Sapphire Central, Queensland

Sapphire Central is a rural locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] The town of Sapphire is within the locality (23.46111°S 147.7208°E / -23.46111; 147.7208 (Sapphire (town centre))).[3] Sapphires are mined extensively in the area. At the 2021 census, the locality had a population of 1214 people.[4]

Sapphire Central
Queensland
Sapphire Central is located in Queensland
Sapphire Central
Sapphire Central
Coordinates23.4839°S 147.7369°E / -23.4839; 147.7369 (Sapphire Central (centre of locality))
Population1,214 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)4702
Area140.8 km2 (54.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Central Highlands Region
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal division(s)Flynn
Suburbs around Sapphire Central:
Rubyvale Rubyvale Fork Lagoons
Rubyvale Sapphire Central Anakie Siding
Anakie Siding Anakie Siding Anakie Siding

Sapphire was one of three towns within the locality of The Gemfields (the others being Anakie and Rubyvale) until 17 April 2020, when the Queensland Government decided to replace The Gemfields with three new localities (Sapphire Central, Anakie Siding and Rubyvale) based around each of the three towns respectively. The boundaries of the locality of Argyll were also modified to accommodate the introduction of the locality of Sapphire Central with an area of 140.8 square kilometres (54.4 sq mi).[5][6][7][8]

Geography

Mount Bullock is in the north-west of the locality and west of the town (23.4694°S 147.6944°E / -23.4694; 147.6944 (Mount Bullock)). It is 335 metres (1,099 ft) above sea level.[8][9]

In the south-west of the locality is The Three Sisters Range (midpoint 23.5124°S 147.6542°E / -23.5124; 147.6542 (The Three Sisters Range (midpoint))) which extends south into Anakie Siding. It contains a number of unnamed peaks rising to 370 metres (1,210 ft) above sea level.[10]

Apart from the west of the locality, most of Sapphire Central is relatively flat at 230 metres (750 ft) above sea level.[8]

History

Sapphire Provisional School opened in 1904. On 1 January 1909 it became Sapphire State School. It closed in 1939.[11]

At the 2006 census, the town of Sapphire had a population of 550.[12]

At the 2016 census, the town of Sapphire had a population of 572 people.[13]

At the 2021 census, the locality of Sapphire Central had a population of 1,214 people.[4]

Sapphire was one of three towns within the locality of The Gemfields (the others being Anakie and Rubyvale) until 17 April 2020, when the Queensland Government decided to replace The Gemfields with three new localities (Sapphire Central, Anakie Siding and Rubyvale) based around each of the three towns respectively. The boundaries of the locality of Argyll were also modified to accommodate the introduction of the locality of Sapphire Central with an area of 140.8 square kilometres (54.4 sq mi).[5][6][7][8]

Education

There are no schools in Sapphire Central. The nearest primary school is in Anakie. The nearest secondary school is Emerald State High School in Emerald.[8]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Sapphire Central (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. "Sapphire Central – bounded locality within the Central Highlands Region (entry 50497)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. "Sapphire – population centre in the Central Highlands Region (entry 29943)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Sapphire Central". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  5. "Recent place name decisions: Job number 18-115: The Gemfields". Queensland Government. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  6. "Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central" (PDF). Queensland Government. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  7. "Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  8. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. "Mount Bullock – mountain in the Central Highlands Region (entry 5133)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. "The Three Sisters Range – mountain range in the Central Highlands Region (entry 34162)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  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. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Sapphire (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Sapphire (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
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