Thornton, Queensland

Thornton Queensland
Thornton
Coordinates	27°47′57″S152°21′09″E / 27.7991°S 152.3525°E / -27.7991; 152.3525 (Thornton (centre of locality))
Population	214 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	2.262/km2 (5.859/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4341
Area	94.6 km2 (36.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Lockyer Valley Region
State electorate(s)	Lockyer
Federal division(s)	Wright Blair
Suburbs around Thornton: Ingoldsby Mount Berryman Mulgowie Lefthand Branch Thornton Mount Mort Lefthand Branch Townson Mount Mort

Thornton is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Thornton had a population of 214 people. ^[1]

Geography

Thornton is a mountainous area. It is bounded to the west by the ridge of the Mistake Mountains range and to the east by the ridge of the Little Liverpool Range. Laidley Creek passes through the valley from south to north between the two mountain ranges. ^[3]

Mount Zahel is in the south-west of the locality ( 27°48′35″S152°19′39″E / 27.8097°S 152.3274°E / -27.8097; 152.3274 (Mount Zahel) ) near the Mistake Mountains. It is 880 metres (2,890 ft) above sea level. ^[4] Mount Cooper is in the north of the location ( 27°46′45″S152°20′24″E / 27.7791°S 152.34°E / -27.7791; 152.34 (Mount Cooper) ). It is 880 metres (2,890 ft) above sea level. ^{[5] [3]} Laidley Gap is a pass through the Mistake Mountains ( 27°49′55″S152°18′56″E / 27.8320°S 152.3156°E / -27.8320; 152.3156 (Laidley Gap) ). The name is derived from Laidley Plain, which was named on 22 June 1829 after James Laidley by explorer Allan Cunningham. ^{[6] [3]}

Mount Beau Brummell is in the east of the locality ( 27°48′15″S152°23′56″E / 27.8042°S 152.3989°E / -27.8042; 152.3989 (Mount Beau Brummell) ) within the Little Liverpool Range. It is 718 metres (2,356 ft) above sea level. ^{[7] [3]} Edwards Gap is a pass through the Little Liverpool Range ( 27°46′10″S152°23′20″E / 27.7695°S 152.3890°E / -27.7695; 152.3890 (Edwards Gap) ) ^{[8] [3]}

History

Thornton Provisional School opened on 11 October 1881 by its first principal W.J. Mitchell. ^[9] It became Thornton State School on 1 April 1890. ^[10]

Thornton Primitive Methodist Church opened on 24 May 1885. It was built on 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) of land donated by Mr W.H. Hodges. ^[11] In October 1952, memorial gates were dedicated to Joseph Cook who died on active service, a tribute from his mother Mrs Eliza Cook and the church trustees. ^[12]

St George's Anglican Church was dedicated on Thursday 8 February 1906 by Archdeacon Arthur Rivers. ^[13] The church was an ornate wooden building, 30 by 20 feet (9.1 by 6.1 m). ^[14] Its closure on 3 May 2005 was approved by Assistant Bishop Rob Nolan. ^[13]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Thornton had a population of 201 people. ^[15]

In the 2021 census, Thornton had a population of 214 people. ^[1]

Education

Thornton State School is a government co-educational primary school (P-6) at 4 Thornton School Road. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 22 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). ^[16]

There is no secondary school in Thornton. The nearest secondary school is Laidley State High School in Laidley. ^[3]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Thornton (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Thornton – locality in Lockyer Valley Region (entry 47147)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 September 2020.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 2 October 2020.
4. "Mount Zahel – mountain in Lockyer Valley Regional (entry 38819)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 September 2020.
5. "Mount Cooper – mountain in Lockyer Valley Regional (entry 8266)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 September 2020.
6. "Laidley Gap – pass in Lockyer Valley Regional (entry 18802)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 September 2020.
7. "Mount Beau Brummell – mountain in Lockyer Valley Regional (entry 1990)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 September 2020.
8. "Edwards Gap – pass in Lockyer Valley Regional (entry 11232)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 September 2020.
9. "History". Thornton State School. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
10. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
11. "THORNTON CHURCH'S DIAMOND JUBILEE". Queensland Times . No. 18, 306. Queensland, Australia. 3 August 1945. p. 4 (DAILY). Retrieved 2 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
12. "CHURCH SYNOD OPPOSES OFF-THE-COURSE BETTING". Queensland Times . No. 20, 537. Queensland, Australia. 31 October 1952. p. 2 (Daily.). Retrieved 2 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
13. "Closed Churches". Anglican Records and Archives Centre Anglican Church Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
14. "Thornton Anglican Church". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser . Vol. XLVII, no. 7020. Queensland, Australia. 13 February 1906. p. 8. Retrieved 6 July 2020– via National Library of Australia.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Thornton (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
16. "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Thornton State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

Further reading

• Emmerson, Margaret R; Thornton and Townson Schools Centenary Committee (2006), Thornton-Townson Centenary Reunion, 10th October, 1981 : 1881-1981 souvenir booklet of upper Laidley Creek Valley ([Updated ed.] ed.), Thornton and Townson Schools Centenary Committee, retrieved 13 September 2017

External links

Media related to Thornton, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons