| Petford Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rural landscape, Petford, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
  Petford | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°22′00″S144°54′45″E / 17.3666°S 144.9125°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 22 (2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.0314/km2 (0.0814/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4871 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 699.7 km2 (270.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Mareeba | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Petford is a rural locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. [2] In the 2021 census, Petford had a population of 22 people. [1]
Emu Creek flows through from east to north, where it joins the Walsh River as it forms part of the northern boundary. California Creek, a tributary of the Tate River , forms much of the southern boundary. Two other tributaries of the Tate River, Oaky Creek and Martin Creek, rise in the locality.
The former mining town of Lappa is within the locality. [3]
The Burke Developmental Road enters the locality from the north-east (Dimbulah) and exits to the west (Chillagoe). [4]
The Tablelands railway line enters the locality from the north-east (Dimbulah) and exits to the west (Chillagoe) loosely following the same route as the Burke Developmental Road. The locality is served by the following railway stations (from north to south):
The locality takes its name from the railway station which was named after John Joseph Petford, an official of Queensland Railways Department for many years. [2] The railway station was on the Chillagoe Railway & Mining Co. line from Mareeba to Mount Garnet which opened its first section from Mareeba to Lappa, just south-west of Petford, in 1900. The station no longer operates, but the line still exists, with the Savannahlander tourist train passing through Petford on its way between Cairns and Forsayth. [6]
Lappa Lappa Provisional School opened in 1900 and closed circa 1901. [7]
Koorboora Provisional School opened on 1903. On 1 January 1909, it became Koorboora State School. It closed in 1926. [7] [8]
Bamford Provisional School opened on 23 January 1905. The school closed in 1907 but reopened in 1908. On 1 January 1909 it became Bamford State School. It closed on 2 August 1935, to be replaced by Petford State School. [7] [9]
Emuford Provisional State School opened circa 1910 and closed circa 1921. [7]
Petford State School opened on 5 August 1935, replacing Bamford State School, [9] The school closed in 1962. It reopened on 27 January 1976 and closed finally on 15 December 1995. [7] [10] It was at 21 Bamford Road ( 17°20′27″S144°55′48″E / 17.3407°S 144.9299°E ). [11] [4]
In the 2016 census, Petford had a population of 32 people. [12]
In the 2021 census, Petford had a population of 22 people. [1]
There are no schools in Petford. The nearest government primary schools are Dimbulah State School in neighbouring Dimbulah to the north-east and Mount Garnet State School in Mount Garnet to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Dimbulah State School (to Year 10). For secondary education to Year 12, the options are distance education and boarding school. [4]
Dimbulah is a rural town and locality in Far North Queensland, Australia, 114 kilometres (71 mi) from Cairns by road, on the Atherton Tableland. It is within the local government area of Shire of Mareeba. In the 2021 census, the locality of Dimbulah had a population of 975 people, a decrease from the 1,050 people in the 2016 census.
Chillagoe is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Chillagoe had a population of 214 people.
Atherton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Atherton had a population of 7,724 people.
Mareeba is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba in Far North Queensland, Australia. Between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Tablelands Region. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mareeba had a population of 11,825 people.
Mount Garnet is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Garnet had a population of 532 people.
The Savannahlander is an Australian passenger train service that operates in Far North Queensland. It travels on the Tablelands railway line and the Etheridge railway line from the coastal city of Cairns to Forsayth.
Mount Mulligan is a former mining town and now a rural locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Mulligan had "no people or a very low population".
Mutchilba is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is known for its production of mangoes.
Forsayth is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Forsayth had a population of 107 people.
The Shire of Mareeba is a local government area at the base of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, inland from Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mareeba, covered an area of 53,491 square kilometres (20,653.0 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several councils in the Atherton Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.
Irvinebank is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 113 people.
The Chillagoe Railway and Mining Company was an Australian business established in 1897 initially under the name Chillagoe Proprietary. Its initial purpose was to build a railway to the town of Chillagoe, Queensland to support the development of mining. In 1898, the company was recapitalised as the Chillagoe Railway and Mining Company.
The Tablelands railway line is a railway line in North Queensland, Australia. It was opened in a series of sections between 1887 and 1916. It commences at Cairns and at its maximum extent, reached Ravenshoe at the southern end of the Atherton Tableland. The rail system served by this line was unusual for Queensland in that the majority of lines that connected to it were built by private companies and later purchased by the Queensland Government.
Lappa is a former railway town on the western side of the Atherton Tablelands near Petford in the Shire of Mareeba in Far North Queensland, Australia.
Station Master's Residence is a heritage-listed detached house at Railway Reserve, Einasleigh, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1909. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
The Etheridge railway line is a heritage-listed railway line between Mount Surprise and Forsayth, both in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It includes Mount Surprise railway station, Einasleigh railway station, Wirra Wirra railway station and Forsayth railway station. Etheridge railway line was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 16 February 2009.
Almaden is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Almaden had a population of 41 people.
Station Master's Residence is a heritage-listed detached house at Fourth Street, Forsayth, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1910. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Biboohra is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Biboohra had a population of 561 people.
Fossilbrook is a rural locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Fossilbrook had "no people or a very low population".
