Kilkivan, Queensland

Coordinates: 26°05′06″S 152°14′31″E / 26.085°S 152.2419°E / -26.085; 152.2419 (Kilkivan (town centre))
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Kilkivan
Queensland
Kilkivan Hotel-Motel
Kilkivan is located in Queensland
Kilkivan
Kilkivan
Coordinates26°05′06″S 152°14′31″E / 26.085°S 152.2419°E / -26.085; 152.2419 (Kilkivan (town centre))
Population713 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density4.513/km2 (11.688/sq mi)
Established1840s
Postcode(s)4600
Area158.0 km2 (61.0 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)Gympie Region
State electorate(s)Nanango
Federal division(s)Wide Bay
Localities around Kilkivan:
Tansey Mudlo Woolooga
Cinnabar Kilkivan Oakview
Black Snake Oakview Oakview

Kilkivan /ˈkɪlkiːvæn/ is a town and locality in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia.[2][3] At the 2016 census, Kilkivan had a population of 713.[1]

Geography[edit]

The town is situated on the Wide Bay Highway, 229 kilometres (142 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane[4] and 50.4 kilometres (31.3 mi) west of Gympie.[5] One Mile Creek (26°04′55″S 152°14′41″E / 26.08202°S 152.24482°E / -26.08202; 152.24482) meanders through the town, east of the Wide Bay Highway. The town lies in the Mary River drainage basin.[6]

Rossmore is a neighbourhood within the locality to the south-west of the town of Kilkivan (26°07′01″S 152°16′59″E / 26.117°S 152.283°E / -26.117; 152.283 (Rossmore, Queensland)).[7]

History[edit]

Architectural drawing of the Court House, Police Quarters and Lockup, Kilkivan, 1884

Kilkivan was first inhabited by the Wakka Wakka tribe of the Australian Aboriginal peoples. The town was first settled by Europeans in the 1840s. Queensland’s first gold discovery was at Kilkivan in 1852 and subsequent findings escalated into a gold rush in the 1860s. The town was named for a pastoral run owned by pastoralist John Daniel MacTaggart (1823–1871) after his father's farm name near Drumlemble, Kintyre, Scotland.[2][8] The nearby Australian 'Glenbarr' property owned by MacTaggart was also named for a nearby Scottish farm.[9]

Kilkivan Post Office opened on 8 June 1868. It was known as Neureum between 1876 and 1881.[10][11]

Kilkivan State School opened in March 1876.[12][13]

In 1883, a court house, police quarters and lock-up was built at a total cost of £748 10s. It was a wooden building with an iron roof and consisted of the court house, two bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, verandahs, and two cells.[14]

The Nanango railway line opened in December 1886 as far as Kilkivan. The locality was also served by Mouingba and Bular railway stations on the same line. Anticipation of the line opening brought an increase in the desire to build near the station, which was located on a goldfield.[15] The line was officially closed in early 2010.[16]

In 1887, two parcels of land were resumed from the Kilkivan pastoral run: one of 6,900 acres (2,800 ha) (described as "Murray's debatable land") and the other 32,000 acres (13,000 ha). The land was offered for selection for the establishment of small farms on 17 April 1887.[17]

St Matthew's Anglican Church was dedicated in 1888 by Reverend E. C. Osbourne of Gympie.[18] Its closure circa 2013 was approved by Bishop Rob Nolan.[19]

Fairfield State School opened circa 1915. In 1916 it was renamed Rossmore State School. It was closed circa 1943.[20]

The Kilkivan Library opened in 1967.[21]

Kilkivan War Memorial, 2010

The Kilkivan War Memorial commemorates those of the district who served in the wars. It was dedicated on 28 March 1996.[22]

At the 2016 census, Kilkivan had a population of 713.[1]

Heritage listings[edit]

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

Economy[edit]

Major industries today include tourism, beef, dairying and forestry.[citation needed]

Education[edit]

Kilkivan State School is a primary and secondary (P-10) school for boys and girls operated by the Queensland Government at 6 Council Street. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 97 students with 14 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (7 full-time equivalent).[24]

Amenities[edit]

The Gympie Regional Council operates a public library at 31 Bligh Street, Kilkivan.[25]

