Cardstone, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cardstone Queensland
Cardstone Location in Queensland
Population	0 (2021 census)
• Density	0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4854
Area	82.5 km2 (31.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	50 km (31 mi) SW of Innisfail
LGA(s)	Cassowary Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Hinchinbrook
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Cardstone: Koombooloomba Koombooloomba Walter Hill Kooroomool Cardstone Walter Hill Kooroomool Munro Plains Dingo Pocket

Cardstone is a quiet, rural area in the Cassowary Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. It's known as a "locality," which is like a small district or area. In 2021, very few or no people lived in Cardstone.

This area is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south-west of a town called Innisfail.

Exploring Cardstone's Location

Cardstone is a long, narrow area that follows the Tully River valley. The northern part of Cardstone is mostly covered in bushland. However, the southern part is used for farming.

A small village called Cardstone was once built here. It was located near the Tully River. This village was home to the workers and their families from the Kareeya Hydro Power Station. The village itself was quite small, less than one square kilometer in size. Most of Cardstone was surrounded by the beautiful rainforest of the Tully Gorge National Park. This park is part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, which is a special place listed as a World Heritage Site.

A Look Back at Cardstone's Past

Building the Power Station

The story of Cardstone began with the Kareeya Hydro Power Station. This power station was built on the Tully River. Construction started in 1952. The power station began working in 1957.

To house the people working at the power station, a small village was created. This village was named Cardstone. It was located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) downstream from the power plant. The name Cardstone comes from combining parts of the names of two local councils: the Cardwell Shire Council and the Johnstone Shire Council.

Village Life and Services

Cardstone village had its own services for the residents. A post office opened in Cardstone on January 11, 1955. It helped people send and receive mail.

A school also opened in the village. Cardstone State School welcomed its first students on February 18, 1957. Both the post office and the school served the community for many years.

Weather Events

In January 1986, a big storm called Cyclone Winifred hit the area. Cardstone experienced very heavy rainfall during this cyclone. About 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain was measured along the Tully River near Cardstone.

The Village Closes

Around 1990, a big change happened. The Kareeya Hydro Power Station became fully automated. This meant it could be controlled from far away, from a city called Townsville. Because of this, many of the workers in Cardstone were no longer needed.

Only a few maintenance workers would be needed to visit the station sometimes. So, the decision was made to close the Cardstone village. The remaining maintenance workers moved to Tully.

Since the area was part of a World Heritage Site, the village buildings were sold. There were 29 homes, a barracks for single men, a school, and a post office. All these buildings were moved to new locations. The entire village site, which was about 60 hectares (150 acres), was then bulldozed. New local plants and trees were planted. This was done to help the area return to its natural rainforest state. Even mature coconut palms and pine trees that had grown in the village were cut down. They were not native to the area.

There was an idea to keep the village and turn it into a place for tourists to stay. However, the local council decided it would not be worth the cost.

Who Lives in Cardstone Now?

In 2016, the census showed that 17 people lived in Cardstone. By the 2021 census, the population had become very low, with "no people or a very low population" recorded. This means Cardstone is now mostly an uninhabited area.