Gregory, Queensland

Gregory (formerly Gregory Downs) is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, the locality of Gregory had a population of 72 people.[1]

"Gregory Downs" redirects here. For the English footballer, see Greg Downs. For the American historian, see Greg Downs (writer).

Gregory
Queensland
Wills Developmental Road in Gregory, 2013
Gregory is located in Queensland
Gregory
Gregory
Coordinates18.6522°S 139.2547°E / -18.6522; 139.2547 (Gregory (town centre))
Population72 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.00683/km2 (0.01770/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4830
Area10,538.4 km2 (4,068.9 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Burke
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal division(s)Kennedy
Localities around Gregory:
Nicholson Burketown Carpentaria
Lawn Hill Gregory Stokes
Lawn Hill Gunpowder Gidya

Geography

The town is situated on the banks of the perennial Gregory River. The Gregory River was named by explorer William Landsborough on 19 November 1861, after explorer Augustus Charles Gregory, the first Surveyor General of Queensland.[4]

Gregory Downs is a pastoral station which breeds cattle on 266,425 hectares (658,350 acres) of native grazing land. It carries approximately 30,000 Brahman cattle, a breed suitable for the Gulf Country. It has an 85-kilometre (53 mi) frontage to the Gregory River.[5] It was one of the first pastoral stations established in the Gulf Country.[6]

History

Gregory Post Office opened on 2 May 1878 and closed in 1894.[7]

The Gregory Downs pastoral station was established in 1876 by the Watson brothers (Harry F. Watson, Sidney Grandison Watson and Robert McGregor Watson) who travelled overland with approximately 900 cattle. They liked the clear running water in the Gregory River and settled at a crossing point of the river with their cattle on the western bank and their homestead on the eastern bank. In the late 1800s they built the Gregory Downs Hotel and Store near the homestead (18.6497°N 139.2533°E / 18.6497; 139.2533 (Gregory Downs Hotel)), but eventually decided that they found the travellers too much of a nuisance and so they relocated their homestead onto the western bank of the river (18.6417°S 139.2517°E / -18.6417; 139.2517 (Gregory Downs homestead)).[8] There was a coach service from the hotel to Burketown. The hotel also served as a post for the mounted police.[6]

The town had a population of 40 people in 2008.[9]

In 2013, the town was renamed from Gregory Downs to Gregory.[10]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Gregory had a population of 72 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in Gregory. The nearest government primary school is Burketown State School in neighbouring Burketown to the north; however, Gregory is so large that the school would only be accessible to those living in the northern parts of Gregory. There are no secondary schools in Gregory, nor nearby. Other options for schooling are distance education and boarding schools.[11]

Amenities

The Gregory branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at various locations in the district.[12]

Attractions

Willis Lookout is a tourist attraction (18.9833°S 139.2500°E / -18.9833; 139.2500 (Willis Lookout)).[13][14]

Brodies Lookout is a tourist attraction (18.9167°S 139.5667°E / -18.9167; 139.5667 (Brodies Lookout)).[13]

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gregory (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Gregory – town in Shire of Burke (entry 48265)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. "Gregory – locality in Shire of Burke (entry 42541)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  4. "Gregory River – river in the Burke Shire (entry 14847)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  5. "Gregory Downs". Paraway Pastoral Co. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  6. "Gregory Downs". Queensland Holidays. Tourism Queensland. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  7. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  8. "Gregory Hotel, Burke Shire". Burke Shire Council. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  9. Reg Burton. "Gregory Downs: powerless". North Queensland Register. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  10. "Gregory (entry 48265)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  11. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  12. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  13. "Tourist points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  14. "Welcome to The Gulf Savannah" (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government. 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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