Middlemount, Queensland

Middlemount is a rural town and locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census the locality of Middlemount had a population of 1,841 people.[1]

For other uses, see Middlemount (disambiguation).

Middlemount
Queensland
Middlemount is located in Queensland
Middlemount
Middlemount
Coordinates22.8111°S 148.7005°E / -22.8111; 148.7005 (Middlemount (town centre))
Population1,841 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density3.6550/km2 (9.466/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4746
Area503.7 km2 (194.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Isaac Region
State electorate(s)Burdekin
Federal division(s)Capricornia
Localities around Middlemount:
Dysart May Downs May Downs
Dysart Middlemount Mackenzie River
Bundoora Mackenzie River Mackenzie River

It is nicknamed the "Giant Peanut" by some locals due to its peanut-shaped road layout.[4]

Geography

Middlemount is located 242 kilometres (150 mi) inland (by road) from Mackay and Rockhampton in Central Queensland. The township is an accommodation hub to both permanent residents and transient workers. Middlemount is surrounded by the following coal mines: Foxleigh, Lake Lindsay, Middlemount Mine, Aquila Mine, German Creek and world record holding underground coal mine Grasstree.

History

Middlemount, like many other mining towns in Queensland virtually sprung up overnight in the early 1980s. Middlemount Post Office opened on 2 June 1980.[5]

Middlemount State School opened in 1980 with a secondary department added in 1983. In 1988 the secondary department was separated from the primary school to create Middlemount State High School. However, on 1 January 2001, the schools were amalgamated to form Middlemount Community School.[6]

The Middlemount Library opened in 1984.[7]

Most of the housing is owned by Anglo Coal.[8] The company operates and maintains some of the town's infrastructure. Most of the houses are almost identical, in this instance there are three types of houses; lowset L-shaped, lowset square and highset.

Approximately 40,000 workes have been employed at Middlemount's coal mining over its 39 year history. This town has contributed to the economic development of Queensland and Australia more generally..

At the 2011 census, Middlemount had a population of 1,914.[9]

In the 2016 census the locality of Middlemount had a population of 1,841 people.[1]

Mining

The German Creek coal mine (or Capcoal), operated by Anglo Coal, is notable as having the deepest longwall coal mine in Queensland, and also for operating Australia's only 'thin-seam' underground coal mine, using technology from the United States. It has five producing underground mines (Central, Southern, Bundoora, Grasstree and Aquila) and two open cut (open pit) mines (Oak Park and Lake Lindsay, both in neighbouring Mackenzie River). Central and Southern mines are no longer operating, Southern has become Grasstree West in 2006 and Central Closed in 2004. Aquila mine is currently in "Care & Maintenance" mode, pending changes to the coal market prices.

The Foxleigh coal mine (also in Mackenzie River) used to be a joint venture between Anglo American, POSCO and Nippon Steel It is currently producing around three million tonnes of coal for the export market. Anglo American announced that it had completed the sale of its 70% interest in the Foxleigh metallurgical coal mine in Queensland, Australia to a consortium led by Taurus Fund Management, following the announcement of the sale and purchase agreement on 4 April 2016.[10]

Amenities

Middlemount has a small shopping complex which contains an IGA store, a butchery, an Australia Post Office, a jewellery and gift store, clothing store 'The Vault', a medical centre, a chemist, a bakery, the 'Lemon Tree' takeaway store and cafe, a hairdressers, and a news agency. The 'Leisure Centre' located across the parking lot from the shopping centre contains 'Hot Rocks' pizza and takeaway store and cafe, a gym, and a hairdressers. Middlemount also has a pub with a Bottle-O drive-through, a local hall, an Oaks Hotel, a restaurant and hotel motel 'The Swag', a skatepark, a local pool, and a country club.

Isaac Regional Council operate a public library in Middlemount in the shopping centre.[11]

Education

Middlemount Community School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at James Randell Drive (22.8108°S 148.7008°E / -22.8108; 148.7008 (Middlemount Community School)).[12][13] In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 373 students with 32 teachers (29 full-time equivalent).[14] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 247 students with 27 teachers (25 full-time equivalent) and 29 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent).[15] It includes a special education program.[12] Secondary subjects not taught at the school can be accessed via distance education.[14]

Notable residents

Some of Middlemount's notable former residents are Olympic cyclists Anna Meares and Kerrie Meares.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Middlemount (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Middlemount – town in Isaac Region (entry 22000)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. "Middlemount – locality in Isaac Region (entry 49386)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. "Isaac ... the region of first choice" (PDF). Isaac Regional Council. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 4 March 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. "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  8. Andrew Fraser & Matt Chambers (19 June 2010). "The towns mining built stand by their makers". The Australian. News Corp. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Middlemount (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  10. "Anglo American completes sale of the Foxleigh mine". australia.angloamerican.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  11. "Find your local library". Isaac Regional Council. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  12. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  13. "Middlemount Community School". Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  14. "2015 School Annual Report" (PDF). Middlemount Community School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  15. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  • "Middlemount". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
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