Killarney, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Killarney Queensland
View of Killarney from the south
Killarney Location in Queensland
Population	954 (2016 census)
• Density	12.184/km2 (31.56/sq mi)
Established	1878
Postcode(s)	4373
Elevation	507 m (1,663 ft)
Area	78.3 km2 (30.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	33.6 km (21 mi) SE of Warwick 116.2 km (72 mi) SSE of Toowoomba 177 km (110 mi) SW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Southern Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.9 °C 75 °F 9.3 °C 49 °F 741.8 mm 29.2 in
Localities around Killarney: Tannymorel Mount Colliery Mount Colliery Loch Lomond Killarney The Falls Elbow Valley Legume (NSW) Acacia Creek (NSW)

View of Killarney from the west

View of Killarney hills behind Killarney Memorial Aged Care

View of the misty hills Killarney to the north-east of Killarney

Killarney is a rural town and locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It borders New South Wales. In the 2016 census, the locality of Killarney had a population of 954 people.

History

Originally part of Canning Downs, established by the Leslie brothers in 1840, the development of the town was largely based on primary production and forestry.

The South Killarney town site was first surveyed in 1878, but the town already boasted several shops and services by this time. Many early settlers to Queensland selected land in the Killarney area with the first of these arriving in 1863. During the 1880s Killarney was described as "one of the most flourishing towns in Southern Queensland".

A branch railway was built from Warwick in 1885. The line closed in 1964.

The first Killarney Post Office opened on 1 July 1877 (a receiving office had been open from 1875). Killarney North Post Office opened on 26 June 1889 (replacing Killarney North Railway Station receiving office open from 1887) and was renamed North Killarney in 1897. In 1905 the Killarney office was renamed Killarney South, and the North Killarney office became the second Killarney office, due to the town having moved to near the railway station.

The town was hit by a destructive tornado on Saturday 23 November 1968, which destroyed many of the original buildings. The main street buildings that survived the storm: the Butter Factory, the Co-op Building, MacKenzie’s Emporium (now a St Vincent de Paul boutique), former Commercial Bank (opposite the Post Office), the Post Office and the Killarney Hotel, hint at the town's former glory. The former National bank building did survive the storm but was relocated to a suburb of Brisbane in 1977. The old Bank Vault foundation stones remain on the vacant block in the buildings original location adjacent to the St Vincent de Paul boutique. November 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of this storm.

Buildings

The Killarney Co-operative is Killarney's main street under one roof. Partially operating in the original Milward's General Store, originally established in 1913 as the Killarney Dairy Company, the Co-operative was formed in 1922 and remains community owned. In 2008, the "Co-op" was a department store boasting in-store banking, gifts, shoes, electrical, hardware, garden, agricultural supplies, supermarket, delicatessen and coffee shop.

Several key buildings remain in Willow St. The Killarney Post Office was built in 1905. The CWA building, formerly the School of Arts, was built in 1888 on stilts over Gravel Creek and is testament to how crowded the main street had become at the towns height. The Killarney Hotel is located in Willow St and is the third hotel to sit on this site.

The Killarney Recreation Club has been a recent addition to the townscape on the southern side of town, built with funds raised by the local community. Two sandstone horseheads at the entrance to the Polocrosse Fields and the "God of Sport Statue" in front of the Club were created by locally based sculptor Paul Stumkat.

Attractions

Queen Mary Falls are a short distance from Killarney

The five waterfalls surrounding Killarney make this area a popular scenic destination, the Teviot Falls, Queen Mary Falls, Dagg's Falls, Brown's Falls and Upper Brown's Falls. During wet weather there are two additional falls, Black Fella Falls and Jack Brunton's Falls, which can be seen tumbling down the cliffs surrounding Killarney at the bottom of the Cambanoora Gorge.

Climate

Killarney has a cool subtropical climate, like most of inland south-east Queensland. Winters can be cold and frosty, while summers are warm but rarely hot.

Water supply

Water to the town is supplied from a small weir on Spring Creek. In April 2007, the Courier Mail newspaper reported that the town might have to be evacuated due to water shortages caused by years of extreme drought. In January 2008 the Condamine River broke its banks after a week of steady rain and buildings in the main street were flooded. Since that time Killarney has returned to the verdant green hills local long term residents find more familiar.

Economy

The local economy is underpinned by agriculture, abattoirs (which was closed in February 2011), transport and more recently tourism.

Education

Killarney P-10 State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at Acacia Street (28°20′29″S 152°17′52″E / 28.3413°S 152.2978°E / -28.3413; 152.2978 (Killarney P-10 State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 149 students with 15 teachers (14 full-time equivalent) and 14 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

There is no secondary school in Killarney offering Years 11 and 12; the nearest secondary school offering Years 11 and 12 schooling is in Warwick.

Notable people

• Jackie Howe, champion shearer, born in Killarney
• Otto Madsen, politician