Freshwater, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Freshwater Cairns, Queensland
View across the Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line towards Freshwater, 2018
Freshwater Location in Queensland
Population	2,142 (2021 census)
• Density	1,260/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4870
Area	1.7 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.3 km (6 mi) NW of Cairns CBD 353 km (219 mi) NNW of Townsville 1,685 km (1,047 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Cairns Region
State electorate(s)	Barron River
Federal Division(s)	Leichhardt
Suburbs around Freshwater: Barron Barron Stratford Kamerunga Freshwater Stratford Redlynch Brinsmead Brinsmead

Freshwater is a suburb located in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 2,142 people lived here.

It used to be a separate town. However, it later became part of the larger Cairns Region.

The Story of Freshwater

Kiplings Mill in Freshwater, around 1890

Freshwater is on the traditional lands of the Yidiny people. They are the original owners and custodians of this area.

European settlers arrived along the Barron River in late 1876. They created tracks like the Douglas Track and Smith's Track. These tracks connected the new port of Cairns to the Hodgkinson goldfields.

In the late 1870s, Chinese market gardeners moved to the area. They leased small plots of land. They successfully grew crops like rice, bananas, and pineapples.

Building the Railway

To move large amounts of ore from the mines, a railway line was built. This line went from Cairns to Herberton. It is now known as the Tablelands railway line.

The first 13 kilometers of this railway crossed Freshwater Creek. This railway development encouraged land developers. They created a new area called Richmond Park Estate.

Land in Richmond Park Estate was sold from 1886. Advertisements mentioned a future "Richmond Park railway station." They also said it would be a ten-minute train ride to Cairns.

When the railway opened in late 1887, there were several stops. These included Stratford, Lily Bank, and Richmond. Richmond Siding was renamed Freshwater Siding in January 1890. It later became Freshwater railway station.

In 1891, a rice mill was built on Lower Freshwater Creek. Joseph Kipling successfully ran this mill. Chinese farmers grew rice in the nearby fields.

Early Schools and Churches

Freshwater Provisional School opened on August 20, 1896. It became Freshwater State School in 1909. The school closed for a short time in 1918 due to low student numbers. It then reopened in September 1923.

The Freshwater Post Office started operating by April 1925. Before that, there was a receiving office named Stratford since 1897.

Mason Memorial Methodist Church opened on April 8, 1939. It was named after Mrs. Mason, who left money to help build the church. This building is at 25 Vallely Street and is now a private home.

On November 20, 1938, Bishop John Heavey opened the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Who Lives in Freshwater?

The population of Freshwater has changed over the years.

• In 2006, about 1,976 people lived here.
• In 2011, the population grew to 2,104 people.
• In 2016, there were 2,023 residents.
• In 2021, the population was 2,142 people.

Learning in Freshwater

Freshwater State School in 2020

An aerial view of Freshwater State School in 2019

Freshwater State School is a government primary school. It teaches students from Prep to Year 6. The school is located at 10 Corkill Street.

In 2017, the school had 738 students. It had 50 teachers and 25 non-teaching staff. In 2018, there were 709 students. The school had 52 teachers and 24 non-teaching staff.

There isn't a secondary school in Freshwater itself. The closest government high school is Redlynch State College. It is in the nearby suburb of Redlynch.

Community Life and Places

Parks and Clubs

Bunny Adair Park is on Lower Freshwater Road. It is named after Bunny Adair. This park has facilities for horse riding. It is also home to the Freshwater Pony Club.

Community Hall

The Freshwater branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (CWA) meets at the CWA Hall. This hall is at the corner of Kamerunga Road and Old Smithfield Road. It is across from the Freshwater railway station.

The CWA branch started in 1937. They first met at the home of their president, Mrs. Odgen. In 1940, they bought the land for their hall. The building was finished in 1955. Besides CWA activities, the hall is used by other community groups and for private events.

Churches

Sacred Heart Catholic Church is at 15 Duffy Street. It is part of the Northern Beaches Parish. This parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.

Things to See and Do

The sign for Freshwater railway station on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, 2015

The famous Kuranda Scenic Railway has a stop at the Freshwater railway station. This station is just outside Freshwater, in the neighboring suburb of Barron.

In 2009, for the Q150 celebrations, a heritage trail was created. The Stratford and Freshwater Community Association built it. This trail has 22 signposted historical sites in Freshwater. It also has 29 sites in the nearby suburb of Stratford.

Famous People from Freshwater

Herbert ("Bunny") Adair and Gladys Down, just married, Freshwater Hall, 1928

• Bunny Adair: He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. This means he was a politician who helped make laws for Queensland. He was also a publican, which means he ran a hotel.