Emu Park, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emu ParkQueensland |
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The Singing Ship monument
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 Emu Park
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 2,281 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 57.89/km2 (149.9/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1860s | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4710 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 39.4 km2 (15.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Livingstone | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Keppel | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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Emu Park is a cool coastal town in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the beautiful Capricorn Coast, about 21 kilometers south of Yeppoon. This town is looked after by the Shire of Livingstone local government. In 2021, about 2,281 people lived here.
Emu Park is famous for its unique Singing Ship monument. It also has amazing views of the Keppel Bay islands, including Great Keppel Island. Many people love to visit Emu Park for its great fishing, surfing, boating, and lovely, untouched beaches. It has even won awards for being a top tourist spot!
Contents
Exploring Emu Park's Geography
Emu Park is located in Central Queensland and is a key part of the Capricorn Coast. It has some cool natural features along its coast.
- Tanby Point: This is a point of land to the north.
- Fishermans Beach: A popular beach where people love to fish.
- Emu Point: Another point of land further south.
The northern part of Emu Park has lots of wetlands around Shoal Water Creek, which flows into Shoal Bay. The southern part also has wetlands. Closer to the coast, you'll find houses and shops. The middle and western areas are mostly open land used for grazing animals, with some rural homes.
There's even a small airstrip in Emu Park, located at the northern end of Henry Street.
A Glimpse into Emu Park's Past
How Emu Park Started
The area around Keppel Bay was first explored by Lieutenant James Cook in May 1770. He was on his ship, the HM Bark Endeavour. He named the bay after a naval officer, Admiral Augustus Keppel.
British people started settling here in the 1860s. John Jardine set up a cattle farm south of where the town is now, in a place called Zilzie. This name is actually an anagram of Lizzie, which was the name of John Jardine's oldest daughter!
The town of Emu Park officially began in the 1870s. Families from Rockhampton built holiday homes on the hills overlooking Fisherman's Beach and Pine Beach, which are still popular today.
The first post office, called Hewittville Post Office, opened in 1883. It was renamed Emu Park in 1890.
Emu Park State School opened its doors on 3 February 1890. Sadly, the school burned down in 1946, and all its old records were lost. A new school building was built later.
Shops and Services in Town
Soon after the town was settled, shops started appearing around Hill Street. There was a general store, a grocery store, a butcher, a bakery, and even a shop selling sweets and sewing supplies.
By the 1920s, Emu Park had two big hotels, a cinema, a court house, a public library, and many guest houses for visitors. A small pier was opened in 1926 by Ethel Bruce, the wife of the Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce. Bell Park, a nice shady park by Fisherman's Beach, was created in the 1930s.
Over the years, many families owned the local shops. For example, the general store was run by the Ryan, Mills, and Bundesen families. The grocery shop became Seagulls Cafe, then a fish and chip shop, before it was destroyed in a fire in 1961.
In 2011, Emu Park got its first big supermarket, a Super IGA (now a Drakes Supermarkets store). This was a big change for the town!
Today, Emu Park's town center still has many small businesses. You can find bakeries, cafes, a newsagency, the post office, a chemist, a butcher, a petrol station, and even a community bank.
The Railway's Role
From 1888 to 1964, Emu Park had a railway line connecting it to North Rockhampton. Another branch line to Yeppoon opened in 1910.
The railway officially started on 22 December 1888. It helped workers and students travel to Rockhampton every morning.
The Emu Park railway station was damaged by a cyclone in 1949. The railway line eventually closed on 30 June 1964.
The old railway goods shed, built in 1888, is still around! It was moved in 1992 and is now used by the Emu Park Lions Club as their clubhouse and for youth activities. The area where the railway station used to be is now the Emu Park bus stop and the Emu Park Community Arts Centre.
Churches in Emu Park
Emu Park has several churches with interesting histories:
- Christ Church (Anglican): The first church in Emu Park, built in 1893. It was moved to its current spot later because the original location was hard to reach when it rained. It's still used today.
- Mary Immaculate Catholic Church: The original Catholic church opened in 1904. It had a school room that later became St Agnes' Convent School. The original church was taken down in 1974 because it was unsafe. A new church was built in 1984 and is still active.
- Emu Park Uniting Church: This building was originally a billiard hall, opened in 1916! The Methodist Church bought it in 1919. After the Methodist Church joined the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, it became the Emu Park Uniting Church. Services are still held there.
Hotels Through the Years
Emu Park has had several hotels over its history:
- The Brighton / Blue Bell Hotel / Grand Hotel / Pine Beach Hotel: The first hotel opened in 1871. It changed names a few times and was rebuilt. The Grand Hotel burned down in 1908. A new building became the Pine Beach Hotel in 1926, which is still open today.
- Emu Park Hotel / Hotel Riviera: This hotel opened in 1874. It had a hall next to it where Emu Park State School first started! The hall was destroyed in a cyclone in 1949, and the hotel itself burned down later that year.
- Imperial Hotel: Built in the late 1880s, this hotel also burned down in 1925. A movie theater was built on its site, which later became a hardware store.
