Bakers Creek, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bakers CreekQueensland |
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 Bakers Creek
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 1,590 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 77.2/km2 (200/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4740 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 20.6 km2 (8.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Mackay Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mirani | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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Bakers Creek is a small town and coastal area in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Mackay Region. In 2021, about 1,590 people lived in Bakers Creek.
Contents
Exploring Bakers Creek's Location
Bakers Creek is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of the city of Mackay. Major roads like the Bruce Highway pass through the area. The North Coast railway line also runs through Bakers Creek.
Train Stations in Bakers Creek
The town has its own train station, Bakers Creek railway station. There's also another station called Dundula in the northern part of the area. Dundula station got its name on October 30, 1913. It was named by J. Strachan, a railway manager. Dundula is an Aboriginal word meaning eucalypt tree. The nearby neighborhood and school are also named Dundula.
Land and Water Features
The land in Bakers Creek is mostly flat and low. It's less than 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level. The area gets plenty of water from Bakers Creek itself. This creek flows into the Coral Sea. Near the mouth of the creek, you'll find the Bakers Creek Conservation Park.
Farming in the Area
Most of the land in Bakers Creek is used for growing sugarcane. There's a special network of small railways called cane tramways. These tramways help transport the harvested sugarcane to local sugar mills.
A Look Back: Bakers Creek History
Bakers Creek was named after the creek that runs through it. The creek was named after John I. Baker. He was a customs officer in Mackay back in 1863.
Dundula State School Opens
Dundula State School first opened its doors on August 28, 1922. On the very first day, 37 children were enrolled. By the end of that year, 45 students were attending. Courtney Hoffman was the school's first headmaster.
Post Office Services
The Bakers Creek Post Office started operating on July 1, 1927. Before that, a smaller "receiving office" had been open since 1909. The post office eventually closed in 1979.
Remembering a Past Event
In 1943, an American military aircraft had an accident in Bakers Creek. Sadly, 40 out of 41 people on board passed away. This event, known as the Bakers Creek air crash, was a very serious aviation disaster in Australia. A special memorial was built in 1981 to remember those who were lost. You can find this memorial at the Bakers Creek Community Hall.
Meat Processing Plant
In 1964, the Queensland Government built a meat processing plant here. Later, in 1978, it was sold to a company called Thomas Borthwick & Sons. They made the facility much bigger. In 1994, NH Foods bought the plant. However, it still operates under the name Thomas Borthwick & Sons.
Who Lives in Bakers Creek?
The population of Bakers Creek has grown over the years.
- In 2006, about 770 people lived in the town.
- By 2016, the number of people in the area grew to 1,161.
- In the most recent count in 2021, the population reached 1,590 people.
What People Do in Bakers Creek
The main business in Bakers Creek is a large meat processing plant. It's run by Thomas Borthwick & Sons (Aust) Pty Ltd. This company is part of NH Foods.
How the Meat Plant Works
The plant gets cattle from different parts of Queensland. These areas include the Central Highlands, Coalfields, and even up to the Atherton Tablelands. The meat produced here is sold in Australia. It's also sent to other countries like China, Japan, the Middle East, and the United States. The plant is also certified to produce halal meat, which means it follows specific rules for preparation.
Learning in Bakers Creek
Dundula State School is the local primary school in Bakers Creek. It's a government school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 1 Main Street.
School Details
In 2016, the school had 48 students and 4 teachers. By 2018, the number of students grew to 68. There were 5 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff helping out.
Secondary Education
There are no high schools directly in Bakers Creek. The closest government high school is Mackay State High School. It's located in South Mackay, which is to the north of Bakers Creek.
