Merlwood

Merlwood Queensland
Merlwood
Coordinates	26°08′58″S151°52′59″E / 26.1494°S 151.8830°E / -26.1494; 151.8830 (Merlwood (centre of locality))
Population	104 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	4.464/km2 (11.56/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4605
Area	23.3 km2 (9.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	14.5 km (9 mi) NW of Murgon 53.7 km (33 mi) N of Kingaroy 106 km (66 mi) W of Gympie 272 km (169 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	South Burnett Region
State electorate(s)	Nanango
Federal division(s)	Wide Bay
Suburbs around Merlwood: Cloyna Sunny Nook Sunny Nook Warnung Merlwood Tablelands Byee Barlil Oakdale

Merlwood is a rural locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Merlwood had a population of 104 people. ^[1]

History

Merlwood State School opened on 23 March 1910 under teacher Alice Amelia Wilson. ^{[3] [4]} It closed on 22 January 1967. ^[5] It was located on the north-west corner of Pringle Hill Road and Eisenmengers Road ( 26°09′03″S151°53′20″E / 26.1508°S 151.8888°E / -26.1508; 151.8888 (Merlwood State School (former)) ), just north of the Gayndah Road. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

A Methodist church was built in 1913 on the corner of the crossroads opposite the state school. ^[9] The building was later removed. This church was strongly supported by a prominent local family who were among the first settlers, the Shelton family. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

A cemetery is believed to have existed in the very earliest days of settlement in the eastern part of Merlwood near Richards Road (26°10'39.9"S 151°53'58.6"E), according to oral history. It is unknown what has become of this cemetery or even if the exact location is known. Evidence of its existence can be been found in newspapers from the time, specifically in 1911 and 1928 ^{[13] [14]} The 1928 news article states that Sidney Kerle, aged 11 years, was buried there following a death adder bite. ^[15]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Merlwood had a population of 88 people. ^[16]

In the 2021 census, Merlwood had a population of 104 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Merlwood. The nearest government primary schools are Cloyna State School in neighbouring Cloyna to the north-west, Wheatlands State School in Wheatlands to the south, and Murgon State School in Murgon to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Murgon State High School in Murgon. ^[17]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Merlwood (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Merlwood – locality in South Burnett Region (entry 46244)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
3. "Our Murgon Letter". Queensland Times . Vol. LI, no. 7586. Queensland, Australia. 13 August 1909. p. 5 (Daily). Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021– via National Library of Australia.
4. Kopittke, Rosemary; Kopittke, Eric (1997). Queensland teachers index 1907-1920. Queensland Family History Society. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
5. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
6. "Parish of Murgon" (Map). Queensland Government. 1911. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
7. "Mondure" (Map). Queensland Government. 1943. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
8. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 14 July 2021.
9. Blake, Thom. "Merlwood Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
10. https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma99237533402061&context=L&vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&lang=en&search_scope=Everything&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=All&query=any,contains,harry%20shelton%20papers&offset=0
11. Easton, E.W. (1950). Wilderness to Wealth (1st ed.). The Nanango Centenary and South Burnett Historical Committee. >
12. Matthews, Dr Tony (1997). Landscapes of Change (1st ed.). South Burnett Local Govt. Association.
13. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146278895?searchTerm=merlwood%20cemetery
14. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/21340948?searchTerm=merlwood%20cemetery
15. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/21340948?searchTerm=merlwood%20cemetery
16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Merlwood (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
17. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2024.