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Springsure

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Springsure is a rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Springsure had a population of 950 people.[1]

Springsure
Queensland
Entrance sign, Springsure, Queensland
Springsure is located in Queensland
Springsure
Springsure
Coordinates24°06′58″S 148°05′19″E / 24.1161°S 148.0886°E / -24.1161; 148.0886 (Springsure (town centre))
Population950 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density6.71/km2 (17.38/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4722
Elevation344.9 m (1,132 ft)
Area141.6 km2 (54.7 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Central Highlands Region
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal division(s)Flynn
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
28.8 °C
84 °F		 14.0 °C
57 °F		 677.4 mm
26.7 in
Localities around Springsure:
Minerva Minerva Arcturus
Minerva Springsure Orion
Cona Creek Cona Creek Cairdbeign

Geography

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Springsure is situated 68.3 kilometres (42.4 mi) by road south of Emerald, at the southern end of the Gregory Highway, and at the northern end of the Dawson Highway. Springsure is 764 kilometres (475 mi) northwest of Brisbane.

The terrain varies from 270 to 602 metres (886 to 1,975 ft) above sea level, with a number of named mountain features:

The Minerva Hills National Park is in the north-west of the locality (24°04′26″S 148°03′47″E / 24.07389°S 148.06306°E / -24.07389; 148.06306 (Minerva Hills National Park)).[7][8]

The town of Springsure serves the surrounding community of cattle farms, and sunflower, sorghum, wheat and chickpea plantations.[citation needed]

Springsure is the hub for several coal mines such as the Minerva Mine and the Rolleston Mine. Significant exploration is ongoing in the district.[citation needed]

Springsure was served by a branch railway from the Central Western railway line. The Springsure branch railway line separated from the main line at Springsure Junction station (now Nogoa station), near Emerald. The locality was served two railway stations:

Springsure Airport is south of the town on Airport Drive (24°07′45″S 148°05′14″E / 24.1291°S 148.0871°E / -24.1291; 148.0871 (Springsure Aerodrome)).[10] It is operated by the Central Highlands Regional Council but it is only suitable for light aircraft, has limited facilities, requires permission, and care needs to be taken in relation to wildlife and lifestock.[11]

Climate

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Climate data for Springsure (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1965–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 44.5
(112.1) 		43.7
(110.7) 		40.4
(104.7) 		36.5
(97.7) 		34.0
(93.2) 		30.5
(86.9) 		29.6
(85.3) 		34.6
(94.3) 		39.0
(102.2) 		41.1
(106.0) 		43.3
(109.9) 		43.8
(110.8) 		44.5
(112.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.9
(93.0) 		32.6
(90.7) 		31.8
(89.2) 		29.1
(84.4) 		25.4
(77.7) 		22.5
(72.5) 		22.5
(72.5) 		24.6
(76.3) 		28.0
(82.4) 		30.6
(87.1) 		32.4
(90.3) 		33.6
(92.5) 		28.9
(84.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7) 		26.7
(80.1) 		25.6
(78.1) 		22.4
(72.3) 		18.5
(65.3) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.0
(59.0) 		16.6
(61.9) 		20.2
(68.4) 		23.3
(73.9) 		25.4
(77.7) 		26.9
(80.4) 		22.0
(71.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21.4
(70.5) 		20.9
(69.6) 		19.4
(66.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		11.5
(52.7) 		8.5
(47.3) 		7.6
(45.7) 		8.7
(47.7) 		12.4
(54.3) 		16.0
(60.8) 		18.4
(65.1) 		20.2
(68.4) 		15.0
(59.0)
Record low °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9) 		14.0
(57.2) 		7.8
(46.0) 		2.4
(36.3) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		−4.0
(24.8) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		0.0
(32.0) 		1.6
(34.9) 		5.4
(41.7) 		9.6
(49.3) 		−4.4
(24.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 129.9
(5.11) 		102.3
(4.03) 		62.1
(2.44) 		32.9
(1.30) 		27.7
(1.09) 		33.1
(1.30) 		16.2
(0.64) 		18.9
(0.74) 		34.4
(1.35) 		61.7
(2.43) 		60.9
(2.40) 		98.3
(3.87) 		678.5
(26.71)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 7.1 6.7 4.4 2.8 2.4 2.9 1.8 2.2 2.7 4.6 5.8 6.7 50.0
Average dew point °C (°F) 17.3
(63.1) 		17.8
(64.0) 		15.9
(60.6) 		12.7
(54.9) 		9.4
(48.9) 		7.6
(45.7) 		6.0
(42.8) 		5.2
(41.4) 		7.3
(45.1) 		10.7
(51.3) 		13.2
(55.8) 		15.6
(60.1) 		11.6
(52.9)
Source 1: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[12]
Source 2: Bureau of Meteorology[13]

History

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The area had been occupied by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Gangalu (Gangulu, Kangulu, Kanolu, Kaangooloo, Khangulu) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gangula country. The Gangula language region includes the towns of Clermont and Springsure extending south towards the Dawson River.[14] Wadja (also known as Wadjigu, Wadya, Wadjainngo, Mandalgu, and Wadjigun) is an Australian Aboriginal language in Central Queensland. The language region includes the local government areas of the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda and Central Highlands Region, including the Blackdown Tablelands. the Comet River, and the Expedition Range, and the towns of Woorabinda, Springsure and Rolleston.[15]

Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European to explore the area, doing so between 1844 and 1845. His favourable reports encouraged settlers to move in and settle the land.[16]

In 1861, squatter Horatio Wills and a party of Victorian settlers arrived near modern-day Springsure in 1861. Two weeks later, 19 men women and children, including Wills, were killed by Aboriginal Australian people, the Kairi or Gayiri, in the Cullin-La-Ringo massacre, which was the largest massacre of European settlers by Aboriginal peoples in Australian history.[17] At least 15 Aboriginal men, women and children were killed by the Queensland Native Police and militias of local European colonists and their employees in a series of reprisals over the months that followed.[18] However, the massacre of the 19 European family members was itself a retaliatory response to an earlier shooting of fugitive murderer who was Gayiri tribesman by Jesse Gregson, manager of nearby Rainsworth Station, with Second Lieutenant Alfred March Patrick and Native Police Troops in his command.[19] Prior to the massacre of the 19 colonists, in early 1861 Second Lieutenant Patrick had complained to Charles Dutton, lessee of Bauhinia Downs pastoral lease 148 kilometres (92 mi) south-east of Springsure, that other officers in the Queensland Native Police "...had been able to bag their first Aborigine after only a few weeks in the Force; he had served for six months and still had not yet killed a black."[20] The Old Rainworth Fort was built in 1862 by the colonists of Springsure in order to defend themselves from future raids by Aboriginals. Horatio's son, star cricketer and Australian rules football pioneer Tom Wills, survived the massacre, and remained on site until 1864.[21]

The town takes its name from a pastoral run which was first named Springsure in 1861, after its permanent spring.[2][3]

The town was surveyed by Charles Frederick Gregory in August 1863.[2]

 
Presbyterian Church, Springsure, 2006

On Sunday 7 April 1867, the first Springsure Presbyterian Church was opened in Charles Street. It was 25 by 20 feet (7.6 by 6.1 m) with 12-foot (3.7 m) high walls.[22][23][24] In 1922, it was replaced by a new church building known as St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.[25] It closed in March 2011 after 145 years.[26] It was at 55 Charles Street (24°07′00″S 148°05′27″E / 24.11674°S 148.09076°E / -24.11674; 148.09076 (St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (former))).[27]

 
Springsure State School, circa 1929

Springsure State School opened on 14 March 1870 under head teacher John Henry Nicholson, son of an eminent scholar, John Nicholson, a friend of Ludwig Leichhardt.[28][29]

The Springsure branch railway line opened on 15 August 1887.[30][31] The section beyond Wurba Junction to Springsure railway station was closed on 26 June 2013.[32]

 
Unveiling the War Memorial fountain in Springsure State School, 6 December 1919

On 6 December 1919, the Springsure State School Memorial Fountain was dedicated by Mrs Annie Wheeler (née Laurie), a former pupil at the school. The memorial is a marble fountain and commemorates students of the school who served in World War I.[33][34]

 
Sisters of Mercy convent, Springsure, sketch by architect Roy Chipps, 1926
 
Sisters of Mercy school, Springsure, sketch by architect Roy Chipps, 1926

In March 1925, the Rev. Father Thomas Andrew Sweeney arrived in Springsure to replace Rev. Father Jules Bucas as the Catholic priest for the parish.[35] Sweeney saw that there was a need for a Catholic school in Springsure and set about building a school and a convent for its teachers in August 1925.[36] The architect was Roy Chipps and the builder E.H. Fletcher, both of Rockhampton. In January 1926 the school and the convent opened in a ceremony led by Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockhampton Joseph Shiel. The convent and school were under the control of Sister Mary Bonaventure of the Sisters of Mercy.[37] The school opened on 2 February 1926 with 64 children.[38][39] It was originally known as The Convent of the Little Flower,[40] but the name was later changed to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.[41]

On 16 November 1943, a Douglas C-47A Skytrain broke up in mid-air during a violent storm in the area, and crashed on Rewan Station, around 100 km south of Springsure.[42] All 19 people on board the aircraft perished in the crash.[42]

Minerva Hills National Park was gazetted in 1994.[7]

Demographics

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In the 2006 census, the locality of Springsure had a population of 829 people.[43]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Springsure had a population of 1,103 people.[44]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Springsure had a population of 950 people.[1]

Heritage listings

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Springsure Hospital Museum from north, 2009

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

Education

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Springsure State School, 2023

Springsure State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 55 Eclipse Street (24°06′57″S 148°05′19″E / 24.1157°S 148.0885°E / -24.1157; 148.0885 (Springsure State School)).[47][48] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 158 students with 21 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 14 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[49] The school motto is 'Success by Effort'.[50]

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Gap Street (24°07′01″S 148°05′33″E / 24.1170°S 148.0926°E / -24.1170; 148.0926 (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School)).[47][51] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 50 students with 7 teachers (6 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[49]

There is no secondary education for Years 11 and 12 in Springsure. The nearest school offering secondary education for these years is in Emerald, but it might be out of range for a daily commute in which case distance education and boarding school are alternatives.[39]

Facilities

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Bicentennial Library & Art Gallery, Springsure, 2017

The Central Highlands Regional Council operate a public library in Springsure at 27 Eclipse Street.[52]

The Springsure branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 27 Eclipse Street.[53]

 
Springsure ambulance station, 2017

Springsure has the following facilities:

Other facilities in Springsure include the airport, a caravan park, motocross track, service station and showground.