- Railway Hotel / Grand Central Hotel / Endeavour Inn: The Railway Hotel opened in 1890 but burned down in 1904. A new hotel, the Grand Central Hotel, was built there in 1913. After some changes, it became the Endeavour Inn in 1988, which is still operating.
The School of Arts and Library
The building now called the School of Arts was actually Emu Park's first post office, opened in 1883. It later became the School of Arts. Emu Park's first library opened here in 1902. A dance hall was built next to it in 1921 but was destroyed by fire in 1945. The current Emu Park Library opened in 1984.
Emu Park's Post Office
The Emu Park Post Office moved a few times over the years. For 65 years, the Edmistone family ran it from Pattison Street. It moved to the Emu Park Arcade, and then in 2018, it moved to its current spot in the old general store building on the corner of Hill Street and Pattison Street.
Community Arts Centre
The Emu Park Community Arts Centre officially opened on 9 December 2021. It was built where the old railway station used to be. This new center gives local artists a place to show their work and for the community to enjoy arts and culture.
Who Lives in Emu Park?
In 2021, the population of Emu Park was 2,281 people. Some of the descendants of the Woppaburra people, who are the traditional owners of the Greater and South Keppel islands, live in Emu Park and Yeppoon.
Important Places and Services
Emu Park has important facilities for everyone's safety and well-being:
- Police Station: For community safety.
- Ambulance Station: For medical emergencies.
- Fire Station: To help with fires and other emergencies.
- SES Facility: The SES helps during storms and other natural disasters.
There is also an Emu Park Cemetery and a Sewage Treatment Plant.
Community Amenities
Emu Park has many places for people to gather and enjoy:
- Emu Park Library: A great place to find books and learn.
- Emu Park Cultural Hall: Used for community events and activities.
- Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) Hall: Where the local women's group meets.
- Churches: Including the Uniting Church, Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, and Christ Church Anglican.
- Boat Ramp: At Emu Point, perfect for launching boats.
- Emu Park Men's Shed: A special place where men can work on projects, share skills, and connect with others. It opened in 2016.
Sports and Fun Activities
Emu Park has lots of sports for you to try! These include rugby league, rugby union, touch football, lawn bowls, croquet, swimming, surf lifesaving, fishing, and golf.
A big new multi-sports facility opened in 2018. It cost $5 million and provides great places for teams to play. The Emu Park Golf Course is also a popular community club.
Emu Park even has its own rugby league team that plays in the Rockhampton District Rugby League competition!
Exciting Events in Emu Park
Emu Park hosts several fun events every year:
- Festival of the Wind: A colorful kite festival.
- Classics By The Coast: A show featuring vintage cars.
- Emu Park Lions Club Oktoberfest: A popular festival that has been running for over 30 years!
You can also visit the town's popular market days, held on the third Sunday of each month in Bell Park.
In 2021, the Woodford Folk Festival even brought its "Festival of Small Halls" tour to the Emu Park Cultural Hall!
Must-See Attractions
Emu Park has some cool places to visit:
- The Singing Ship memorial
- The Centenary of ANZAC memorial
- Main Beach recreational area
- Lions Club heritage trail
The Amazing Singing Ship Memorial
The Singing Ship memorial is located on a headland overlooking the bay. It's a special monument that remembers James Cook's voyage on the HM Bark Endeavour in May 1770.
The memorial looks like the sail, mast, and ropes of a ship. The "singing" sound comes from the wind blowing through organ pipes inside the monument. It's a really unique experience!
Remembering History: Centenary of ANZAC Memorial
A special Centenary of ANZAC memorial is located along the beachfront. It's a very important place that honors the history of Central Queensland and is also a popular tourist attraction.
The memorial has several parts:
- ANZAC Court: Features a sandstone monument and sculptures.
- Glass Pane Artwork: Beautiful glass art.
- Sandstone Plinths: Stone pillars with information.
- The Gatehouse Museum: A building with 26 information panels telling stories of local men and women who served in World War I.
- Battle Markers: Showing important battle locations.
- Soldier Silhouettes: Metal cutouts of Australian soldiers.
- Boardwalk and Viewing Platform: Great spots to walk and look out over the area.
The idea for this memorial came from a local artist and Vietnam veteran, Ross Coulter, in 2011. Even though he passed away, his vision was brought to life by the community.
The first part of the memorial opened for Anzac Day in 2015. Since then, more parts have been added, like The Gatehouse in 2016 and more soldier figures and battle markers in 2017.
The Centenary of ANZAC Memorial is used for annual Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services. Thousands of people attend these events. It's also a great place for school groups to learn about history.
Main Beach Fun and Upgrades
In 2016, plans were made to improve the Emu Park foreshore at Main Beach. This big project included upgrading car parks, adding new barbecues, and making the streets look nicer. They also replaced the old QCWA rotunda and put in new play equipment.
In 2021, five colorful emu statues, designed by local artist Bill Gannon, were put up. They add a fun touch to the area!
Discovering the Heritage Trail
In 2019, a 2.5-kilometer heritage trail was created in Emu Park. It includes 20 different historical locations around the town. Steel emu sculptures mark these sites, and information boards with QR codes link to the trail's website. It's a great way to explore Emu Park's past!
