Millaroo, Queensland

Millaroo is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the 2016 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 96 people.[1]

Millaroo
Queensland
Burdekin River at Millaroo
Millaroo is located in Queensland
Millaroo
Millaroo
Coordinates20.0569°S 147.28°E / -20.0569; 147.28 (Millaroo (town centre))
Population96 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1.664/km2 (4.309/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4807
Elevation50 m (164 ft)[2]
Area57.7 km2 (22.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)Burdekin
Federal division(s)Kennedy
Localities around Millaroo:
Mulgrave Kirknie Kirknie
Swans Lagoon Millaroo Bogie
Swans Lagoon Dalbeg Bogie

Geography

The locality is bounded to the west by the Burdekin River.[5] The place is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-east of Townsville, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) inland from the Coral Sea.

It is a sugarcane growing area with underground water supplies to irrigate crops.[5]

History
Millaroo Experiment Station buildings under construction, November 1955

The name Millaroo comes from Millaroo Creek, which in turn was recorded by surveyor Robert Abbott in 1895, but the original of that name are unknown. There was a pastoral property of that name.[3][6]

Following World War II, a number of soldier settlement blocks were established in the area for the purpose of growing tobacco, but it was not successful.[7]

In 1952, there was a plan to establish a new irrigation area along the Burdekin River based around a new town. The town to be called Millaroo was to be established as a "modern" "first class" planned town with reserves, parks, and industrial zones suitable for a population of 6,000 (a similar population to that of Ayr at that time). The buildings were to be constructed with brick and concrete to reduce the fire risk.[6][8][9]

In 1952, the Millaroo Research Station was established by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock to undertake agricultural research to benefit North Queensland.[7]

The Burdekin Gorge Weir (20.4726°S 147.2905°E / -20.4726; 147.2905 (Burdekin Gorge Weir)) on the Burdekin River (between Ravenswood and Mount Wyatt) was completed in November 1953 to provide water for irrigation.[10] This led to the land at Millaroo switching to growing sugarcane.[7]

Millaroo State School opened on 19 July 1954.[11][12]

Millaroo Post Office opened on 1 July 1955 and closed in 1972.[13]

At the 2011 census, Millaroo had a population of 200.[14]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 96 people.[1]

Education
Millaroo State School

Millaroo State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Cunningham Street (20.0581°S 147.2806°E / -20.0581; 147.2806 (Millaroo State School)).[15][16] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 9 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[17]

There is no secondary school in Millaroo. The nearest secondary school is Home Hill State High School in Home Hill to the north-east, but, given the distance, families may prefer to use distance education or boarding schools.[5]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Millaroo (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. "Map of Millaroo". Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  3. "Millaroo – town in Shire of Burdekin (entry 22074)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. "Millaroo – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 44668)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  6. "AYR SHIRE DECISIONS". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXII. Queensland, Australia. 18 January 1952. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Millaroo Research Station Archive". James Cook University. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  8. "TOP-LEVEL TEAM WILL INSPECT BURDEKIN WORKS". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXII. Queensland, Australia. 23 August 1952. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "First-class Area For Millaroo?". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXIII. Queensland, Australia. 30 January 1953. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "BURDEKIN GORGE WEIR COMPLETED". Queensland Times. No. 24, 850. Queensland, Australia. 4 November 1953. p. 6 (Daily). Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  12. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  13. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  14. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Millaroo (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  15. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  16. "Millaroo State School". Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  17. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
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