Murgon Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 26°14′30″S151°56′29″E / 26.2416°S 151.9413°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 2,220 (2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 33.64/km2 (87.12/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4605 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 316 m (1,037 ft) | ||||||||||||||
Area | 66.0 km2 (25.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location | |||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | South Burnett Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Nanango | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
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Murgon ( /mɜːrɡən/ ) is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Murgon had a population of 2,220 people. [1]
Murgon is in the region of Queensland known as the South Burnett, the southern part of the Burnett River catchment. Industries include peanuts, dairy farming, beef and cattle production and wine. The Indigenous Australian settlement of Cherbourg is just south of Murgon.
Wakka Wakka (Waka Waka, Wocca Wocca, Wakawaka) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken in the Burnett River catchment. The Wakka Wakka language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the North and South Burnett Regional Council, particularly the towns of Cherbourg, Murgon, Kingaroy, Gayndah, Eidsvold and Mundubbera. [4]
Opened on 14 September 1903, the fourth stage of the Nanango railway line took the line from Goomeri south to Wondai after passing through Manyung, Moondooner and Murgon, with the town served by Murgon railway station. [5] The fifth stage, opened on 19 December 1904, terminated at Kingaroy. [6]
In July 1906, 32 allotments were advertised for selection by the Department of Public Lands Office. The map advertising the land selection states the allotments are portions in the Parishes of Murgon, Goomeribong and Barambah. [7] The portions were left over from 5 April. [8]
Murgon State School opened on 24 February 1908. [9]
Murgon Post Office opened by June 1908 (a receiving office had been open from 1904). [10]
The first Murgon Methodist Church was officially opened on Sunday 4 October 1908. [11] [12] The foundation stone of the current Murgon Methodist Church (now the Murgon Goomeri Uniting Church) was laid on 17 March 1962. [13] The current church opened in 1963. [14]
The foundation stone of the Murgon War Memorial was laid on 25 April 1920 (ANZAC Day) by Lieutenant Colonel Wilder Neligan. On 11 November 1921, the digger memorial was dedicated by RSL chairman, Major General Spencer Browne. [15] [16]
The town was the administrative centre for the former Shire of Murgon which existed from 1914 until 2008.
Christ Church Anglican was dedicated in 1920. [17]
Murgon Baptist Church opened on Sunday 30 October 1921. [18] [19] [20] A tender to build the church was accepted in August 1921. [21] On 31 July 1930, a new Baptist church was officially opened. [22] The current church was opened in 1965, while the original church was sold to the Church of Christ in 1961. [23]
St Joseph's Catholic School opened 27 February 1937. [9] [24]
Murgon State High School opened on 27 January 1959. [9]
Murgon Special School closed on 31 December 1980. [9]
The 1986 Bruce Beresford feature film The Fringe Dwellers featuring the fictional town of 'Curgon' was based on and shot in Murgon. The 'Family Camp' set was located at the far end of Ashton Street, and the Housing Commission home was located Dutton Street West; the house still stands today. The film is acclaimed as being the first Australian film featuring Indigenous actors in all the major roles, and won Best Adapted Screenplay at the AACTA Awards. [25]
The Theebine to Kingaroy railway line fell into disuse by 2004, and was officially closed in early 2010. [26] All tracks (with the exception of some sidings) were eventually removed to make way for the Kingaroy-Kilkivan Rail trail which was opened in Spring 2017.
The current Murgon Library facility opened in 2010. [27]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Murgon had a population of 2,378 people. [28]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Murgon had a population of 2,220 people. [1]
Murgon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Murgon is also close to a famous fossil site. The Murgon fossil site is the only such site in Australia with a diverse vertebrate fauna dating to the early Eocene epoch, around 55 million years ago, only 10 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs. [32]
Murgon State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 91 Gore Street ( 26°14′23″S151°56′36″E / 26.2397°S 151.9433°E ). [33] [34] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 242 students with 21 teachers and 23 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent). [35] It includes a special education program. [33] [36]
St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 32 Angel Avenue ( 26°14′22″S151°56′46″E / 26.2394°S 151.9462°E ). [33] [37] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 107 students with 12 teachers and 14 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent). [35]
Murgon State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 2 Dutton Street ( 26°14′14″S151°56′41″E / 26.2372°S 151.9446°E ). [33] [38] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 347 students with 43 teachers (41 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent). [35] It includes a special education program. [33]
The South Burnett Regional Council operates a public library in Murgon at 42 Stephens Street West ( 26°14′27″S151°56′32″E / 26.2407°S 151.9421°E ). [39] Public Wi-Fi is available at this facility. [27]
There are numerous churches in Murgon, including:
Attractions of Murgon include winemaking, fishing on the nearby Bjelke-Petersen Dam and gem-fossicking.
