Gracemere, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gracemere Queensland
Big G, Gracemere's big thing, 2015
Gracemere Location in Queensland
Population	11,315 (2016 census)
• Density	161.41/km2 (418.0/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4702
Area	70.1 km2 (27.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Rockhampton Region
State electorate(s)	Rockhampton Mirani
Federal Division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Gracemere: Nine Mile Fairy Bower Fairy Bower Kabra Gracemere Port Curtis Kabra Bouldercombe Bouldercombe

Gracemere is a rural town and locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Gracemere had a population of 11,315 people.

History

The area was first explored by Europeans in 1853, when the Archer brothers arrived looking for pastures for their sheep. They settled by a small lake, originally called "Farris" or Padgole lagoon which was named Gracemere in 1855. The name Gracemere comes from "Grace", the name of one of the Archer brothers wife and "mere" which is a Scottish term for lake. They also located a suitable landing point for supplies on the nearby Fitzroy River, which later became Rockhampton.

Heritage listings

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

• 234 Gracemere Road: Gracemere Homestead

Construction and industry

Gracemere, as a commuter town, has a relatively low level of industry compared to Rockhampton. Grazing, particularly of beef cattle, has long been the significant industry of the area. The Gracemere Saleyards, located on the western side of the town, is the largest cattle sales facility in the Southern Hemisphere, and has recently undergone a multimillion-dollar upgrade. A new shopping centre, Gracemere Shoppingworld, located just off the Capricorn Highway has just opened with Woolworths and Best and Less operating as the anchor stores along with up to 20 speciality stores. Gracemere is rapidly expanding with around 10 new housing estates under construction.

Transport

Youngs bus

As a dormitory town, most Gracemerians either drive a private vehicle or catch a bus to the city. The bus service, Young's Bus Service, operates hourly between the town centre and South Gracemere. Traffic can peak at around 8:00 in the morning, with traffic being banked up for around 1-1.5 kilometers on weekdays. Infrastructure problems are now becoming a reality for the small town and surrounding Capricorn Highway towns. This has resulted in constant roadworks and upgrades of the highway road quality. This mass influx of vehicles has resulted in a proposal for a new western bypass for Rockhampton, to send vehicles right to the northern suburbs, avoiding inner city congestion and delay, as this is where many Gracemerians work.

Economy

Gracemere, as a commuter town, has a relatively low level of industry compared to Rockhampton.

Grazing, particularly of beef cattle, has long been the significant industry of the area. The Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (formerly the Gracemere Saleyards) is on the western side of the town. It is the largest cattle sales facility in the Southern Hemisphere and commenced a multimillion-dollar upgrade in 2019. It is at 16 Saleyards Road (23°26′34″S 150°26′17″E / 23.4427°S 150.4381°E / -23.4427; 150.4381 (Central Queensland Livestock Exchange)) on a 12.16-hectare (30.0-acre) site.

Gracemere is rapidly expanding with around 10 new housing estates under construction.

Education

There are three schools servicing Gracemere. They are all primary, one Catholic and two public.

Gracemere State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at O'Shanesy Street (23°26′06″S 150°27′14″E / 23.4351°S 150.4539°E / -23.4351; 150.4539 (Gracemere State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 302 students with 23 teachers (18 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Waraburra State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 55 Johnson Road (23°26′53″S 150°27′09″E / 23.4481°S 150.4526°E / -23.4481; 150.4526 (Waraburra State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 492 students with 34 teachers (33 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

St Paul's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Breakspear Street (23°26′59″S 150°27′53″E / 23.4496°S 150.4647°E / -23.4496; 150.4647 (St Paul's Catholic Primary School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 310 students with 19 teachers (18 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).

There are no secondary schools in Gracemere. The nearest government secondary schoolis Rockhampton State High School in Wandal, Rockhampton. Currently, all high school students travel by a free bus service into Rockhampton to continue their senior education.

Notable residents

• Anna Meares - OAM and twice gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games
• Kerrie Meares - Twice gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games for cycling. She is the older sister of Anna Meares

Images for kids

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  Sketch of Gracemere Homestead and the Gracemere Lagoon, circ 1869