Tolga, Queensland

Last updated

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap  
Download coordinates as: KML
Tolga
Queensland
Tolga.JPG
Kennedy Highway near the intersection with Main Street, Tolga
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Tolga
Coordinates 17°13′23″S145°28′44″E / 17.2230°S 145.4788°E / -17.2230; 145.4788 (Tolga (town centre))
Population2,718 (2016 census) [1]
 • Density31.864/km2 (82.53/sq mi)
Established1885
Postcode(s) 4882
Elevation760 m (2,493 ft)
Area85.3 km2 (32.9 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Tablelands Region
State electorate(s) Hill
Federal division(s) Kennedy
Mean max tempMean min tempAnnual rainfall
25.6 °C
78 °F		15.3 °C
60 °F		1,400 mm
55.1 in
Localities around Tolga:
Walkamin Mareeba Tinaroo
Arriga Tolga Kairi
Mutchilba Watsonville Atherton

Tolga is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2016 census, Tolga had a population of 2,718 people. [1]

Contents

It is the centre of the region's peanut industry and is home to the Big Peanut ( 17°12′12″S145°28′34″E / 17.2032°S 145.4760°E / -17.2032; 145.4760 (The Big Peanut) ). [4]

Geography

Tolga is located on the Atherton Tableland. The Kennedy Highway traverses the locality from the north-west to the south of the locality, passing through the town which is in the southern part of the locality. [5] To the north-west of the town is a large residential development which is marketed under the names of Tandara, Rangeview and Panorama Views. [6]

Mapee is a neighbourhood within the centre of the locality ( 17°11′24″S145°28′04″E / 17.1901°S 145.4677°E / -17.1901; 145.4677 (Mapee) ). [7] Yadjin is a neighbourhood in the south-east of the locality ( 17°13′00″S145°30′00″E / 17.2166°S 145.5°E / -17.2166; 145.5 (Yadjin) ). [8]

The Barron River forms the north-east boundary of the locality. The south-western boundary of the locality is the Great Dividing Range which creates the drainage divide that separates the drainage basin of the Barron River (which flows to the Coral Sea) from that of the Mitchell River (which flows to the Gulf of Carpentaria). [5]

The northern and eastern parts of Tolga are relatively flat land used for growing crops. The western parts are more mountainous (creating the drainage divide) and are mostly undeveloped. [5] Bones Knob is a peak to the west of the town ( 17°13′00″S145°26′39″E / 17.2166°S 145.4441°E / -17.2166; 145.4441 (Bones Knob) ) at 962 metres (3,156 ft) above sea level. [9]

The Tolga Scrub on the southern side of town (within the locality of Atherton, 17°14′12″S145°28′46″E / 17.2367°S 145.4794°E / -17.2367; 145.4794 (Tolga Scrub) ) is one of the last remaining areas of Mabi rainforest on the Atherton Tableland. It is the most drought resistant type of rainforest in Australia. The Tolga Scrub is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long and 100 metres wide. [10]

History

Bones Knob is thought to be named after a young Aboriginal man known as "Bones", mention in a letter written in February 1879 by Alexander Douglas of the Native Mounted Police to Inspector Stuart of the Queensland Police. [9]

The town was originally called Martin Town after sawmillers George and Robert Martin, [2] and grew out of a Cobb and Co staging post at Rocky Creek. [11]

Martintown Provisional School opened on 10 October 1895. It was renamed Tolga Provisional School in 1905. On 1 January 1909 it became Tolga State School. [12]

The town's name was changed to Tolga in 1903 when Tablelands railway line was extended from Mareeba to Atherton and the local railway station was to be called Tolga, a name thought to be derived from the Aboriginal word for either place where the scrub begins or red volcanic soil. [2] [13] The line opened on 10 August 1903. [14] A branch line from Tolga to Yungaburra was built, opening on 15 March 1910, which was subsequently extended in stages to Millaa Millaa by 19 December 1921. [14] The line between Atherton and Mareeba became non-operational on 1 July 2011 and was officially closed on 15 March 2013. [15] Tolga railway station was between the Kennedy Highway and Lawson Street ( 17°13′15″S145°28′47″E / 17.2208°S 145.4797°E / -17.2208; 145.4797 (Tolga railway station) ). [16]

Mapee takes its name from its railway station, assigned by the Queensland Railways Department on 11 January 1915. It is an Aboriginal word meaning tree kangaroo. [7]

Yadjin takes its name from its railway station name, assigned by the Queensland Railways Department on 26 June 1922, an Aboriginal word meaning grass pocket. [8]

During World War II in 1943 the Australian Army established their largest storage and repair centre to the west of the town centred on Griffin Road and Tate Road to support the War in the Pacific. It was known as the 13 Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot and was operated by the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps under the command of lieutenant colonel LW Gale with a staff of about 1000 including 200 from the Australian Women's Army Service. The complex had about 150 buildings, including 18 large igloo storage shed. The complex stored, repaired and maintained Army vehicles and vehicle parts, weapons and ammunition, and clothing. [17]

