting Church (former)) ). The building is still extant, but in private ownership. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

Kin Kin Township Provisional School opened on 18 October 1916, with classes initially held in the School of Arts hall. An unused school building was moved from Crawford (near Kingaroy) to Kin Kin and classes commenced in the new building on 14 March 1921. On 1 September 1921, it was renamed Kin Kin Township State School. On 19 October 1923 it was renamed Kin Kin State School. The building was extended in 1923 and an additional classroom opened on 12 March 1928. A teachers residence was built in 1930. The original school was shifted and later demolished to make way for a new building which officially opened on 7 April 1962. This building is still in use, with two additional classroom buildings, a kitchen, and undercover area in the immediate surrounds. ^{[24] [12]}

At the start of the 2022 school year the enrolment totalled 47 students with 5 teaching staff and 8 non-teaching staff. ^[25]

On 17 February 1924, a severe storm caused substantial damage to the School of Arts hall which was reconstructed by July. ^[26]

In 1926, St Mary's Catholic Church opened in Bowman Street. It was destroyed in the 1985 storm. ^[27]

On 19 November 1926, St Luke's Anglican Church was dedicated by Archbishop Gerald Sharp. ^[28] It closed circa August 2020. ^[29] It was deconsecrated in June 2021. ^[30] It was at 3 Grady Street ( 26°15′51″S152°52′27″E / 26.2642°S 152.8741°E / -26.2642; 152.8741 (St Luke's Anglican Church (former)) ). ^[31]

A storm and associated tornado on 16 January 1930 brought 6 inches (152mm) of rain in an hour. It caused flash flooding and damage to crops and many buildings. ^{[32] [33]}

On the morning of 22 September 1932, a severe thunderstorm produced a tornado estimated at 100 yards (91m) wide which travelled from the Cooran tablelands through the Sister Tree, Wahpunga, Eulama, and Cootharaba districts before crossing Lake Doonella and going out to sea. While no injuries were reported, many trees and crops were affected and a number of buildings damaged or destroyed. A hail storm several hours later caused further damage. ^{[34] [35]}

A severe hailstorm on the afternoon of 10 October 1933 dumped 6 inches (152mm) of rain in 20 minutes causing flash flooding, and left drifts of hail up to 3 feet (91 cm) deep. Extensive damage was reported to businesses in the main street, and to banana plantations, small crops, and buildings in surrounding areas. ^[36]

The butter factory was closed in 1937. ^[4] Deregulation of the milk industry led to the exit of all but a handful of family dairy farms. The last farms (in order of closure, Davis, Ferris, and Shepperson) had closed by 2012.

On 14 August 1971, a tornado passed through the town killing Mr and Mrs WHT Fleet of Moran Group, and 13 month old Deborah Joy Lister of Wahpunga. 8 homes were completely destroyed, in total 25 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and the damage was estimated at over $100,000 (1971 dollars). Large hail was also reported. ^{[37] [38]}

From 1980 the "Great Kin Kin Horse Race" and associated Carnival was held annually on a hilly 3 km course over the southern end of the Wahpunga Range, starting and finishing at the showgrounds behind the Country Life Hotel. After peaking in popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the race was eventually discontinued, with the last Carnival being held in 2004. ^[39] The horse ride has been revived as an annual social ride covering 25 km on the Noosa Trail Network from the Kin Kin Showgrounds to Tablelands Lookout near Cooran and back. ^[40]

A hail storm and associated tornado hit on 28 February 1985, destroying the Butter Factory and causing widespread property damage, including to St Luke's Anglican Church (rebuilt) and St Mary's Catholic Church (not rebuilt). ^{[41] [42] [43] [28] [27]}

On 4 November 1994, a severe storm produced large hail and a tornado which damaged or completely destroyed several buildings. ^[44]

In 2007, a plan to develop a $400 million eco-tourism resort east of Kin Kin was rejected by the Government of Queensland on the grounds that the development was not part of the regional planning document. ^[45]

Although currently and historically within the Shire of Noosa, between 2008 and 2013 the Shire of Noosa (and hence Kin Kin) was within the Sunshine Coast Region) until 2014 when the shire was re-instated following a vote by the residents. ^{[46] [47] [48] [49]}

On 2 April 2009, the town was hit by the highest flooding on record ^[50] from Kin Kin Creek, a tributary of the Noosa River following intense rainfall. 78 year old local resident Margarida Jackson died after her car was swept off a bridge over the Kin Kin Creek West Branch, the Country Life Hotel on Main Street was inundated with 3m of water and there was widespread property damage and loss of livestock. ^[51] A further flood on 13 April 2009 again inundated the Country Life Hotel. ^[52]

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 546 people. ^[53]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 694 people. ^[54]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 764 people. ^[55]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 844 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Interior of Kin Kin Sawmill, 2009

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

• Kin Kin Masonic Lodge, Bowman Street ^[56]
• St Luke's Anglican Church (deconsecrated in June 2021), Grady Street ^{[56] [57]}
• Kin Kin State School, Main Street ^[56]
• Kin Kin Memorial School of Arts, Main Street ^[56]
• Former Post Office, Main Street ^[56]
• Former ES&A Bank and residence, Main Street ^[56]
• Country Life Hotel, Corner Main Street & Wahpunga Road ^[56]
• Kin Kin Junction Uniting Church (now a private residence), Pomona Kin Kin Road ^[56]
• Kin Kin Sawmill, 1 Sister Tree Creek Road ^[58]

Economy

Kin Kin Sawmill is still operating. ^[59]

Many original farms have been subdivided into small hobby farms, some growing fruit trees, and many carrying horses or beef cattle. Today Kin Kin boasts health retreats, accommodation, small businesses, artists, a rock quarry and bush foods.^{[ citation needed ]}

