Calliope, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CalliopeQueensland |
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War memorial at Calliope, 2017
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 Calliope
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 5,263 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 28.775/km2 (74.53/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1871 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4680 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 182.9 km2 (70.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Gladstone Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) |
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| Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Calliope is a town in the Gladstone Region of Queensland, Australia. It is a rural area. In 2021, about 5,263 people lived in Calliope.
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Where is Calliope?
Calliope is in Central Queensland. It is about 20 kilometres (12 miles) southwest of the port city of Gladstone. The town is located near where the Bruce Highway and the Dawson Highway meet. These are important roads in the area. The Gladstone–Monto Road also runs through Calliope.
Calliope's Past
The town of Calliope gets its name from the Calliope River. The river was named in 1854 by Governor Charles Augustus FitzRoy. He named it after a ship called HMS Calliope.
For many years, people in Calliope have worked in different industries.
- In 1862, gold was found here. The next year, it became Queensland's first official goldfield.
- Other important jobs included raising cattle (beef), cutting timber, and more recently, heavy industry. This includes making aluminium, mining coal, and producing LNG.
- Shipping and tourism are also important.
The Calliope Post Office opened a long time ago, on 1 March 1864. Calliope State School, which is a primary school, opened on 2 September 1872.
Fun Things to Do in Calliope
Calliope has some great places to visit and activities to enjoy.
Calliope River Historical Village
The Calliope River Historical Village is a special place. It sits right by the Calliope River. Here, you can learn about the history of the area.
Lake Awoonga
Lake Awoonga is a large lake created by a dam on the Boyne River. This lake provides water for Gladstone and other nearby towns. It also supplies water to the big industries in the Gladstone area. The lake can hold a huge amount of water, about 777,000 megalitres!
Lake Awoonga is home to many native animals.
- You might spot the yellow-bellied glider or the grey-headed flying fox. These animals are considered vulnerable.
- If you love watching birds, Lake Awoonga is amazing! More than 225 different types of birds live here. That's over 27% of all bird species in Australia!
- The southern squatter pigeon is another special bird found here.
The Gladstone Area Water Board runs a fish hatchery at Lake Awoonga. They breed fish like barramundi and mangrove jack. These fish are then released into the lake.
- Fishermen often catch very large barramundi here. Some have weighed over 36 kilograms (80 pounds)!
- Lake Awoonga has the most mangrove jack in Australia, with over 13,000 released.
- Since 1996, more than 2.5 million barramundi and 340,000 mullet have been put into the lake.
Sports and Recreation
Calliope has many places for sports and fun.
- There's an 18-hole golf course with a club.
- You can also find a bowls club.
- The town has two pubs and holds an annual rodeo every year.
- Other facilities include a swimming pool, a racecourse, sports fields, Hazelbrook Park, and a skateboard ramp.
In recent years, Calliope has grown a lot. It now has a child care centre, a supermarket, and doctors' offices. Many new homes have been built because it's close to Gladstone Port and its industries.
Community Services
Calliope used to be the main office for the Calliope Shire council until 2008. Now, it's part of the Gladstone Regional Council. The council still has offices in Calliope.
Library and Council
The Calliope Library is on Don Cameron Drive. It is run by the Gladstone Regional Council. There is also a council administration centre at 5 Don Cameron Drive.
Local Groups
The Calliope branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (CWA) meets at the CWA Hall on Bloomfield Street. This group helps women and communities in rural areas.
Schools in Calliope
Calliope has schools for both primary and high school students.
Calliope State School
Calliope State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Stirrat Street (24°00′17″S 151°12′10″E / 24.0048°S 151.2029°E). In 2017, about 613 students attended the school. It also has a special education program.
Calliope State High School
For many years, local families wanted a high school in Calliope. Calliope State High School finally opened on 28 January 2020. The first students were 165 students in Years 7 and 8.
The school has many modern facilities, including:
- Ten general learning spaces.
- Twelve special learning spaces.
- A technology centre.
- A science centre.
- A hospitality centre.
- A multi-purpose hall and an oval for sports.
- An administration building, a resource centre, and a canteen.