The Kilkivan branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA hall at 6 Park Street.[26] The building was built as the council chambers of the Division of Kilkivan (later the Shire of Kilkivan) at 26 Bligh Street in 1890, but was purchased and relocated to its present site in 1958.[27] The QCWA branch in Kilkivan was established in 1926.[28][29][30]

Kilkivan Bowls Club is in Crescent Street.[31]

Attractions[edit]

The Kilkivan and District Museum and information centre in the main street features extensive displays which pay tribute to the region's early pioneers.[32]

The country town features parks and restored historical buildings. Kilkivan has antique stores, a historical walk, and a cafe and B&B housed in the town's original bank.[citation needed]

Kilkivan is one of the few towns on the Bicentennial National Trail. A stone plaque commemorates the opening of the trail in 1988.

The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride is held annually in April. Over 1,000 horses and riders start from five points around Kilkivan and travel 20–30 kilometres (12–19 mi) along parts of the National Trail to Kilkivan for the Grand Parade down the main street.[33]

Mudlo Gap is a popular forest park 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) north of Kilkivan.[citation needed]

Mount Clara smelter and chimney

The Mount Clara chimney of Mount Clara Copper Smelter, thought to be the oldest surviving mining industry chimney in Queensland, and also among the first to have been built, is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) by road outside town, and is now conserved as a tourist attraction.[34]

The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail follows the old railway line between the two towns. It is 88 kilometres (55 mi) long and passes through Goomeri, Murgon, Wondai, Tingoora, Wooroolin, Memerambi, and Crawford. The trail from Kilkivan to Murgon is unsealed. The first creek crossing is of Coppermine Creek about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south west of Kilkivan.[35] A low level bridge was opened across Wide Bay Creek in October 2021.[36] Short distances between towns means coffee is never far away.[37][38][39]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kilkivan (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b "Kilkivan – town (entry 18114)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Kilkivan – locality (entry 46348)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. ^ Google (3 November 2022). "Kilkivan to Brisbane" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  5. ^ Google (3 November 2022). "Kilkivan to Gympie" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Mary drainage basin — facts and maps". Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Rossmore – unbounded locality in the Gympie Region (entry 29124)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Land settlement in Queensland.—IV". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LX, no. 14, 397. Queensland, Australia. 5 March 1904. p. 15. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Woolbroker's Death". The Telegraph. No. 15, 965. Queensland, Australia. 30 January 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  11. ^ "The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXV, no. 4, 285. Queensland, Australia. 14 February 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Kilkivan SS". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Kilkivan Police Station". Queensland Police Museum. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  15. ^ "KILKIVAN". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 4, 001. Queensland, Australia. 20 May 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail Brochure v4. "Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail". Gympie Regional Council. Retrieved 29 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
  18. ^ "General News". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXVI, no. 721. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1889. p. 170. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Closed Anglican Churches". Anglican Church South Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  20. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  21. ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Kilkivan War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  23. ^ "Mount Clara Smelter (entry 600640)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  24. ^ "2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Kilkivan State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Kilkivan Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  26. ^ "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  27. ^ "Kilkivan - CWA hall". Bonzle. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  28. ^ "KILKIVAN". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 17, 451. Queensland, Australia. 17 March 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 27 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "COUNTRY WOMEN". Daily Mail. No. 7526. Queensland, Australia. 13 April 1926. p. 12. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "KILKIVAN". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 494. Queensland, Australia. 15 December 1926. p. 24. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Bowls Clubs". Gympie Regional Council. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Kilkivan Shire Museum". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  33. ^ "Kilkivan Great Horse Ride". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Travel - Kilkivian". The Age. Fairfax. 8 February 2004. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  35. ^ D’Arcy, Bill; Winter, George (2020). Willmott, Warwick (ed.). "Education Pamphlets. Rocks and Landscape Notes: Geology along Recreational Rail Trails". Geological Society of Australia Qld Division. Kilkivan Rail Trail. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  36. ^ "New bridge at water crossing on Kilkivan to Kingaroy – Rail Trails Australia". 16 October 2021. RTA news. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Rail Trails in the South Burnett". South Burnett Regional Council. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  38. ^ Council, Gympie Regional. "Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail". Gympie Regional Council. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  39. ^ "South Burnett Rail Trail". South Burnett Regional Council. Retrieved 1 November 2022.

External links[edit]

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