Valentine Plains

Last updated

Valentine Plains
Queensland
B-24D Liberator Bomer Beautiful Betsy.jpg
Wreck site of B-24D Liberator "Beautiful_Betsy", 2011
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Valentine Plains
Coordinates 24°24′27″S150°45′22″E / 24.4075°S 150.7561°E / -24.4075; 150.7561 (Valentine Plains (centre of locality))
Population373 (SAL 2021) [1]
Postcode(s) 4715
Area458.5 km2 (177.0 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Banana
State electorate(s) Callide
Federal division(s) Flynn
Suburbs around Valentine Plains:
Dakenba
Mount Murchison
Dumgree Tablelands
Biloela
Prospect
Valentine Plains Tablelands
Thangool Lawgi Dawes Cania

Valentine Plains is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. [2] In the 2021 census, Valentine Plains had a population of 373 people. [3]

Contents

Geography

The locality is immediately west of Biloela. The locality is bounded to the north by Callide Creek and Lake Callide, the impoundment of Callide Creek by the Callide Dam. It is bounded to the south-west by Kroombit Creek. [4]

While the name Valentine Plains might suggest relatively flat land, the terrain is mountainous ranging from 180 to 860 metres (590 to 2,820 ft) above sea level with a number of named peaks: [4]

The lower elevations are to be found near Biloela and along Callide Creek and Kroombit Creek with elevations generally increasing further to the east. [4]

The south-east of the locality is within Kroombit Tops National Park, which extends into neighbouring Tablelands and Cania and beyond to Boyne Valley. [8] Apart from this protected area, the predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation with some crop growing on the lower elevations in the west of the locality. [8]

History

Valentine Plains Provisional School opened on 8 October 1928. In 1932, it became Valentine Plains State School. It closed on 21 July 1967. [9] It was on Valentine Plains Road ( 24°25′10″S150°34′46″E / 24.4195°S 150.5795°E / -24.4195; 150.5795 (Valentine Plains State School (former)) ). [10]

Calvale Provisional School opened on 26 April 1940. In 1947, it became Calvale State School. It closed in December 1956. [11] It was on Calvale Road (approx 24°22′30″S150°37′42″E / 24.3749°S 150.6284°E / -24.3749; 150.6284 (Calvale State School (former)) ). [12]

Wreckage of the B-24D Liberator Bomber - Beautiful Betsy Wreckage of the B-24D Liberator Bomer - Beautiful Betsy.jpg
Wreckage of the B-24D Liberator Bomber - Beautiful Betsy

On 2 August 1994, the wreckage of a United States Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24D Liberator, Beautiful Betsy, was discovered in the Valentine Plains section of Kroombit Tops National Park. The aircraft had gone missing in stormy weather on 26 February 1945 while on a "Fat Cat" run from Darwin to Brisbane - transporting men and supplies as part of a regular flight. [13] Eight servicemen lost their lives; six of the men were American aviators and two were British Royal Air Force Spitfire pilots. The crash site is well-presented, with a plaque erected by National Parks (approx 24°27′52″S150°54′51″E / 24.46441°S 150.91426°E / -24.46441; 150.91426 (Wreck site of Beautiful Betsy) ). [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Valentine Plains had a population of 394 people. [19]

In the 2021 census, Valentine Plains had a population of 373 people. [3]

Education

There are no schools in Valentine Plains. The nearest government primary schools are Biloela State School in neighbouring Biloela to the west, Thangool State School in neighbouring Thangool in the south-west, and Mount Murchison State School in the neighbouring Mount Murchison to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Biloela State High School in Biloela. [20]

The Biloela Study Centre of CQ University is at 64 Valentine Plains Road ( 24°24′41″S150°31′17″E / 24.4113°S 150.5213°E / -24.4113; 150.5213 (university) ). [21]

Amenities

The Valentine Plains branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall at 271 Valentines Plains Road. [22]

Biloela Golf Club is at 451 Valentine Plains Road ( 24°25′16″S150°33′20″E / 24.4210°S 150.5555°E / -24.4210; 150.5555 (BILOELA GOLF COURSE) ). [23] It has a 14-hole golf course. [24]

