Chillagoe, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ChillagoeQueensland |
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 Chillagoe
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 214 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.09702/km2 (0.2513/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4871 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 2,205.8 km2 (851.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Mareeba | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Cook | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Chillagoe is a small town and area in Queensland, Australia. It is located in the Shire of Mareeba. In 2021, about 214 people lived in the Chillagoe area.
This town was once a busy mining hub. Many different minerals were dug up here. Today, it has a small zinc mine and some marble quarries.
Near Chillagoe, you can find the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. This park has many limestone caves. There are between 600 and 1,000 caves in the Chillagoe-Mungana area. These caves, the amazing karst landscape (which means rocky areas shaped by water), and the history of mining are the main reasons tourists visit.
A famous geologist named Professor Ian Plimer has said that the Chillagoe region has the most varied geology (types of rocks and landforms) in the world.
Contents
Chillagoe's Past: A Mining Story
Chillagoe got its name in 1888 from William Atherton. The name comes from a line in an old sea shanty (a sailor's song). In 1873, James Venture Mulligan explored the area. He reported finding lots of copper.
Mining expert John Moffat sent people to look for minerals in 1888. He quickly gained control of the mining area. A small post office opened in 1891 but closed in 1893. A new post office opened in 1900.
The Chillagoe Railway and Mining Company built a railway line from Mareeba. It opened in 1901. The town area was officially declared on October 27, 1910.
Government Investigations and Changes
Chillagoe is sometimes remembered for a government investigation. This investigation looked into how the government bought the local smelter (a factory that melts down metal). In 1919, the Queensland Government took over the smelter. This happened after the smelter had faced many ups and downs.
Later, in the late 1920s, the smelter closed again. When a new government came to power in 1929, they ordered a Royal Commission. This was a special official inquiry into the smelter deal. The report from this inquiry affected the careers of two former Queensland leaders.
The Chillagoe Public Library first opened its doors in 2002.
Chillagoe has always been part of the Shire of Mareeba. However, for a few years (2008-2013), the Shire was combined into the Tablelands Region.
Who Lives in Chillagoe?
The number of people living in Chillagoe has changed over the years.
- In 2006, about 227 people lived in the town.
- By 2011, the population was around 192 people.
- In 2016, it grew to about 251 people.
- The latest count in 2021 showed a population of 214 people.
Learning in Chillagoe
Chillagoe State School is a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Cathedral Street. In 2018, there were 21 students at the school.
There are no high schools close to Chillagoe. Students who want to continue their education can use distance education (learning from home) or go to boarding schools.
A Look at Past Schools
Many schools were set up in the Chillagoe area in the past. They often opened and closed quickly. This was because mining families moved around a lot for work.
Some of these older schools included Muldiva Provisional School (1892-1893), Tate Tin Mines School (1894-1940), and Girofla School (1898-1943). Chillagoe State School, which is still open today, started in 1902.
Important Historical Sites
Chillagoe has several places listed for their historical importance. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:
Getting Around Chillagoe
Chillagoe has an airport located north of the town.
Chillagoe was once the end point of the Mareeba-to-Chillagoe railway line. This railway line is now closed. You can still see the abandoned stations from this old line.
Local Services and Places
Chillagoe has several important services for its community:
- Chillagoe Police Station
- Chillagoe Ambulance Station
- Chillagoe SES Facility (for emergencies)
- Chillagoe Hospital
- Chillagoe Primary Health Centre
- Chillagoe Cemetery (a burial ground)
- Mungana Reserve (another cemetery)
Community Hubs
The Mareeba Shire Council runs a public library in Chillagoe. It is located at The Hub, 21-23 Queen Street.
The Catholic Church is on Queen Street. It is named after St Nicholas of Tolentino and Blessed Mother Mary of the Cross.
The Chillagoe Town Hall is a public building used for community events.
The Chillagoe Hotel Motel offers meals and places to stay for visitors.
Things to See and Do
Woothakata is a property along the beautiful Chillagoe creek. Its name is an Aboriginal word. It describes how Aboriginal people traveled to Ngarrabullgan/Mount Mulligan, which was an important meeting place.
History fans enjoy visiting the heritage-listed Chillagoe smelters. The old cemetery and the many old mines also attract people interested in the past.