Most buildings on the site were removed in 1946 after the war had ended with one building being relocated to the Atherton Hospital for the use of the Queensland Country Women's Association. On Friday 29 November 1946, three Army personnel were working to remove cordite from the shells in the ammunition dump when the cordite ignited in a blinding flash. The three men were severely burned in the explosion but managed to crawl over a mile to their headquarters. Although they were rushed to the Atheron hospital, the three men died and were buried at the Atherton War Cemetery. [17] [18]

At the 2006 census, Tolga had a population of 843. [19] By the 2011 census, Tolga's population had increased to 2,426 people. [20] In the 2016 census, Tolga had a population of 2,718 people. [1] In the 2016 census, Tolga had a population of 2,718 people. [1]

Education

Tolga State School opened on 10 October 1895 and is co-educational, catering for Prep - Year 6 with an enrolment of 366 students. [21] The school celebrated its centenary in 1995. [22]

Tolga Markets

Tolga Markets are held at the Tolga Racecourse from 7am to 12pm on the first Sunday of each month. Local produce, hand crafted items, clothing, tools and food are commonly found for sale. It is considered the second most popular market held on the Atherton Tableland, only slightly smaller than the Yungaburra Markets.

Community groups

The Tolga branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall at 60 Main Street. [23]

Heritage listings

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

Related Research Articles

Yungaburra Town in Queensland, Australia

Yungaburra is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Yungaburra had a population of 1,239 people.

Atherton, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Atherton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Atherton had a population of 7,331 people.

Kuranda, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Kuranda is a rural town and locality on the Atherton Tableland in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Kuranda had a population of 3,008 people. It is 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Cairns, via the Kuranda Range road. It is surrounded by tropical rainforest and adjacent to the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage listed Barron Gorge National Park.

Herberton, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Herberton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Herberton had a population of 855 people.

Mount Garnet, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Mount Garnet is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Mount Garnet had a population of 430 people.

Malanda, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Malanda is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Malanda had a population of 1,985 people. The economy is based upon agriculture and tourism.

Kairi, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Kairi is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Kairi had a population of 442 people.

Walkamin, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Walkamin is a town and a locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Walkamin recorded a population of 474 people.

Ravenshoe, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Ravenshoe is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Ravenshoe had a population of 1,400 people.

Mutchilba, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Mutchilba is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, in Far North Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Mutchilba had a population of 495 people.

Shire of Atherton Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Atherton was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Atherton, covered an area of 623.1 square kilometres (240.6 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.

Irvinebank Town in Queensland, Australia

Irvinebank is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Irvinebank had a population of 125 people.

Jaggan, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Jaggan is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Jaggan had a population of 188 people.

Bones Knob Radar Station

Bones Knob Radar Station is a heritage-listed radar station at Bowcock Road, Tolga, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1943. It is also known as WWII RAAF 220 Radar Station. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 14 May 2010.

Atherton Performing Arts Theatre

Atherton Performing Arts Theatre is a heritage-listed former military depot and now theatre at 6 Silo Street, Atherton, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1943. It is also known as Atherton WWII Igloo. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 October 2015.

Kureen Suburb of Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia

Kureen is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Kureen had a population of 122 people.

Minbun Suburb of Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia

Minbun is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Minbun had a population of 75 people.

Tarzali Town in Queensland, Australia

Tarzali is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Tarzali had a population of 398 people.

Tumoulin Town in Queensland, Australia

Tumoulin is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Tumoulin had a population of 109 people.

Moomin, Queensland Suburb of Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia

Moomin is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Moomin had a population of 133 people.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Tolga (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. 1 2 3 "Tolga – town in Tablelands Region (entry 34741)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Tolga – locality in Tablelands Region (entry 48903)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Morris, Katherine (27 February 2017). "Tolga's big peanut a drawcard for tourism". Queensland Times. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Panorama Views, Atherton Tableland". Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Mapee – locality unbounded in Tablelands Regional (entry 39192)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Yadjin – locality unbounded in Tablelands Regional (entry 38346)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Bones Knob – peak in Tablelands Regional (entry 3545)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Tolga Scrub". Tolga Bat Hospital. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "My Heritage Australia, family tree, Genealogy – Family Search". Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  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. ↑ "Tolga". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  14. 1 2 Kerr, John (1990). Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways. Boolarong Publications. p. 225. ISBN   978-0-86439-102-5.
  15. ↑ "Northern Queensland Diagrams" (PDF). Queensland Rail . p. 15. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2020.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ↑ "Tolga – railway station in the Tablelands Region (entry 34742)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. 1 2 "13 Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot: Tolga Advanced Ordnance Depot". Queensland World War II historic places. Queensland Government. 30 June 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  18. ↑ "Three Deaths Follow Cordite Blast". The Sydney Morning Herald (33, 991). New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 26 February 2018– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Tolga (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  20. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Tolga (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 June 2016. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  21. ↑ "Tolga State School Annual Report 2016". Education Queensland. 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  22. ↑ Snelling, Judy (1995), Tolga State School centenary 1895-1995, The School, retrieved 3 February 2018
  23. ↑ "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association . Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  24. ↑ "WWII RAAF 220 Radar Station (entry 602741)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex (former) (entry 601815)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.