Julia Creek, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Julia CreekQueensland |
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Sunrise over the plains, Julia Creek
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 Julia Creek
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 511 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.08260/km2 (0.2139/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4823 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 123 m (404 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 6,186.2 km2 (2,388.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Mckinlay | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Julia Creek is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Mckinlay, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Julia Creek had a population of 511 people.
The town of Oorindi is within the west of the locality (20°41′29″S 141°04′27″E / 20.6913°S 141.0741°E) beside the Oorindi railway station; as at 2019, there is nothing in the town. The town of Gilliart is within the west of the locality (20°41′12″S 141°30′04″E / 20.6866°S 141.5011°E) beside the Gilliart railway station; as at 2019, there is nothing in the town.
History
The town was named after the niece of Donald McIntyre, the first white settler in the area. McIntyre took up a property called Dalgonally about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of the present site of the town in 1864, only a few years after the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition passed through the area. The township began life as a temporary terminus in 1907 when the railway was extended from Richmond to service the copper mines at Cloncurry.
Julia Creek Post Office opened by September 1910 (a receiving office had been open from 1907).
A one-room school was established in 1911 with nine students, and was expanded in 1932 and again in 1934. A separate high school was constructed in 1963. A sixteen-bed hospital was established in 1972. The town did not receive electricity until 1952.
Facilities
Julia Creek has a public library, visitor and cultural centre, swimming pool, tennis courts, parks as well as a sports centre.
Transport
| Preceding station | Queensland Rail | Following station | ||
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| Long distance rail services | ||||
| Richmond
towards Townsville
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The Inlander | Cloncurry
towards Mount Isa
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Dirt n Dust Festival
The Dirt n Dust Festival, considered one of Queensland's major sporting events, is held in town annually since 1995.
Economy
The town's main industries are farming, (especially the beef and wool industries), and mining, which is mainly centred on the South32 mine at nearby Cannington. The town is a major centre for cattle sales and stock trucking, with a large saleyard and associated facilities. Prior to the expansion of the railway to the larger towns of Cloncurry and Mount Isa, the town was also a major transport hub for freight and passengers.
Julia Creek is also home to the Julia Creek dunnart which is now endangered because of feral animals (wild cats, dogs & foxes).
Education
Julia Creek State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Burke Street (20°39′24″S 141°44′47″E / 20.6568°S 141.7463°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 34 students with 3 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).
There are no secondary schools in Julia Creek. The nearest secondary schools are in Richmond (only to Year 10) and Cloncurry (to Year 12).