Facilities

Biloela Lawn Cemetery is at 216 Valentine Plains Road ( 24°24′59″S150°32′01″E / 24.4165°S 150.5336°E / -24.4165; 150.5336 (Biloela Lawn Cemetery) ). [25] It is operated by the Banana Shire Council. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kroombit Tops National Park</span> Protected area in Queensland, Australia

Kroombit Tops is a national park in Central Queensland, Australia. It is between Monto and Calliope. It is two parts. The largest part is within the localities of Tablelands, Valentine Plains, Cania and Boyne Valley, while the smaller part is in the locality of Mount Alma. It is 399 km northwest of Brisbane. Cania Gorge National Park is located approximately 25 km to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biloela</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Biloela is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Central Queensland, Australia. It is situated 120 kilometres (75 mi) inland from the port city of Gladstone at the junction of the Burnett and Dawson highways. Biloela is the administrative centre of Banana Shire, which has an area of 28,610 square kilometres (11,050 sq mi). In the 2021 census, the locality of Biloela had a population of 5,692 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banana, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Banana is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Banana had a population of 356 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawson Highway</span>

The Dawson Highway is a state highway in Queensland, Australia. It runs for 405 kilometres (252 mi) between Gladstone and Springsure where it terminates. From Gladstone to Rolleston it is signed as State Route 60, and then A7 onwards to Springsure. It continues west for another 247 kilometres (153 mi) as Dawson Developmental Road to Tambo on the Landsborough Highway. North of Springsure, A7 becomes the Gregory Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Banana</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Banana is a local government area located in the Capricorn region of Queensland, Australia, inland from the regional city of Gladstone. The shire was named after the first township in the region (Banana), which in turn was named for the burial site of a huge dun coloured bullock named 'Banana'. The council sits in the town of Biloela, which is the largest town in the Shire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thangool</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Thangool is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Thangool had a population of 741 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goovigen</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Goovigen is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Goovigen had a population of 215 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wowan, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Wowan is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Wowan had a population of 216 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rannes, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Rannes is a rural town in the west of the locality of Goovigen in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jambin, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Jambin is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Jambin had a population of 207 people.

Camboon is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Camboon had a population of 76 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Murchison, Queensland</span> Suburb of Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia

Mount Murchison is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia.

Prospect is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Prospect had a population of 297 people.

Callide is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Callide had a population of 86 people.

Greycliffe is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Greycliffe had a population of 22 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawgi Dawes</span> Suburb of Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia

Lawgi Dawes is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Lawgi Dawes had a population of 144 people. It contains the neighbourhood of Lawgi, a former town.

Dixalea is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Dixalea had a population of 102 people.

Dakenba is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Dakenba had a population of 116 people.

Orange Creek is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Orange Creek had a population of 197 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Alma, Queensland</span> Suburb of Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia

Mount Alma is a rural locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Mount Alma had a population of 47 people.

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Valentine Plains (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. "Valentine Plains – locality in Shire of Banana (entry 49577)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Valentine Plains (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  4. 1 2 3 "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. "Cave Mountain – mountain in Banana Shire (entry 6680)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. "Mount Kroombit – mountain in Banana Shire (entry 18551)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  9. "Agency ID 6401, Valentine Plains State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  10. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m163" (Map). Queensland Government. 1950. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  11. "Agency ID 8527, Calvale State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  12. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m163" (Map). Queensland Government. 1950. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  13. Michael V. Nelmes Tocumwal to Tarakan : Australians and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator Belconnen. Banner Books, 1994.
  14. Fraser, Norman (18 March 2015). "Sad ending to Beautiful Betsy wartime mystery". The Courier-Mail . Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. Dunn, Peter. "26 February 1945 - Crash of a B-24D Liberator, "Beautiful Betsy", in Kroombit Tops Forest near Biloela". Australia @ War. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  16. "Kroombit Tops National Park map" (PDF). Parks and forests. Queensland Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  17. "Beautiful Betsy no longer lost". The Canberra Times . Vol. 69, no. 21, 686. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 August 1994. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  18. "Bush gives up wartime secret". Army . No. 867. Australia, Australia. 20 October 1994. p. 14. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Valentine Plains (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  20. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  21. "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  22. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  23. "Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  24. "Biloela Golf Club". Golf Australia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  25. "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  26. "Cemeteries". Banana Shire Council. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

Further reading