Goomeri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GoomeriQueensland |
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Goomeri looking towards the war memorial
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 Goomeri
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 677 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 6.375/km2 (16.51/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1911 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4601 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 106.2 km2 (41.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Gympie Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Nanango | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
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Goomeri is a small country town in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality, which is like a local area. In 2021, about 677 people lived in Goomeri.
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Goomeri's Location and Landscape
Goomeri is located where three main roads meet: the Burnett Highway, the Bunya Highway, and the Wide Bay Highway. This makes it an important crossroads. It is about 255 kilometres (158 miles) from Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland.
The main street in Goomeri is called Moore Street. The Burnett Highway goes right through the town on this street. Goomeri is also about 16 kilometres (10 miles) west of the Coast Range, which is a line of hills.
Goomeri's Past: A Look at History
European settlers first came to the Goomeri area in 1846. They set up large farms called Booubyjan Homestead and Boonara Station.
A railway line reached Goomeri in 1902, connecting it to Kilkivan. The line was extended to Wondai in 1903. This railway helped the town grow, but it closed in 2010.
More people started to settle in Goomeri in 1911. They bought land for farms and homes in the town.
The Goomeri Post Office opened in 1912, making it easier for people to send mail.
Goomeri Provisional School started teaching students on February 5, 1912. It became Goomeri State School in 1913, and it's still open today.
The Goomeri Methodist Church opened in August 1912. It was used for church services until 2014 and is now a house.
The Anglican Church of the Epiphany was officially opened in 1916.
St Kevin's Catholic Church opened in 1920. This church building was actually moved from another town called Nanango, where it had first opened in 1901.
In 1940, the Goomeri War Memorial Clock was revealed. This clock remembers soldiers who served in wars.
The Goomeri Library opened in 1986, giving people a place to read and learn.
Around 1997, another church, the Apostolic Church, was moved to Goomeri from a nearby area called Tansey.
Who Lives in Goomeri?
In 2016, Goomeri had 664 people living there. Almost half were male (49.4%) and just over half were female (50.6%). About 8.7% of the people were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Most people in Goomeri had family backgrounds from Australia (34.6%), England (30.3%), Ireland (7.1%), Germany (7.1%), and Scotland (6.4%). By 2021, the population had grown slightly to 677 people.
Important Places: Heritage Sites
Goomeri has several places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:
- The Goomeri Hall of Memory on Boonara Street.
- The Goomeri War Memorial Clock on Burnett Highway.
- The Barambah Homestead on Goomeri Road, in a nearby area called Barambah.
Learning in Goomeri: Schools
Goomeri State School is a government school for both primary and secondary students, from Prep to Year 10. It is located at 5 Munro Street. In 2018, about 146 students attended the school.
If students want to continue their schooling past Year 10, they usually go to Murgon State High School in the town of Murgon, which is nearby.
What Goomeri Offers: Amenities
Goomeri has a public library at 35 Moore Street. It is run by the Gympie Regional Council.
You can find the Anglican Church of Epiphany at 9–11 Hodge Street. St Kevin's Catholic Church is also on Hodge Street, at number 17. The Apostolic Church is located at 19 Olive Street.
For sports and fun, there's the Goomeri Bowls Club at 57 Moore Street. Goomeri also has a public swimming pool that is open at certain times.
Fun Things to Do and See
Goomeri is known for its "relaxed old world charm." It has parks and many buildings that were built in the 1920s. The Goomeri Hall of Memory, built in 1926, is still used today and is a heritage-listed building.
The town is also famous for its delicious food. You can find fancy dining, country-style meals, special cheeses, and olives grown nearby. Goomeri is also a good starting point to explore the South Burnett wine area, where you can visit vineyards. Other important businesses in the area include beef and dairy farming.
Goomeri has an information centre at 41 Moore Street, right next to a windmill in Lions Park. This is a great place to get maps and learn more about the area. You can also find a hotel and an art studio in Goomeri.
Just 10.5 kilometres (6.5 miles) from Goomeri are the beautiful Kinbombi Falls. There's a picnic and camping area there. You can walk down to a deep natural pool or follow a track along the top of the gorge for amazing views.
The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail is a long path that follows an old railway line. It is 88 kilometres (55 miles) long and goes through Goomeri, Murgon, Wondai, and other towns. The part from Murgon to Kingaroy is sealed, which means it's smooth for walking and cycling.
Exciting Events
One of the biggest events in Goomeri is the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival. It happens every year on the last Sunday in May. Up to 14,000 people come to enjoy the fun! The most exciting part of the festival is the "Great Australian Pumpkin Roll," where pumpkins are rolled down Policeman's Hill.
