Nicholson, Queensland

Nicholson Queensland
Old Westmoreland Homestead, 2009
Nicholson
Coordinates	17°25′50″S138°43′43″E / 17.4305°S 138.7286°E / -17.4305; 138.7286 (Nicholson (centre of locality))
Population	32 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.001824/km2 (0.00473/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4825
Area	17,540.6 km2 (6,772.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	99.9 km (62 mi) NW of Doomadgee 240 km (149 mi) WNW of Burketown 563 km (350 mi) N of Mount Isa 1,093 km (679 mi) W of Cairns 2,271 km (1,411 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Burke
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Nicholson: Northern Territory Gulf of Carpentaria Gangalidda Northern Territory Nicholson Burketown Northern Territory Doomadgee Lawn Hill Gregory

Nicholson is a coastal outback locality in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] It is on the border with the Northern Territory. ^[3] In the 2021 census, Nicholson had a population of 32 people. ^[1]

Geography

The Gulf of Carpentaria forms northern and north-eastern boundaries of the locality, separated by the coastal locality of Gangalidda. The Nicholson River enters from the south-west (Northern Territory) and then forms parts of the southern boundary before re-entering the locality to discharge into the Gulf. ^[4]

National Highway 1 enters the locality from the south (Doomadgee) before turning north-west to run through the locality, exiting to the Northern Territory ( 17°12′48″S137°59′41″E / 17.2133°S 137.9948°E / -17.2133; 137.9948 (National Route 1 at the QLD/NT border) ). ^[5] This section of the highway is also part of the Savannah Way, a tourist route.

There is a small part of the Boodjamulla National Park (formerly Lawn Hill National Park) in the south-west of the locality. Apart from this protected area, the land use is grazing on native vegetation. The land close to the close of the Gulf of Carpentaria is marshland, mostly mangrove swamps. ^{[6] [7]}

History

Hells Gate escarpment, 2016

Hells Gate Roadhouse is a tourist stop on the Savannah Way, 80 km from Doomadgee and 50 km from the Northern Territory border ( 17°27′18″S138°21′22″E / 17.4550°S 138.3562°E / -17.4550; 138.3562 (Hells Gate Roadhouse) ) on the Cliffdale cattle station. ^[8] It opened on 5 April 1986. The name refers to a gap in the nearby escarpment where the road passes through. ^[9]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Nicholson had "no people or a very low population". ^[10]

In the 2021 census, Nicholson had a population of 32 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

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

• Old Westmoreland Homestead ( 17°20′25″S138°15′00″E / 17.3403°S 138.25°E / -17.3403; 138.25 (Old Westmoreland Homestead) ) ^[11]

Education

There are no schools in Nicholson. The nearest schools are Burketown State School (Prep to Year 6) in neighbouring Burketown to the east and Doomadgee State School (Early Childhood to Year 10) in neighbouring Doomadgee to the south. However, these schools are too distant from many parts of Nicholson for a daily commute. Nor are there any schools nearby providing education to Year 12. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school. ^[12]

Attractions

The Hells Gate Roadhouse provides fuel, meals, and a range of accommodation from camp sites to motel rooms. ^{[13] [14]} Scenic helicopter flights are available. ^[15]

Transport

Hells Gate airstrip ( 17°28′00″S138°22′01″E / 17.4667°S 138.3670°E / -17.4667; 138.3670 (Hells Gate airstrip) ) has one runway of length 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). It is across the road form the Hells Gate roadhouse. ^[16]

Indigenous languages

Yukulta (also known as Ganggalida) is an Australian Aboriginal language. The Yukulta language region is the Gulf Country including the local government areas of the Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee and Shire of Mornington. ^[17]

Yulluna (also known as Yalarnga, Yalarrnga, Jalanga, Jalannga, Wonganja, Gunggalida, Jokula) is an Australian Aboriginal language. The Yulluna language region includes the local government boundaries of the Shire of Cloncurry and other areas near the Gulf of Carpentaria. ^[18]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Nicholson (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Nicholson (entry 45777)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 30 January 2016.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 28 December 2023.
4. "Nicholson, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 14 August 2021.
5. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
6. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
7. Asbridge, Emma; Lucas, Richard; Ticehurst, Catherine; Bunting, Peter (20 April 2016). "Mangrove response to environmental change in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria". Ecology and Evolution . 6 (11). doi:10.1002/ece3.2140. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025– via PubMed Central.
8. "Hells Gate – unbounded locality in Shire of Burke (entry 15686)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 May 2019.
9. "History - Hell's Gate Roadhouse". 8 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Nicholson (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
11. "Old Westmoreland Homestead (entry 602339)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
12. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
13. "Hell's Gate Roadhouse - Hell's Gate Roadhouse". 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
14. "Room Grid - Hell's Gate Roadhouse". 18 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
15. "Scenic flights - Hell's Gate Roadhouse". 23 July 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
16. "Hells Gate - Australia". World Airport Codes. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
17. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Yukulta". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 28 January 2020.
18. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Yulluna". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 28 January 2020.

External links

• Hells Gate Roadhouse