Sharon, Queensland

Sharon Bundaberg,  Queensland
Sharon
Coordinates	24°52′34″S152°14′45″E / 24.8761°S 152.2458°E / -24.8761; 152.2458 (Sharon (centre of locality))
Population	1,209 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	24.77/km2 (64.17/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4670
Area	48.8 km2 (18.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	11.9 km (7 mi) W of Bundaberg CBD 380 km (236 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Bundaberg Region
State electorate(s)	Burnett
Federal division(s)	Flynn
Suburbs around Sharon: Meadowvale Meadowvale Meadowvale South Kolan Sharon Oakwood South Kolan Branyan Avoca

Sharon is a rural locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Sharon had a population of 1,209 people. ^[1]

Geography

The locality is bounded to the north and east by Splitters Creek and to the south by the Burnett River. ^[3]

Sharon is approximately eight kilometres west of Bundaberg towards Gin Gin. The Sharon Gorge is a further four kilometres along the highway, and is home to a tranquil area with rainforests, ferns, palms and orchids. ^[4]

The neighbourhood of Manoo is located in the south-western area of Sharon ( 24°53′00″S152°14′00″E / 24.8833°S 152.2333°E / -24.8833; 152.2333 (Manoo) ); it takes its name from the former Manoo railway station on the now closed Mount Perry railway line. The name Manoo is an Aboriginal word meaning clear straight track. ^[5]

The Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road (State Route 3) runs through from east to south. ^[6]

History

Mill workers in front of Sharon Sugar Mill, Bundaberg, circa 1890

The locality is named after the Sharon plain in Israel. ^[2]

A Methodist Sunday School was established in 1882 by the Workman family which met on the verandah of the school until a church could be built. ^[7] The Primitive Methodist church was officially opened on Sunday 29 March 1896 by Reverend William Powell and Reverend Tom Ellison. ^[8] The church was used by the Primitive Methodists on three Sundays each month with the fourth Sunday being available to other denominations. ^{[9] [10]} Circa 1935, the church building was sold to the Anglican Church. ^[11]

Tantitha Provisional School opened on 26 February 1883. In 1894 it became a state school and was renamed Sharon State School. ^[12]

Erin Hill State School opened on 30 April 1917. It closed on 14 June 1957. ^[13] It was on a 10-acre (4.0 ha) in the Splitters Creek area, now part of Sharon, at 411 Ten Mile Road ( 24°51′17″S152°14′08″E / 24.8546°S 152.2356°E / -24.8546; 152.2356 (Erin Hill State School (former)) ). ^{[14] [3]}

Opening of the Church of England at Sharon, circa February 1935

Circa 1935, the Anglican Church purchased the former Primitive Methodist Church building and commenced services in February 1935. ^[15] St Stephen's Anglican church was dedicated on 30 April 1945 by Rural Dean Reverend N.C.C. Bertram. Its closure was approved in September 1991. ^[16] The church was in Gin Gin Road roughly opposite the Sharon State School (approx 24°52′20″S152°15′46″E / 24.8723°S 152.2627°E / -24.8723; 152.2627 (St Stephen's Anglican Church (former)) ). ^[17]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Sharon had a population of 1,131 people. ^[18]

In the 2016 census, Sharon had a population of 1,316 people. ^[19]

In the 2021 census, Sharon had a population of 1,209 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Splitters Creek Railway Bridge

Sharon has the following heritage listings:

• Splitters Creek Railway Bridge ^[20]

Education

Sharon State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 18 Sharon School Road ( 24°52′21″S152°15′48″E / 24.8724°S 152.2633°E / -24.8724; 152.2633 (Sharon State School) ). ^{[21] [22]} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 116 students with 10 teachers (8 full-time equivalent) and 8 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent). ^[23]

There are no secondary schools in Sharon. The nearest government secondary school is Bundaberg North State High School in Bundaberg North to the north-east. ^[3]

Amenities

Sharon Public Hall is at 1016 Gin Gin Road ( 24°51′42″S152°16′02″E / 24.8618°S 152.2672°E / -24.8618; 152.2672 (Sharon Public Hall) ). ^[24]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Sharon (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Sharon – locality in Bundaberg Region (entry 44766)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 12 February 2022.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 28 February 2022.
4. "Sharon - Queensland". Queensland.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
5. "Manoo – unbounded locality in the Bundaberg Region (entry 20832)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 15 April 2018.
6. Google (31 October 2023). "Sharon, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
7. Methodist Church of Australasia. Bundaberg Circuit (1925), Jubilee souvenir 1875-1925, The Church, archived from the original on 30 August 2021, retrieved 30 August 2021
8. "Local and General News". The Bundaberg Mail And Burnett Advertiser . No. 1558. Queensland, Australia. 30 March 1896. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022– via National Library of Australia.
9. "Local and General News". The Bundaberg Mail And Burnett Advertiser . No. 1642. Queensland, Australia. 23 September 1896. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022– via National Library of Australia.
10. "Local and [?]". The Bundaberg Mail And Burnett Advertiser . No. 1559. Queensland, Australia. 1 April 1896. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022– via National Library of Australia.
11. Blake, Thom. "Sharon Primitive Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
12. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
13. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
14. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m157" (Map). Queensland Government. 1952. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
15. "IN MEMORY OF KING CHARLES I. — WOMEN FENCERS — GOLD AT CLERMONT Overseas photos, by Air Mail". The Queenslander . Queensland, Australia. 21 February 1935. p. 25. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022– via National Library of Australia.
16. "Closed Churches". Anglican Church Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
17. "Bundaberg" (Map). Queensland Government. 1943. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Sharon". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Sharon (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
20. "Splitters Creek Railway Bridge (entry 600529)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
21. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
22. "Sharon State School". Sharon State School. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
23. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
24. Google (28 February 2022). "Sharon Public Hall" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 28 February 2022.

External links

• "Sharon". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.