Imbil

Imbil is a rural town and locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Imbil had a population of 924 people.[1]

Imbil
Queensland
The historic Railway Hotel
Imbil is located in Queensland
Imbil
Imbil
Coordinates26.46°S 152.6775°E / -26.46; 152.6775 (Imbil (town centre))
Population924 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density4.693/km2 (12.154/sq mi)
Established1868
Postcode(s)4570
Area196.9 km2 (76.0 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Gympie Region
State electorate(s)Gympie
Federal division(s)Wide Bay
Localities around Imbil:
Upper Kandanga Kandanga Creek
Melawondi		 Kandanga
Bollier
Bella Creek Imbil Brooloo
Lake Borumba Kenilworth Kenilworth

Geography

Imbil is in the Wide Bay–Burnett district in the Mary River valley, 160 kilometres (99 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane.

History

The town takes its name from the Imbil pastoral run which was named 1857 by the pastoralists Clement Francis Lawless and Paul Lawless. Imbil is a Kabi word referring to the bamboo vine, and is also used to refer to a lagoon below the Imbil station house.[2][4]

The town was established in 1868 at the start of the gold rush in the area.[5]

In 1887, 21,760 acres (8,810 ha) of land were resumed from the Imbil pastoral run. The land was offered for selection for the establishment of small farms on 17 April 1887.[6]

The first Imbil post office opened on 9 July 1870 and closed in 1872. The second office opened in 1877 and closed in 1907. The third office opened by 1919.

Imbil Provisional School opened on 19 July 1897. Due to fluctuating student numbers, it closed and reopened a number of times before closing in 1911. In 1915 it reopened as Imbil State School. On 30 January 1962 a secondary school section was added. On 30 November 2002 it was renamed Mary Valley State College.[7]

The opening of the Mary Valley branch railway line (now the Mary Valley Rattler) in 1914 brought a second surge of development to the town.[5] Imbil was served by the Imbil railway station at William Street (26.4606°S 152.6761°E / -26.4606; 152.6761 (Imbil railway station (former))).[8]

An Imbil Railway Station Post Office opened in 1917 (a receiving office had been open from 1915) and closed in 1920.[9]

Imbil United Protestant Church was built at 3 Elizabeth Street (26.4607°S 152.6751°E / -26.4607; 152.6751 (Imbil United Protestant / Methodist Church (former))) by the Congregational Church with an official opening on Thursday 15 May 1919 by Reverend Stanley Morrison, the President of the Congregational Union.[10] In 1940 it was sold to the Methodist Church for £125, becoming Imbil Methodist Church.[11]

Christ Church Anglican was dedicated on Wednesday 28 May 1924 by Archbishop Gerald Sharp.[12][13] Its closure circa 2018 was approved by Bishop Jeremy Greaves. It is located at 88 Yabba Road (26.4602°S 152.6732°E / -26.4602; 152.6732 (Christ Church Anglican (former))).[14][15][16][17]

On Saturday 13 November 1926 William Lennon, the Queensland Lieutenant-Governor, officially opened the Imbil Memorial School of Arts, which was built by the Imbil sub-branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. to commemorate those who served and died in World War I.[18]

In 1955 St Columba's Presbyterian Church was opened on the corner of Myers Street and Yabba Road (approx 26.4599°S 152.6738°E / -26.4599; 152.6738 (St Columba's Presbyterian Church (former))). In 1976 in the lead-up to the amalgamation of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches into the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, the Presbyterian church building was relocated to be adjacent to the Methodist Church building in Elizabeth Street and is now the Imbil Uniting Church, while the former Methodist Church building is now used as the church hall.[19][20]

The Imbil Public Library building opened in 1987.[21]

Imbil War Memorial, 2008

The Imbil War Memorial is dedicated to those who served in World War II. It was dedicated on 11 November 1997 by the president of the Mary Valley Returned and Services League of Australia, Clive Colburn.[22]