Education

Kin Kin State School, 2015

Kin Kin State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Main Street ( 26°15′45″S152°52′18″E / 26.2624°S 152.8718°E / -26.2624; 152.8718 (Kin Kin State School) ). ^{[60] [61]} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 62 students with 9 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 7 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). ^[62] It includes a special education program. ^[60]

There is no secondary school in Kin Kin. The nearest government secondary school is Noosa District State High School which has two sites: ^[63]

• Years 7–8 at the Pomona campus
• Years 9–12 at the Cooroy campus

Amenities

The Shire of Noosa operates a mobile library service on a weekly schedule at the Kin Kin school. ^[64]

There are public toilets and a playground in the park next to the Memorial School of Arts Hall, and public toilets, a barbecue, and shelter at Wahpunga School Park.

The Kin Kin Tennis Courts are located behind the Memorial School of Arts Hall.

There is a skate park and public camping available on the oval behind the Country Life Hotel.

The Kin Kin Arboretum is located 2.5 km south of the village.

See also

• List of reduplicated Australian place names

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kin Kin (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Kin Kin – town in Shire of Noosa (entry 18157)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
3. "Kin Kin – locality in Shire of Noosa (entry 48703)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
4. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 147. ISBN   0-7345-1008-X.
5. Noosa Biosphere Archived 20 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 26 August 2012.
6. "About Woondum". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
7. Noosa Attractions and Places Archived 12 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine . 7 January 2007.
8. "MEANING OF KIN KIN AND COOTHARABA". Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933). 11 March 1933. p. 11. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
9. South East Queensland - Place Names Archived 22 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine . 19 December 2006.
10. Noosa Community Guide 2005 Part D Archived 24 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine . 19 December 2006.
11. Noosa Shire Historical Cultural Heritage Kin Kin July 2002 Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine . 2 January 2007.
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. "Agency ID 5394, Kin Kin Junction State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 22 December 2021.
14. "Parish of Noosa" (Map). Queensland Government. 1978. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
15. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 22 December 2021.
16. "Kin Kin Arboretum: Recreational trails and the Kin Kin Junction School site" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
17. "Gympie" (Map). Queensland Government. 1943. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
18. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m110" (Map). Queensland Government. 1952. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
19. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m76" (Map). Queensland Government. 1943. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
20. "Kin Kin School of Arts". Gympie Times And Mary River Mining Gazette . Vol. XLIV, no. 5703. Queensland, Australia. 18 July 1911. p. 4. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022– via National Library of Australia.
21. "Kin Kin Uniting Church - Former". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
22. Blake, Thom. "Kin Kin Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
23. "District News". Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette. 16 December 1916. p. 3.
24. Dale, John (1991). Kin Kin Schools Past and Present. Kin Kin State School. ISBN   0646061143.
25. "Annual reports". Kin Kin State School. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
26. "The Brisbane Courier, page 7". The Brisbane Courier. 23 February 1924.
27. Blake, Thom. "St Mary's Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
28. "St Luke's Anglican Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
29. Maccoll, Margaret (25 August 2020). "Church future in question". Noosa Today. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
30. Thompson, Nick (23 June 2021). "Kin Kin's last church closes". Noosa Today. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
31. Blake, Thom. "St Luke's Anglican Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
32. "Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, page 7. 17 January 1930.
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34. "The Northern Miner". The Northern Miner, page 2. 23 September 1932.
35. "Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, page 10. 24 September 1932.
36. "The Courier-Mail, page 13". The Courier-Mail. 11 October 1933.
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38. "Noosa News, page 1". Noosa News. 19 August 1971.
39. "2004 Kin Kin Carnival". Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
40. "Extracts from the Sunshine Coast Daily 30 years ago today". 27 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019– via PressReader.
41. "Our big bashes: storms that smashed the Coast". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
42. "Life's good in the country". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
43. "ARCHIVE: Queensland Severe Thunderstorms, 1850 – 2007" (PDF). Green Cross Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
44. "Brisbane Storm Chasers- Tornadoes in SE Qld". Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
45. "Anger over Kin Kin development rejection". ABC News. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
46. "About Noosa". Noosa Shire Council. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
47. "De-amalgamation in Queensland | Local Government Commission". lgc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
48. "Backward Glance: History of Local Government on the Sunshine Coast". Sunshine Coast Regional Council . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
49. "The Noosa De-amalgamation: Building a New Organisation". Noosa Shire Council . 2 January 2014. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
50. Robert Blackmore & Sara Hicks (8 April 2009). "Flood damage and isolation in Kin Kin". ABC Sunshine Coast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
51. "Body found in SE Qld floodwaters". www.abc.net.au. 4 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
52. Calligeros, Marissa (14 April 2009). "Coast pub smashed again". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
53. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Kin Kin (Noosa Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
54. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kin Kin (Noosa Shire) (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
55. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kin Kin (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
56. "SCHEDULE 3—HERITAGE SITES" (PDF). Noosa Shire Council. October 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
57. Hui, Jin (23 June 2021). "Kin Kin's last church closes". Noosa Today. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
58. "Kin Kin Sawmill (entry 602686)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
59. "Kin Kin Sawmills". White Pages Australia . Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
60. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
61. "Kin Kin State School". Kin Kin State School. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
62. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
63. "Noosa District State High School". Noosa District State High School. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
64. "Noosa Mobile Library - Mobile Stops - Noosa Mobile Hours". Shire of Noosa. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.

Further reading

• Page, Ruth (1970), The history of Pomona, Cooran, Kin Kin, Cootharaba, Skyrings Creek (PDF), archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2019

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Kin Kin