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Middlemount
Queensland
Middlemount is located in Queensland
Middlemount
Middlemount
Location in Queensland
Population 1,841 (2016 census)
 • Density 3.6550/km2 (9.466/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4746
Area 503.7 km2 (194.5 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Isaac Region
State electorate(s) Burdekin
Federal Division(s) Capricornia
Localities around Middlemount:
Dysart May Downs May Downs
Dysart Middlemount Mackenzie River
Bundoora Mackenzie River Mackenzie River

Middlemount is a rural town and locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Middlemount had a population of 1,841 people.

It is nicknamed the "Giant Peanut" by some locals due to its peanut-shaped road layout.

Geography

Middlemount is located 242 kilometres (150 mi) inland (by road) from Mackay and Rockhampton. It is a mining town servicing three coal mines: Foxleigh, German Creek and world record holding underground coal mine Grasstree.

History

Middlemount, like many other mining towns in Queensland virtually sprung up overnight in the early 1980s. Middlemount Post Office opened on 2 June 1980.

Middlemount State School opened in 1980 with a secondary department addded in 1983. In 1988 the secondary department was separated from the primary school to create Middlemount State High School. However, on 1 January 2001, the schools were amalgamated to form Middlemount Community School.

Most of the housing is owned by Anglo Coal. The company operates and maintains some of the town's infrastructure. Most of the houses are almost identical, in this instance there are three types of houses; lowset L-shaped, lowset square and highset.

Mining

The German Creek coal mine (or Capcoal), operated by Anglo Coal, is notable as having the deepest longwall coal mine in Queensland, and also for operating Australia's only 'thin-seam' underground coal mine, using technology from the United States. It has five producing underground mines (Central, Southern, Bundoora, Grasstree and Aquila) and two open cut (open pit) mines (Oak Park and Lake Lindsay). Central and Southern mines are no longer operating, Southern has become Grasstree West and Central Closed in 2006. Aquila mine is currently in "Care & Maintenance" mode, pending changes to the coal market prices.

The Foxleigh coal mine is a joint venture between Anglo American, POSCO and Nippon Steel It is currently producing around three million tonnes of coal for the export market.

Local attractions

Middlemount has a small shopping complex which contains an IGA store, a butchery, an Australian Post Office, Subway, a jewellery and gift store, clothing store 'The Vault', a dentist, a medical centre, a chemist, an ANZ bank, a bakery, a library, 'Lemon Tree' takeaway store and cafe, a hairdressers, and a news agency. The 'Leisure Centre' located across the parking lot from the shopping centre contains 'Hot Rocks' pizza and takeaway store and cafe, a gym, and a hairdressers. Middlemount also has a local Bowls Club, pub with a Bottle-O drive-through, a local hall, a restaurant and hotel motel 'The Swag', a skatepark, a local pool, and a golf club.

Education

Middlemount Community School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at James Randell Drive (22°48′39″S 148°42′03″E / 22.8108°S 148.7008°E / -22.8108; 148.7008 (Middlemount Community School)). In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 373 students with 32 teachers (29 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 247 students with 27 teachers (25 full-time equivalent) and 29 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program. Secondary subjects not taught at the school can be accessed via distance education.

Notable residents

Some of Middlemount's notable former residents are Olympic cyclists Anna Meares and Kerrie Meares.

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