At the 2011 census, Imbil had a population of 942.[23]

In the 2016 census, Imbil had a population of 924 people.[1]

Heritage listings

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

Education
Mary Valley State College, 2023

Mary Valley State College is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 15 Edward Street (26.4617°S 152.6792°E / -26.4617; 152.6792 (Mary Valley State College)).[35][36] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 155 students with 17 teachers (15 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).[37] It includes a special education program.[35]

For secondary schooling to Year 12, the nearest government secondary school is Gympie State High School in Gympie to the north.[38]

Amenities

The Gympie Regional Council operates a public library in Imbil at 123-125 Yabba Road (26.4592°S 152.6774°E / -26.4592; 152.6774 (Imbil public library)).[39]

The Imbil branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Imbil Public Hall in Edward Street.[40]

Imbil Uniting Church is at 3 Elizabeth Street (26.4609°S 152.6751°E / -26.4609; 152.6751 (Imbil Uniting Church)).[41][19] It is part of the Mary Burnett Presbytery of the Uniting Church in Australia.[42]

Imbil Bowls Club is on Yabba Road.[43]

The town is the home of the Mary Valley Stags Rugby League Club.

Events

Imbil is home to the annual Mary Valley Art Festival. The festival began in 2000. Viewing of entrants artwork is conducted at the Imbil public hall.[44]

The town is also home to the motor rally event, the International Rally of Queensland, a long running event on the Queensland and Australian Rally Championships. It was recently promoted to international standing as a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. Stages are held in surrounding forests and the show grounds are converted into the garage facilities for approximately 70 race cars over the course of the three-day event. It is now the longest running national level rally event in the country.

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Imbil (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Imbil – town in Gympie Region (entry 16635)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. "Imbil – locality in Gympie Region (entry 46340)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  4. "Etymological". Gympie Times And Mary River Mining Gazette. Vol. XLIV, no. 5761. Queensland, Australia. 2 December 1911. p. 7. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 165. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
  6. "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.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "Imbil Railway Station" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  9. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  10. "A NEW CHURCH BUILDING". The Telegraph. No. 14, 506. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1919. p. 11. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. Blake, Thom. "Imbil United Protestant Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  12. "Church News". The Telegraph. No. 16, 063. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1924. p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "IMBIL'S NEW CHURCH". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 701. Queensland, Australia. 29 May 1924. p. 11. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. "Closed Churches". Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  15. Google (3 July 2020). "Christ Church Anglican, 88 Yabba Road, Imbil (Street View)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  16. "Christ Church Anglican Church - Former". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  17. Blake, Thom. "Christ Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  18. "IMBIL MEMORIAL". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 468. Queensland, Australia. 15 November 1926. p. 19. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "Imbil Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  20. Blake, Thom. "St Columba's Presbyterian Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  21. "Queensland Public Library Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  22. "Imbil War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  23. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Imbil (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  24. "Imbil Railway Bridge (entry 602791)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  25. "Imbil State School" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  26. "Imbil Uniting Church" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  27. "Imbil Masonic Hall" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  28. "Imbil Police Station" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  29. "Imbil General Store" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  30. "Imbil Hotel" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  31. "Former Empire Theatre" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  32. "Libby's Country Kitchen" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  33. "Imbil Butcher Shop" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  34. "Imbil RSL Hall" (PDF). Local Heritage Register. Gympie Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  35. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  36. "Mary Valley State College". Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  37. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  38. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  39. "Imbil Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  40. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  41. "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  42. "Queensland congregations and faith communities" (PDF). Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. March 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  43. "Bowls Clubs". Gympie Regional Council. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  44. Nev McHarg (8 July 2011). "Valley art fest launch a gala affair". Gympie Times. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.

Further reading
  • Imbil School centenary, 1897-1997 : incorporating Bella Junction, Bollier, Borumba Dam & Brooloo Schools, The Centenary Committee, 1997, ISBN 978-0-646-33095-2
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