Walkerston, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walkerston Queensland
Walkerston State Butcher's Shop, 2009
Walkerston Location in Queensland
Population	3,403 (2016 census)
• Density	244.8/km2 (634/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4751
Area	13.9 km2 (5.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	956 km (594 mi) NW of Brisbane 14 km (9 mi) W of Mackay
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal Division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Walkerston: Balnagowan Dumbleton Dumbleton Pleystowe Walkerston Alexandra Greenmount Palmyra Palmyra

Walkerston is a town and locality in Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. The town is situated on the Peak Downs Highway 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south-west of Mackay. In the 2016 census, Walkerston had a population of 3,403 people.

Geography

The town is situated on the Peak Downs Highway 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south-west of Mackay. Walkerston straddles Bakers Creek for about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi).

Palms is a neighbourhood within Walkerston, located to the east of the town (21°10′00″S 149°04′59″E / 21.16667°S 149.08306°E / -21.16667; 149.08306 (Palms, Queensland)).

History

This town was commonly known as Scrubby Creek from as early as 1866, and sometimes as Baker’s Creek; later these two names were interchangeable with Walkerston and, to a lesser degree, Alsatia. Scrubby Creek was definitely not a nickname for Walkerston; there were no inverted commas included when the words were printed in newspapers or almanacs. The name was well deserved, for the wild bush scrub grew luxuriantly on the banks of Baker’s Creek.

In May 1860, Scots-born John Mackay was only 21 years old when he left Armidale, New South Wales in January 1860 with men, horses and provisions in search of land for cattle runs in north Queensland. They travelled up the east coast, taking a mainly inland route until they came to the junction of Cattle Creek and the Pioneer River, in an area about 15 miles west of present-day Walkerston. They then followed the river, firstly named by Mackay’s companions as the Mackay River but now known as the Pioneer.

The Pioneer Valley railway reached Walkerston from Paget on 10 August 1885. Whilst there was a station building, there was no passenger platform, passengers accessing the trains from the ground.

At the 2006 census, Walkerston had a population of 2,563.

Amenities

The town has two primary schools, a post office, three bars (including a sports club), and a supermarket.

Heritage listings

Walkerston State Butcher's Shop, 2009

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

• Greenmount Road: Greenmount Homestead
• 13 Dutton Street: Walkerston State Butcher's Shop

Education

Walkerston State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Dutton Street (21°09′32″S 149°03′54″E / 21.1589°S 149.0649°E / -21.1589; 149.0649 (Walkerston State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 349 students with 25 teachers (21 full-time equivalent) and 18 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).

St John's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 23 Creek Street (21°09′40″S 149°03′59″E / 21.1612°S 149.0663°E / -21.1612; 149.0663 (St John's Catholic Primary School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 236 students with 20 teachers (15 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).