Blackwater, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlackwaterQueensland |
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Sign at the entrance to Blackwater, 2018
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 Blackwater
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 4,702 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 7.1590/km2 (18.542/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4717 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 656.8 km2 (253.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Blackwater is a town in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, Australia. It is known for its important coal mining industry. In 2021, about 4,702 people lived here.
The town's name comes from the dark color of the local waterholes. This dark color is believed to be caused by the coal deposits in the area.
Contents
Geography of Blackwater
Blackwater is surrounded by several large open-cut coal mines. These mines offer many jobs for the people living in the town. The town is also near the Blackdown Tableland National Park. This park is a beautiful natural area to explore.
Bonnie Doon is a small area within Blackwater. It is named after a pastoral station that started in 1893. Rangal is another area in Blackwater. Its name comes from an Aboriginal word for a type of Callistemon (ti tree).
History of Blackwater
Blackwater was first established on Gangulu land. The town is named after Blackwater Creek. People noticed the creek water was black, likely due to the coal nearby.
Early Discoveries and Settlement
In 1845, explorer Ludwig Leichhardt found coal deposits here. He was on an expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington. Leichhardt noted the coal looked just like coal found in Newcastle.
The Blackwater Post Office opened in 1877. Blackwater Provisional School also opened in 1877. It closed for a short time but reopened in 1883. In 1909, it became Blackwater State School.
Mining Boom and Growth
Major coal mining began in Blackwater over a century after Leichhardt's discovery. In the 1960s, several new coal mines opened. This caused Blackwater's population to grow very quickly. Many people moved there to find work in the busy mining industry.
Blackwater State High School opened its doors in 1973. By the late 1970s, the town had three Rugby League clubs. Blackwater North State School opened in 1979. Over 100,000 workers have been part of Blackwater's coal mining history. The town has greatly helped Queensland's and Australia's economy.
1980 Government Visit
In 1980, Blackwater gained national attention. This happened when John Howard, who was the Federal Treasurer, visited. He came to talk with union leaders about a coal miners' strike. The miners were protesting a plan to tax their housing. Mining companies often helped pay for their homes.
The politicians met with union officials, but they could not agree. As they left, the miners showed their strong disagreement. The strike ended in September 1980. The government and the unions finally reached an agreement.
2008 Bedford Weir Incident
On November 23, 2008, a part of the Bedford Weir suddenly broke. This weir is on the Mackenzie River near Blackwater. A large amount of water rushed downstream into a popular swimming area. Sadly, a four-year-old girl, Nelani Koefer, drowned. Her body was found the next day.
Investigations showed that the weir's operator, SunWater Limited, and the company that made the broken part were responsible. They were both fined. A later investigation in 2016 found a manufacturing fault in the weir's wall. The coroner advised that these walls should not be used again. Nelani Koefer's mother later filed a claim against the companies.
2020 COVID-19 Concerns
In 2020, Blackwater faced concerns about COVID-19. This happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Twice, people thought there were positive COVID-19 cases in the town. Both times, these turned out to be false positives.
In the first case, a worker at a coal mine tested positive. But later, a second test showed he was negative. The first test was a false positive.
In the second case, a mine worker named Nathan Turner died at home. It was first reported that he had COVID-19. This news caused a lot of national interest. A special team went to Blackwater to help. Many residents got tested. However, the government later announced that the coroner found Turner did not have COVID-19. The first test was a false positive.
This news made some people in Blackwater upset. Many people signed a petition asking for apologies. The Premier and Deputy Premier of Queensland apologized to Turner's family.
Population Changes
In 1961, only 77 people lived in Blackwater. By 1971, the population grew to almost 2,000. In the mid-to-late 1970s, Blackwater had over 10,000 residents.
By 1991, the population was 6,760. Since then, the number of people living in Blackwater has slowly decreased. In 2021, the population was 4,702 people.
Education in Blackwater
Blackwater has several schools for students.
Blackwater State School
This is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Wey Street. In 2017, it had 183 students.
Blackwater North State School
This is another government primary school. It teaches students from Early Childhood to Year 6. It is on William Street and also has a special education program. In 2017, 397 students attended this school.
Blackwater State High School
This is a government secondary school for students in Years 7 to 12. It is located on Elm Street. This school also offers a special education program. In 2017, 316 students were enrolled here.
Community Facilities
Blackwater has many places for the community to use.
Blackwater Library
The Central Highlands Regional Council runs a library in Blackwater. It is located at the Community Centre on Wey Street.
Frank Tutungi Memorial Lions Park
This park is a special place in Blackwater. It is named after Frank Tutungi, who was an important member of the Blackwater Lions Club. The park displays the flags of 37 different countries. These flags represent the many nationalities of people who have lived and worked in Blackwater.
Queensland Country Women's Association
The Blackwater branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at their hall on Ardurad Road.
Blackwater Uniting Church
The Blackwater Uniting Church is located on Coolibah Street. It is part of the Central Queensland Presbytery.
Famous People from Blackwater
Several well-known people were born or grew up in Blackwater.
- Anna Meares: An Olympic track cyclist, Anna Meares was born in Blackwater in 1983. A street in Blackwater was named after her in 2012.
- Josh Thomas: This Australian television personality and comedian was born in Blackwater in 1987.
- PJ Marsh and David Taylor: These Australian rugby league players both grew up in Blackwater. They have played for different teams in the National Rugby League.
- Wayne Denning: He founded an award-winning creative agency called Carbon Creative. Wayne Denning was also born in Blackwater.