The Queensland Dairy and Heritage Museum is at 2 Sommerville Street ( 26°13′51″S151°55′45″E / 26.2307°S 151.9291°E ). [44]
The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail follows the old railway line between the two towns. It is 88 kilometres (55 mi ) long and passes through Goomeri, Murgon, Wondai, Tingoora, Wooroolin, Memerambi, and Crawford. The trail from Kilkivan to Murgon is unsealed. Queensland's first and longest sealed rail trail section of 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Murgon to Kingaroy is for walkers and cyclists only. Short distances between towns means coffee is never far away. [45] [46] [47] It passes the Local Heritage listed Railway Complex which includes the former railway station and station master's residence, and what were a goods shed and platforms, and some railway tracks and the remains of the water tank stand. [48]
Murgon has a vibrant sporting society. The Murgon Mustangs play rugby league in the South Burnett competition.
Notable residents of Murgon include:
Mundubbera is a rural town and a locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mundubbera had a population of 1,120 people.
Kingaroy is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. The town is situated on the junction of the D'Aguilar and the Bunya Highways, 218 kilometres (135 mi) north-west of the state capital Brisbane and 141 kilometres (88 mi) south west of Gympie. In the 2021 census, the locality of Kingaroy had a population of 10,266 people.
Nanango is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Nanango had a population of 3,679 people.
Wondai is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Wondai had a population of 1,975 people.
Kilkivan is a town and locality in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Kilkivan had a population of 689 people.
Goomeri is a rural town and locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Goomeri had a population of 677 people.
The Shire of Murgon was a local government area in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 664.7 square kilometres (256.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1914 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the South Burnett area to become the South Burnett Regional Council.
The Shire of Kilkivan was a local government area about 180 kilometres (112 mi) north-northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 3,263.4 square kilometres (1,260.0 sq mi), and existed from 1886 until its merger with several other local government areas to form the Gympie Region on 15 March 2008.
The South Burnett is a peanut growing and wine-producing area on the Great Dividing Range, north of the Darling Downs, in Queensland. It is with the basin of the Burnett River. The area is within two local government areas, South Burnett Region and Gympie Region.
Tingoora is a rural town and a locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.
Wooroolin is a rural town and a locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.
Theebine is a rural town and locality split between the Gympie Region and the Fraser Coast Region, both in Queensland, Australia.
The Nanango railway line was a narrow-gauge branch railway located in Queensland, Australia. On 31 October 1882, parliament approved the construction of a branch line from Theebine west to Kilkivan after gold and copper were discovered in this region of Queensland, Australia. The section was opened in two stages – to Dickabram on 1 January 1886 after two crossings of the Mary River and to Kilkivan on 6 December 1886.
Wide Bay–Burnett is a region of the Australian state of Queensland, located between 170–400 km (110–250 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane. The area's population growth has exceeded the state average over the past 20 years, and it is forecast to grow to more than 430,000 by 2031. It is the subject of the Draft Wide Bay–Burnett Regional Plan, which aims to facilitate this growth while protecting over 90% of the region from urban development.
Elgin Vale is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Elgin Vale had "no people or a very low population".
The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail is an 88-kilometre (55 mi) recreation trail from Kilkivan to Kingaroy. The trail follows the old Kingaroy Branch railway and is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Durong is a rural locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Durong had a population of 219 people.
Cinnabar is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Cinnabar had a population of 83 people.
Kinbombi is a rural town and locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Kinbombi had a population of 34 people.
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Media related to Murgon at Wikimedia Commons