Attractions

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A cliff face in the mountains just to the north of the town is known as the Virgin Rock, so named because it looked like the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus. Subsequent erosion led to the rock resembling the baby Jesus falling away, but the original resemblance to the Virgin Mary remains.[8][57]

Notable residents

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  •  
    Staircase Range Cutting, near Springsure, Queensland - information sign
  •  
    Staircase Range Cutting, near Springsure, Queensland
  •  
    Staircase Range Cutting, near Springsure, Queensland - detail of hand tooling

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Springsure (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ a b c "Springsure – town in Central Highlands Region (entry 31998)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Springsure – locality in Central Highlands Region (entry 46976)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Mount Booramool – mountain in Central Highlands Region (entry 3791)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Mount Zamia – mountain in Central Highlands Region (entry 38830)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Minerva Hills National Park – national park in the Central Highlands Region (entry 39550)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b "About | Minerva Hills National Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b "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.
  10. ^ "Airports - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Aeroplane landing areas". Central Highlands Regional Council. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Springsure Climate Normals for 1991-2020" (CSV). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Climate statistics for Australian locations". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  14. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Gangalu". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  15. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Wadja". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Springsure - Culture and History". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  17. ^ "ROCKHAMPTON". The Courier. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 11 November 1861. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  18. ^ T. Bottoms (2013) Conspiracy of Silence: Queensland's frontier killing times, Allen & Unwin, pp.53-54
  19. ^ T Bottoms (2013) Conspiracy of Silence: Queensland's frontier killing times, Allen & Unwin, p.54
  20. ^ G. Reid, "From Hornet Bank to Cullin-La-Ringo", Royal Historical Society of Queensland, 18 May 1981, p.69
  21. ^ "Thomas Wentworth Wills and Cullin-la-ringo Station". Queensland Historical Atlas. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  22. ^ "TELEGRAPHIC". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXI, no. 2, 895. Queensland, Australia. 6 May 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Springsure Presbyterian Church | Springsure". Queensland Religious Places Database. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  24. ^ "SPRINGSURE". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. VI, no. 736. Queensland, Australia. 16 February 1867. p. 5. Retrieved 14 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY". The Telegraph. No. 15, 435. Queensland, Australia. 18 May 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ Carson, Julie-Ann (30 March 2011). "Church closes after 145 years". CQ News. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  27. ^ "St Andrew's Presbyterian Church | Springsure". Queensland Religious Places Database. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Our school". Springsure State School. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Our history: 1880s". Queensland Rail. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  31. ^ "QUEENSLAND NEWS". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXXIX, no. 6953. Queensland, Australia. 17 August 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 15 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ Salecich, Judith (18 August 2023). "Beta, Queensland: Keeping its unique story and memory alive". Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  33. ^ "SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL MARBLE FOUNTAIN". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 13 December 1919. p. 7. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  34. ^ "Springsure State School Memorial Fountain". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  35. ^ "PERSONAL". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 958. Queensland, Australia. 26 March 1925. p. 10. Retrieved 10 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "OPPORTUNITIES". Construction And Local Government Journal. Vol. XXXIII, no. 915. New South Wales, Australia. 19 August 1925. p. 18. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "SPRINGSURE CATHOLICITY". Morning Bulletin. No. 19171. Queensland, Australia. 26 January 1926. p. 11. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "NEW BUILDINGS AT SPRINGSURE". The Capricornian. Vol. LI, no. 7. Queensland, Australia. 13 February 1926. p. 8 (THE CAPRICORNIAN.). Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ a b Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  40. ^ "SPRINGSURE". The Catholic Press. No. 1571. New South Wales, Australia. 18 February 1926. p. 29. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "Our History". Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  42. ^ a b Dunn, Peter. "16 NOVEMBER 1943 CRASH OF A C-47A DAKOTA ON REWAN STATION SOUTH OF SPRINGSURE, QLD". www.AustraliaAtWar.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  43. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Springsure (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  44. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Springsure (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  45. ^ "Springsure Hospital Museum (entry 600025)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  46. ^ "Old Rainworth Stone Store (entry 600026)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  47. ^ a b "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  48. ^ "Springsure State School". Springsure State School. 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  49. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  50. ^ "Springsure State School". Education Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  51. ^ "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School". Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  52. ^ "Locations". Central Highlands Regional Council. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  53. ^ "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  54. ^ "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  55. ^ a b "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  56. ^ a b c d "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  57. ^ "Virgin Rock". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  58. ^ Greenland, Hall, "Eatock, Lucy Harriet (1874–1950)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 8 October 2023, retrieved 21 September 2023
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