Childers, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Childers (Isis)Queensland |
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Childers Main Street
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 Childers (Isis)
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 1,584 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 82.50/km2 (213.7/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1885 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4660 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 109.0 m (358 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 19.2 km2 (7.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Bundaberg Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Burnett | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hinkler | ||||||||||||||
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Childers is a rural town and locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Childers had a population of 1,584 people.
History
Europeans first arrived in the area in the 1850s. Pastoralists established properties soon after to raise cattle on the fertile lands. Back then, sugar was (as it is now) the key crop grown in the Isis. The town was established in 1885. The Isis railway line to Childers opened in 1887 and was pivotal in the early development of the area. Childers Post Office opened on 14 November 1887. The town is reportedly named after Hugh Childers, British statesman, who was the Auditor-General of Victoria in the 1850s. The railway line closed in 1964.
Childers has seen a number of serious fires over the years. The 1902 fire destroyed much of the town centre. The town made international headlines in June 2000, when an arsonist set fire to the Palace Backpackers Hostel, claiming the lives of 15 tourists. The Palace Building reopened in 2002, and includes a memorial to those lost in the blaze, a Regional Art Gallery and an Information Centre.
Childers acts as a major economic centre in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region and is undergoing considerable growth.
Childers retains much of its historic significance, although many of the streets were redeveloped under a 'Streetscape' project that continues today.
Heritage listings
Childers has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Bruce Highway: Childers Post Office
- Churchill Street: Childers Court House
- Macrossan Street: Christ Church
- 6 North Street: Old Butcher's shop
- 18 Macrossan Street: Isis Masonic Lodge
- 45 Churchill Street: Isis District War Memorial and Shire Council Chambers
- 50 Churchill Street: Queensland National Bank
- 54-58 Churchill Street: Shops and Cafe
- 55 Churchill Street: Childers RSL Club
- 59 Churchill Street: Hotel Childers
- 60 Churchill Street: Chemist
- 61 Churchill Street: National Australia Bank
- 62 Churchill Street: Ellwood & Co Drapery
- 63 Churchill Street: Pizzey Memorial Clock
- 66-70 Churchill Street: Jeffery's Building
- 69 Churchill Street: Childers Ambulance Station
- 71 Churchill Street: Federal Hotel
- 72 Churchill Street: Palace Hotel
- 74-78 Churchill Street: Hardware Store
- 75 Churchill Street: Paragon Theatre
- 80 Churchill Street: Lloyd's Barber Shop
- 82 Churchill Street: Bakery
- 84-86 Churchill Street: Kerr's Building
- 88-90 Churchill Street: Childers Pharmaceutical Museum
- 92-94 Churchill Street: Dittmer's Store
- 102-108 Churchill Street: Coronation Building
- 106-110 Churchill Street: Grand Hotel, Childers
Services
The Isis Town and Country is the town's local newspaper, available once a week on Thursday. Childers is also served by a monthly community newspaper, the Childers Chit Chat, as well as its own radio station, 88.0FM Red Dirt Radio and commercial radio station Rebel 106.7.
Education in Childers consists of several primary schools, as well as the local high school, Isis District State High School. In addition, the town services the surrounding areas with its small hospital. Childers has its own courthouse. The town has several emergency service faculties including a police station, ambulance station and fire station housing Fire and Rescue Queensland Staff and Queensland Rural Fire Service volunteers. It also hosts a branch of the State Emergency Service and PCYC Emergency Services Cadets program
Childers has many general local services including a branch of Bundaberg Regional Libraries, an art gallery (Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery- BRAG) and Information Centre. Cultural entertainment facilitated through the Childers Cultural Centre- a town hall hired through the Bundaberg Regional Council.
Festivals
Childers holds a Multicultural Festival once a year on the final weekend in July. The town also hosts an agricultural show; which in the past was held in early August, but is now hosted in late May or early June.
As a celebration of its cultural heritage, Childers also hosts events in October to celebrate the Crush Festival- a region-wide event to mark the end of the sugar-cane crushing season.
Economy
Childers is renowned for its heritage character and is classified a National Trust town. The historic colonial buildings of the main street (Bruce Highway) are set amongst large, shady leopard trees. The sugar cane industry features prominently in Childers and has sustained the town over the years. Fruit and vegetable cropping is common on the lands around town. Tourism is a growing industry in Childers, with a number of the preserved historic buildings in town becoming tourist attractions.
Childers acts as a major economic centre in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region and is undergoing considerable growth.
Childers retains much of its historic significance, although many of the streets were redeveloped under a 'Streetscape' project that continues today.
The local tourism organisation "Stay in Childers" is a not for profit incorporated association made up of local businesses.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census, there were 1,584 people in Childers. 80.1% of people were born in Australia and 87.0% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 23.0%, Anglican 21.2% and Catholic 17.8%.
Education
Childers State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Mungomery Street (25°13′52″S 152°16′49″E / 25.2311°S 152.2803°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 308 students with 24 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
Isis District State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 3 Ridgway Street (25°13′59″S 152°16′26″E / 25.2331°S 152.2739°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 504 students with 48 teachers (46 full-time equivalent) and 33 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 40 Churchill Street (25°14′09″S 152°16′52″E / 25.2359°S 152.2811°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 75 students with 8 teachers (7 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).
