Alton Downs, Queensland

Alton Downs is a rural locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Alton Downs had a population of 1,278 people.[1]

For the pastoral station in South Australia, see Alton Downs Station.

Alton Downs
Queensland
Alton Downs Hall, 2022
Alton Downs is located in Queensland
Alton Downs
Alton Downs
Coordinates23.3158°S 150.3644°E / -23.3158; 150.3644 (Alton Downs (centre of locality))
Population1,278 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density7.216/km2 (18.690/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4702
Area177.1 km2 (68.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)Rockhampton Region
State electorate(s)Mirani
Federal division(s)Flynn
Suburbs around Alton Downs:
South Yaamba Etna Creek Glendale
Ridgelands Alton Downs Glenlee
Dalma Nine Mile Pink Lily

History

The locality name was derived from a pastoral property. The name was assigned to a railway station named by the Queensland Railways Department on 18 Aug 1916.[2]

Alton Downs Provisional School opened on 10 February 1890. In 1908 it became Alton Downs State School. It closed on 26 March 1964.[3] It was at 1247 Ridgelands Road (23.3071°S 150.3869°E / -23.3071; 150.3869 (Alton Downs State School (former))).[4][5]

Dalma Road Provisional School opened on 25 February 1901. On 1 January 1909, it became Dalma Road State School. It closed in 1934.[6] It was at 32 Harding Road (north-west corner of Nicholson Road, 23.3454°S 150.3478°E / -23.3454; 150.3478 (Dalma Road State School (former))).[7][8]

The Alton Downs Community Hall officially opened on 2 January 1905.[9]

The foundation stone for an Anglican church was laid on Sunday 20 January 1907.[10][11] St James' Anglican Church opened in April 1907.[12] The church was 34 by 22 feet (10.4 by 6.7 m) and 13 feet (4.0 m) high inside with a front porch and vestry. It was built by R. Cousins & Co using tongue-and-groove dressed hardwood.[13]

Alton Downs War Memorial, 2020

The Alton Downs War Memorial was officially unveiled on 16 October 1920 by Mrs H.G. Wheeler to honour those from the district who served in World War I. The memorial is made of Ulam marble and is a 12-foot (3.7 m) broken column (signifying young life cut short). It cost £180 to erect and the stonemason was Frederick Moulton Allan of Rockhampton.[14][15][16]

A seven-hour siege occurred at Alton Downs on the night of 20 July 2000 after police responded to reports of a serious domestic dispute on a hobby farm where gunshots had been fired.[17] Just after midnight on 21 July 2000, former air force officer Royce William Cooper fired a shot at Queensland Police Service dog squad officer Norm Watt who was hit in the leg.[18] Watt subsequently bled to death from the bullet wound.[18] Cooper later surrendered to police.[17] A two-week trial was held at the Rockhampton Supreme Court in 2003 where Cooper pleaded not guilty.[19] At the conclusion of the trial, a jury deliberated for five hours before finding Cooper guilty of murder.[20] Justice Peter Dutney sentenced Cooper to life in prison.[20] Watt is regularly remembered on the anniversary of his death and at events commemorating Queensland police officers who have been killed in the line of duty.[21] In March 2020, a new police vessel was named in Watt's honour.[22]

In the 2016 census, Alton Downs had a population of 1,278 people.[1]

Access to a reliable water supply has been an ongoing concern for the Alton Downs community for many years.[23] A public meeting was held in January 2020 which was attended by local residents and local state MP for Mirani Stephen Andrew.[23] Residents voiced their concerns about never having been able have a main water pipeline established despite being in close proximity to the Fitzroy River.[24][25] The unreliable water supply is a concern for the local rural fire brigade and many property owners are reliant on dams and bore water.[26]

Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of May 2020, an Alton Downs grazier opened his large sunflower field to the public who were able to purchase sunflower heads in exchange for a donation to charity.[27][28] With the sunflowers in full bloom and with people having just been permitted to travel within a 50 kilometre radius on the Labour Day long weekend, the sunflower field proved to be popular with locals.[27][29] An estimated 10,000 people visiting the field to and more than $25,000 was raised for charity.[28] Police attended the sunflower field to ensure social distancing was being observed.[27] The local farmer had previously stated in 2013 that he had planted the crop because sunflowers were beautiful to look at but had been surprised at the amount of attention the flowers had garnered from passing motorists who often stopped to take photos.[30]

Amenities
Alton Downs Rural Fire Brigade, 2022

The Alton Downs Community Hall is at 1569 Ridgelands Road (23.3028°S 150.3560°E / -23.3028; 150.3560 (Alton Downs Community Hall)).[9] The Alton Downs War Memorial is in the grounds of the hall (23.3027°S 150.3563°E / -23.3027; 150.3563 (Alton Downs War Memorial)). It commemorates those who served and died in World War I and World War II.[14][15]

Alston Downs Cemetery is at 78 McKenzie Road (23.3000°N 150.3895°E / 23.3000; 150.3895 (Alton Downs Cemetery)).[31]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Alton Downs (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Alton Downs – locality in Rockhampton Region (entry 49355)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  4. "County of Livingstone sheet 1" (Map). Queensland Government. 1912. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  6. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  7. "County of Livingstone sheet 1" (Map). Queensland Government. 1923. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. "Alton Downs Hall". Rockhampton Regional Council. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  10. "THE CHURCHES". Morning Bulletin. No. 13, 175. Queensland, Australia. 19 January 1907. p. 7. Retrieved 20 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "ALTON DOWNS ANGLICAN CHURCH". Morning Bulletin. No. 13, 176. Queensland, Australia. 21 January 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 20 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "THE CHURCHES". Morning Bulletin. No. 13, 247. Queensland, Australia. 13 April 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 20 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "THE CHURCHES". Morning Bulletin. No. 13, 247. Queensland, Australia. 13 April 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 20 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Alton Downs War Memorial". Queensland War Memorials Register. 23 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  15. "Alton Downs War Memorial | Monument Australia". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  16. "ROLL OF HONOUR". Morning Bulletin. No. 17, 411. Queensland, Australia. 18 October 1920. p. 10. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. Plane, Melanie (21 July 2015). "Rockhampton Senior Constable still alive in hearts of peers". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  18. "Prosecutor sums up in murder trial". ABC News. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  19. "Friend gives evidence in murder trial". ABC News. 14 May 2003. Retrieved 30 June 2022. Former air force officer Royce William Cooper has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Senior Constable Norm Watt almost three years ago.
  20. "Man gets life for police officer's murder". ABC News. 23 May 2003. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  21. Stokes, Aden (21 July 2020). "Remembering a hero: 20 years since policeman murdered". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  22. Mesner, Kerri-Anne (11 March 2020). "QPS honours officer killed at Alton Downs". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  23. Nufer, Darryn (16 January 2020). "Alton Downs water shortage hits 'dire' levels". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  24. Nufer, Darryn (16 January 2020). "Calls for main water pipeline for Alton Downs". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  25. Nufer, Darryn (17 January 2020). "School pipeline rules out as a water lifeline". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  26. Nufer, Darryn (17 January 2020). "Water access an issue for Alton Downs rural fireys". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  27. McGhee, Rachel (5 May 2020). "Queensland farmer surprised by thousands of visitors to sunflower crop, raises $25,000 for cancer research". ABC News. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  28. Nufer, Darryn (5 May 2020). "Sunflowers lift a community's spirits". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  29. Plane, Melanie (1 May 2020). "REVEALED: 10 things to do within 50km of Rocky". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  30. Roberts, Alice (24 June 2013). "CQ sunflowers hot property". ABC Local. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  31. "Ridgelands" (Map). Queensland Government. 1946. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
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