Torrens Creek

Torrens Creek is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Flinders, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census the locality of Torrens Creek had a population of 70 people.[1]

Torrens Creek
Queensland
The Exchange Hotel at Torrens Creek
Torrens Creek is located in Queensland
Torrens Creek
Torrens Creek
Coordinates20.7688°S 145.0191°E / -20.7688; 145.0191 (Torrens Creek (town centre))
Population70 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.0115/km2 (0.0298/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4816
Area6,079.9 km2 (2,347.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Flinders
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal division(s)Kennedy
Localities around Torrens Creek:
Porcupine Pentland Pentland
Prairie Torrens Creek Pentland
Prairie Aramac Aramac

Geography

The town is on the Flinders Highway, 1,503 kilometres (934 mi) north-west of the state capital, Brisbane and 293 kilometres (182 mi) west of the city of Townsville.

The Great Northern Railway enters the locality from the east (Pentland), passes through the town which is served by Torrens Creek railway station (20.7705°S 145.0195°E / -20.7705; 145.0195 (Torrens Creek railway station)), and exits to the west (Prairie).[4][5]

The creek of the same name arises in the Great Dividing Range, flowing southward to the Thomson River system to eventually run into Lake Eyre.[6]

White Mountains National Park is in the far north and north-east of the locality (20.5431°S 145.0511°E / -20.5431; 145.0511 (White Mountains National Park)).[7][8][9] Moorrinya National Park is on the western boundary of the locality (21.4203°S 144.9603°E / -21.4203; 144.9603 (Moorrinya National Park)).[7][10][11]

Apart from the protected areas, the predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation.[7]

History

The creek after which the town is named was named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens by the explorer William Landsborough, who discovered it in 1862 while searching for Burke and Wills. Torrens introduced Torrens title to the then colony of South Australia by means of the Real Property Act 1858; it soon spread to the other colonies and to other countries and is still in use today.[6] Circa 1885 it was known as Boorooman.[2]

Waterholes along and around Torrens Creek were important places for the Indigenous people living in the area. In particular to the south of Torrens Creek, the Fisheries waterhole (Aberfoyle waterhole) was so named because Aboriginal people throughout the area went there to fish for golden perch using wicker-nets and fish traps made of hedges. During the early years of colonisation, competition for ownership and access to this waterhole was fierce. In 1865, the managers of Tower Hill cattle station, Llewellyn Meredith and Robert McNeely were killed by Aboriginal people at the Fisheries. Retribution soon followed and "the blacks in their turn had their graves by the score". With the destruction of Aboriginal society, the Fisheries became overstocked with fish. In 1890, the manager of Aberfoyle station removed tonnes of giant golden perch and burnt them to keep the waterhole clear.[12][13][14][15][16]

The Great Northern Railway reached Torrens Creek in 1885, at which time it became the supply centre for a large district. Mailmen rode out far and wide to various stations, delivering mail along routes which are still used today. There is a cairn and plaque erected by Torrens Creek residents to honour the district's most famous mailman, Jack Blunt, who served from 1931 to 1954.[6]

Torrens Creek Provisional School opened on 19 February 1891 On 1 January 1909 it became Torrens Creek State School. It closed on 6 December 1991.[17] The school was 2 Bedford Street (20.7673°S 145.0198°E / -20.7673; 145.0198 (Torrens Creek State School (former))).[18][7]

In 1942 a large World War II ammunition dump, associated with the Battle of the Coral Sea,[6] exploded when a fire lit by American and Australian soldiers to create a firebreak got out of control. A series of 12 explosions resulted leaving craters 20 feet (6.1 m) deep, nearly destroying the town.[19]

At the 2006 census, Torrens Creek and the surrounding area had a population of 64.[20]

In the 2016 census the locality of Torrens Creek had a population of 70 people.[1]

Economy

There are a number of homesteads in the locality, including:[21]

Education

There are no schools in Torrens Creek. The nearest primary schools are Prairie State School in neighbouring Prairie to the west and Pentland State School in neighbouring Pentland to the east. The nearest secondary school is Hughenden State School (to Year 12) in Hughenden to the west. However, due to the large size of the locality, the distances to these schools may be too large for daily school attendance. Distance education and boarding school are other options.[7]

Amentities

The town has a hotel (pub) and a garage.[22]

Torrens Creek Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course at the northern end of Hill Street (20.7659°S 145.0198°E / -20.7659; 145.0198 (Torrens Creek Golf Club)). It is open to members and visitors.[23][24]

Attractions

Sawpit Gorge Lookout is within White Mountains National Park (20.6775°S 145.1837°E / -20.6775; 145.1837 (Sawpit Gorge Lookout)).[25][26]

Transport
Preceding station Queensland Rail Queensland Rail Following station
Long distance rail services
Pentland
towards Townsville
 The Inlander Hughenden
towards Mount Isa

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Torrens Creek (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Torrens Creek – town in Flinders Shire (entry 35030)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. "Torrens Creek – locality in Flinders Shire (entry 42490)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. "Torrens Creek – railway station in the Shire of Flinders (entry 35031)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  6. "Torrens Creek". Australian Explorer. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  7. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  8. "White Mountains National Park – national park in the Shire of Flinders (entry 39672)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. "White Mountains National Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. "Moorrinya National Park – national park in Shire of Flinders (entry 39554)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. "Moorrinya National Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  12. "Blacks and Yellowbellies". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 14 March 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Some Queensland Notes". Sydney Mail. Vol. XLVII, no. 1212. New South Wales, Australia. 19 June 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM ROCKHAMPTON TO PORT DENISON, VIA BOWEN DOWNS AND THE SALT LAKE". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XX, no. 2, 356. Queensland, Australia. 17 August 1865. p. 4. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "IN THE SEVENTIES". The North Queensland Register. Vol. XIV, no. 45. Queensland, Australia. 7 November 1904. p. 18 (SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Aboriginal Life". The Northern Miner. Queensland, Australia. 19 June 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  18. "Town of Torrens Creek" (Map). Queensland Government. 1975. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  19. "Torrens Creek". Outback Queensland. Tourism Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  20. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Torrens Creek (Flinders Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  21. "Homesteads - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  22. "Flinders Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  23. "Torrens Creek Golf Club". Visit Hughenden. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  24. "Torrens Creek Golf Club". Golf Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  25. "Tourist points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  26. "White Mountains National Park map" (PDF). Parks and forests. Queensland Government. November 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
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