Cherbourg, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cherbourg Queensland
George of Saxby Downs with his wife at Barambah Aboriginal Settlement, 1909
Cherbourg Location in Queensland
Population	1,194 (2021 census)
• Density	37.55/km2 (97.3/sq mi)
Established	1900
Postcode(s)	4605
Elevation	310 m (1,017 ft)
Area	31.8 km2 (12.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	6.2 km (4 mi) S of Murgon 68.8 km (43 mi) NNE of Kingaroy 96.7 km (60 mi) W of Gympie 251 km (156 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Aboriginal Shire of Cherbourg
State electorate(s)	Nanango
Federal Division(s)	Wide Bay
Localities around Cherbourg: Ficks Crossing Murgon Murgon Wondai Cherbourg Murgon Wondai Charlestown Moffatdale

Cherbourg is a small town in Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality, which is like a local area.

Cherbourg is part of the Aboriginal Shire of Cherbourg. It used to be called Barambah or Barambah Aboriginal Settlement.

In 2021, about 1,194 people lived in Cherbourg. Most of these people, about 96.4%, are Indigenous Australians.

Where is Cherbourg?

Cherbourg is located off the Bunya Highway. It is about 250 kilometres (155 miles) north-west of Brisbane.

The town is also only about 6 kilometres (4 miles) from Murgon. Cherbourg is built near Barambah Creek. This creek is close to the Bjelke-Petersen Dam.

A Look at Cherbourg's History

How Cherbourg Started

In 1900, a group called the Salvation Army helped set up the Barambah Aboriginal Reserve. This reserve was officially created in 1901. It covered a large area of land.

At first, a few local Aboriginal people lived there. Soon, many others were sent to the reserve. They came from different parts of Queensland.

Many people were moved from their homes to live at Barambah. Sometimes, they were sent there if they were seen as not following rules. People from 109 different areas were brought together. They were not allowed to speak their own languages.

Changes Over Time

The Queensland Government took over the reserve in 1905. They appointed a manager, called a Superintendent. On December 8, 1931, the settlement's name was changed to Cherbourg.

Between 1905 and 1939, many Indigenous people were moved to Cherbourg. This happened from all over the state.

The settlement had different buildings. There was a school, a training farm, and a place for girls to learn home skills. It also had a hospital and dormitories where women and children lived. There were also churches.

People living at Cherbourg were often asked to work in different jobs. They were not allowed to leave the reserve without permission. For a long time, until a special vote in 1967, Aboriginal people in places like Cherbourg were not officially counted in Australia's population numbers.

Loss of Culture

When many different groups of people were brought together, it caused problems. They were forced to learn English. This led to a great loss of their traditional languages and cultures.

Many of these languages are now considered to be lost. Only notes and recordings remain. These are kept at the University of Queensland.

Cherbourg Post Office opened in 1965. It closed in 1986.

Who Lives in Cherbourg?

In 2006, Cherbourg had 1,128 people. By 2016, the population grew to 1,269 people. Almost all of them, 98.7%, were Indigenous Australians.

The latest count in 2021 showed 1,194 people living in Cherbourg. Of these, 1,151 people, or 96.4%, identified as Indigenous Australians.

Learning and Education

Cherbourg State School

Cherbourg State School is a primary school for kids from early childhood to Year 6. It is located on Fisher Street.

In 2018, the school had 130 students. There were 17 teachers and 40 other staff members. The school also has a special program for students who need extra help.

Nurunderi Campus (TAFE)

Cherbourg is also home to the Nurunderi campus of TAFE Queensland South West. Nurunderi means taught by Great Spirit.

This campus offers general courses. It also has special courses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Everyone is welcome to study here.

There is no high school in Cherbourg. The closest high school is Murgon State High School. It is in the nearby town of Murgon.

Local Services

The square in front of the town hall

The Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council runs the Winifred Fisher Knowledge Centre. This centre is in the Old Youth Respite Centre on Barambah Road.

Other important services in Cherbourg include:

• Cherbourg Police Station
• Cherbourg Fire Station
• Cherbourg SES Facility (for emergencies)
• Cherbourg Hospital & Community Health Centre, which has a heliport
• Winifred Fisher Indigenous Knowledge Centre

Famous People from Cherbourg

Many talented people have come from Cherbourg. Here are a few:

• Caroline Archer – an activist for Aboriginal culture and rights.
• Maroochy Barambah – a well-known opera singer.
• Adrian Blair – an Olympic boxer.
• Harold Blair – a famous singer (tenor) and activist.
• Selwyn Cobbo – an NRL rugby league player.
• Marlene Cummins – a musician and activist.
• Frank Fisher – a Rugby League player.
• Lionel Fogarty – a poet and political activist.
• Eddie Gilbert – a cricket player.
• Ruth Hegarty – an author.
• Albert Henry – a cricketer.
• Jerry Jerome – a boxer.
• Chris Sandow – an NRL rugby league player.
• Chris Sarra – an Indigenous educator.
• Willie Tonga – a rugby league player who played for Australia and Queensland.
• Daniel Alfred Yock – a dancer.

See also

In Spanish: Cherbourg (Australia) para niños