Mount Debateable, Queensland

Mount Debateable Queensland
Pupils and families from the Mt Debateable State School, 1914
Mount Debateable
Coordinates	25°37′54″S151°33′24″E / 25.6316°S 151.5566°E / -25.6316; 151.5566 (Mount Debateable (centre of locality))
Population	40 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	1.87/km2 (4.8/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4625
Area	21.4 km2 (8.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	3.7 km (2 mi) W of Gayndah 150 km (93 mi) SW of Bundaberg 162 km (101 mi) WSW of Hervey Bay 339 km (211 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	North Burnett Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal division(s)	Flynn
Suburbs around Mount Debateable: Dirnbir Dirnbir Dirnbir Deep Creek Mount Debateable Gayndah Woodmillar Woodmillar Woodmillar

Mount Debateable is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Mount Debateable had a population of 40 people. ^[1]

Geography

The Burnett River forms the northern boundary of the locality. ^[3]

The Gayndah Mundubbera Road passes through the locality from east (Gayndah) to west (Deep Creek). ^[3]

Despite the name, the Mount Debateable railway station is not in the locality but in Dirnbir north of the river. ^{[3] [4]} It was originally known as Buckingah railway station until August 1913. ^[5] It was on the now-closed Mungar Junction to Monto railway line.

There are two peaks in the locality: ^[3]

• Mount Debateable in the north of the locality ( 25°37′31″S151°33′36″E / 25.6253°S 151.5600°E / -25.6253; 151.5600 (Mount Debateable) ) at 261 metres (856 ft) above sea level ^{[6] [7]}
• White Hill in the north-east of the locality ( 25°37′08″S151°34′42″E / 25.6189°S 151.5783°E / -25.6189; 151.5783 (White Hill) ) at 122 metres (400 ft) ^{[6] [8]}

The predominant land use is grazing with some irrigated cropping near the Burnett River. ^[3]

History

The locality takes its name from the mountain, which in turn takes its name from the Mount Debateable pastoral run taken up in 1851 by George Mocatta. Although it is sometimes written as Mount Debatable, in February 1987, the Queensland Place Names Board confirmed the official spelling to be Mount Debateable. ^{[2] [9]}

In January 1912, tenders were called to build Mount Debateable State School. ^[10] In 1926, the school building was relocated to a new site about 3 miles (4.8 km) away and the school was renamed Granite Hill State School. ^{[11] [12] [13]} A new school building was constructed in 1929. ^[14] The school closed in 1957. ^[15]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Mount Debateable had a population of 54 people. ^[16]

In the 2021 census, Mount Debateable had a population of 40 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Mount Debateable. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Gayndah State School and Burnett State College, both in neighbouring Gayndah to the east. ^[17]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mount Debateable (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Mount Debateable – locality in North Burnett Region (entry 45393)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 11 June 2019.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 8 December 2023.
4. "Mount Debateable – railway station in the Burnett Region (entry 23010)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 31 July 2019.
5. "WHAT'S IN A NAME?". The Bundaberg Mail And Burnett Advertiser . Vol. 43, no. 5142. Queensland, Australia. 22 August 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 1 July 2023– via National Library of Australia.
6. "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
7. "Mount Debateable – mountain in North Burnett Region (entry 9557)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
8. "White Hill – mountain in North Burnett Region (entry 37281)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
9. "Mount Debateable – mountain in the Burnett Region (entry 9557)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 31 July 2019.
10. "PUBLIC WORKS TENDERS". The Telegraph . No. 12, 212. Queensland, Australia. 8 January 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 31 July 2019– via National Library of Australia.
11. "Our Mail Bag". Daily Mail . No. 7448. Queensland, Australia. 12 January 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 7 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
12. "Item ID15511, Mount Debateable No.1365 State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 31 July 2019.
13. "NEW STATE SCHOOLS". The Brisbane Courier . No. 21, 292. Queensland, Australia. 23 April 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 31 July 2019– via National Library of Australia.
14. "SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser . No. 18, 238. Queensland, Australia. 27 June 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 7 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
15. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 31 July 2019.
16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mount Debateable (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 8 December 2023.

Further reading

• Roberts, Nancy; Gayndah and District Historical Society (1997), Mount Debateable State School, Gayndah & District Historical Society, retrieved 31 July 2019