Oakhurst, Queensland

Oakhurst Queensland
Locomotive on the North Coast railway line just south of Maryborough West railway station
Oakhurst
Coordinates	25°30′45″S152°37′35″E / 25.5125°S 152.6263°E / -25.5125; 152.6263 (Oakhurst (centre of locality))
Population	1,717 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	70.37/km2 (182.3/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4650
Area	24.4 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	10.1 km (6 mi) WNW of Maryborough 39.1 km (24 mi) SW of Hervey Bay 92.6 km (58 mi) N of Gympie 271 km (168 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Fraser Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Maryborough
Federal division(s)	Wide Bay
Suburbs around Oakhurst: Dunmora Dunmora Aldershot Dunmora Oakhurst Maryborough West Yengarie Yengarie Tinana

Oakhurst is a mixed-use locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Oakhurst had a population of 1,717 people. ^[1]

Geography

Maryborough West railway station, 2012

The Mary River forms part of the eastern boundary. ^[3]

The Maryborough–Biggenden Road (State Route 86) enters the locality from the east (Maryborough West) where it is known as Gayndah Road. It exits the locality to the west (Dunmora/Yengarie). ^[4]

The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the south (Yengarie). ^[4] Despite the name, the locality is served by the Maryborough West railway station ( 25°30′29″S152°38′12″E / 25.5080°S 152.6366°E / -25.5080; 152.6366 (Maryborough West railway station) ), which has replaced Maryborough railway station as the main stop serving Maryborough on the North Coast line. ^[5] The station is the junction where the North Coast railway line splits into two. The new electrified main line exits the locality to the north-east (Aldershot / Maryborough West) bound ultimately for Cairns. The older not-electrified line exits the locality to the east (Maryborough West) bound for Maryborough. This line is still required to transport rolling stock to and from the Walkers Limited workshop (now operated by Downer Rail). ^{[4] [6]}

The locality is increasingly becoming a suburb of Maryborough with rural residential housing being the major land use. The remaining land is used for grazing on native vegetation and growing sugarcane. ^[4]

History

Oakhurst was historically served by the Oakhurst railway station ( 25°30′53″S152°37′58″E / 25.51469°S 152.63264°E / -25.51469; 152.63264 (Oakhurst railway station (former)) ). ^[7] However, Maryborough West railway station was opened in 1989 as a replacement for Maryborough and Baddow stations, when the latter was bypassed by a new seven kilometre alignment that was built as part of the electrification of the North Coast line. ^{[8] [9]}

Once, the locality of Oakhurst was split between the Shire of Woocoo and the City of Maryborough. However, on 2 July 2010, it was regazetted as being solely within the Fraser Coast Region. ^[2]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Oakhurst had a population of 1,444 people. ^[10]

In the 2021 census, Oakhurst had a population of 1,717 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Oakhurst. The nearest government primary school is Sunbury State School in Maryborough to the east. The nearest government secondary school is Aldridge State High School, also in Maryborough. ^[11]

TAFE Queensland delivers vocational education at its Wide Bay campus at 65 Nagel Street ( 25°30′21″S152°39′16″E / 25.5058°S 152.6545°E / -25.5058; 152.6545 (Wide Bay TAFE campus) ). ^[12]

Amenities

Wook-koo Park (formerly Oakhurst Park) is on the south-eastern corner of Loretta Drive and Woocoo Drive ( 25°30′57″S152°36′53″E / 25.5158°S 152.6146°E / -25.5158; 152.6146 (Oakhurst Park) ). It offers facilities for sport, picnics and BBQs, and walking tracks. One walk features sculptures of animals. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Facilities

Oakhurst SES Facility is at 5 Boundary Road ( 25°30′54″S152°37′30″E / 25.5150°S 152.6249°E / -25.5150; 152.6249 (Oakhurst SES Facility) ). ^[16]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Oakhurst (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Oakhurst – locality in Fraser Coast Region (entry 46731)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 10 December 2018.
3. Google (20 August 2021). "Oakhurst, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 23 December 2023.
5. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
6. "Accessibility upgrade works at Maryborough". Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
7. "Maryborough" (Map). Queensland Government. 1942. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
8. "Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]" (PDF). Queensland Legislative Assembly. 27 February 1986. p. 3920. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
9. "The Maryborough Shunt" Railway Digest November 2013 pages 40-43
10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Oakhurst (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
11. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
12. "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
13. "Wook-Koo Park". Fraser Coast Regional Council. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
14. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
15. "Wook-Koo Park and Story Walk". Fraser Coast Regional Council. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
16. "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.