Gordonvale, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gordonvale Cairns, Queensland
Mulgrave Central Mill and mountains
Gordonvale Location in Queensland
Population	6,944 (2021 census)
• Density	121.40/km2 (314.4/sq mi)
Established	1877
Postcode(s)	4865
Elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Area	57.2 km2 (22.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Cairns Region
State electorate(s)	Mulgrave
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Gordonvale: Mount Peter Wrights Creek Packers Camp Green Hill Lamb Range Gordonvale Aloomba Little Mulgrave Goldsborough Wooroonooran Aloomba

Gordonvale is a town in Queensland, Australia. It is known for growing sugar cane. It is located south of Cairns. In 2021, about 6,944 people lived there.

In 1935, cane toads were brought to Gordonvale. People hoped they would eat harmful beetles. But this plan did not work.

Exploring Gordonvale's Location

Gordonvale is about 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of Cairns. It sits near the Gillies Range. This range leads to the Atherton Tableland.

The Mulgrave River flows along the south-east side of Gordonvale. The land is mostly flat and low. But mountains surround the area. These include the Lamb Range and Bellenden Ker Range. Most of the land is used for growing sugarcane.

The main town of Gordonvale is by the Mulgrave River. The Mulgrave Sugar Mill is on the western side of town. Major roads and railway lines pass through Gordonvale. The Bruce Highway goes around the town center. The North Coast railway line also runs through. The Gordonvale railway station is right next to the sugar mill. There are also many small train tracks. These tracks carry harvested sugarcane to the mill.

A Look Back at Gordonvale's History

Norman Street, located beside the public park

Aerial view of Gordonvale, 1937

Gordonvale was first home to the Yidinji people. Their language is called Yidinji. This language was spoken in areas like Cairns and the Mulgrave River.

British settlers arrived in 1877. William Saunders Alley and his family were among the first. They cleared a road to Trinity Inlet. This helped them move cedar logs. They called the area Plain Camp.

In 1882, a Chinese businessman named Andrew Leon built the first sugar mill nearby. It was called Pioneer Mill.

The area was called Mulgrave in 1890. This was after the Mulgrave River. In 1896, it changed to Nelson. This was to honor Sir Hugh Muir Nelson, a Queensland Premier. But this caused confusion with another town. So, in 1914, it was renamed Gordonvale. This new name honored John Gordon. He was an early settler and a director of the Mulgrave Central sugar mill.

Schools and Education

Mulgrave State School opened in 1897. It was renamed Gordonvale State School in 1914. In 1924, it became Gordonvale Rural School. A high school section was added in 1963. The primary school became Gordonvale State School again in 1965.

St Alphonsus Catholic School started in 1923. It was run by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1959, St Michael's Catholic Primary School replaced it.

Little Mulgrave State School opened in 1926 but closed in 1964.

World War I and Cane Toads

In 1916, the Cane Beetles March began. This was during World War I. It was a march to encourage men to join the army. It started with 4 men and ended with 29 recruits in Cairns.

In 1935, cane toads were brought to Gordonvale. They came from Hawaii. People hoped the toads would eat cane beetles. These beetles were harming sugar cane crops. But the toads did not help. Instead, they spread across Australia.

World War II and Local Changes

During World War II, about 3,000 American paratroopers stayed in Gordonvale. They trained there for missions in New Guinea. Some hotels in town became hospitals for injured soldiers. Many local women helped by packing parachutes.

The first Gordonvale Fire Station opened in 1950. A new one was built in 2017. The Gordonvale Library opened in 1954.

All Saints' Anglican Church was built in 1963. It was designed by local architects.

In the 1990s, artists created mosaics for Gordonvale. These mosaics show old businesses in the town. They are set into the footpaths.

Gordonvale was part of the Shire of Mulgrave. In 1995, it joined the City of Cairns. Then in 2008, it became part of the larger Cairns Region.

A new Gordonvale Ambulance Station opened in 2012. The Cairns Seventh Day Adventist School moved to Gordonvale in 2014. It was renamed Cairns Adventist College. A new Gordonvale Police Station opened in 2018. It has Indigenous artwork.

Who Lives in Gordonvale?

The number of people living in Gordonvale has grown over the years:

• In 2006, there were 4,420 people.
• In 2011, the population was 6,214.
• In 2016, it grew to 6,671 people.
• In 2021, the population reached 6,944 people.

Special Places and Buildings

Gordonvale has some places listed for their history:

• Meringa Sugar Experiment Station on the Bruce Highway.
• Alley Family Graves on Gillies Highway.

Learning in Gordonvale

Gordonvale has several schools for students of all ages:

• Gordonvale State School is a primary school (Prep–Year 6). It opened in 1897. In 2018, it had 553 students. It also has a special education program.
• St Michael's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary school (Prep–Year 6). In 2018, it had 307 students.
• Cairns Adventist College is a private primary school (Prep–Year 6). In 2018, it had 73 students.
• Djarragun College is a private school (Prep–Year 12). It is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. It opened in 2001. In 2018, it had 308 students. Many students live at the school. The school helps students become proud and educated Indigenous leaders.
• Gordonvale State High School is a government high school (Year 7–12). It opened in 1965. In 2018, it had 793 students. It also has a special education program.

Community Hubs and Services

• The Gordonvale Library is run by the Cairns Regional Council.
• The Gordonvale Community Hall can seat up to 80 people. It is used for community events.
• St Michael's Catholic Church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.
• The Gordonvale Uniting Church is also known as Eternal Life Fellowship.
• All Saints' Anglican Church and Gordonvale Presbyterian Church also serve the community.
• The Gordonvale QCWA Hall is used for community activities.
• The Gordonvale Aquatic Centre has a swimming pool for everyone to enjoy.

Local News and Media

• The Mulgrave News is a local monthly newspaper. It shares local news, real estate, and more.
• Pyramid Views also provides local news and advertisements.

Sports and Activities

• The Pyramid Power AFL Club plays in the AFL Cairns competition. They have teams for different age groups, from Under 8s to Senior Women. Their home ground is Power Park.

Fun Places to Visit

Mulgrave Central Mill at dusk

A beautiful Royal Poinciana tree in Gordonvale.

• The Mulgrave Sugar Mill has been running since 1896. It is near the town center. The mill processes sugarcane from about 300 local farms. It operates during the "crush" season, which is about six months a year.
• The Mulgrave Settlers Museum is across from the mill. It shows historical items from the area. You can learn about early gold miners, cedar cutters, and Chinese workers. The museum is open Monday to Saturday.
• Gordonvale is surrounded by sugarcane fields. It is also close to beautiful natural areas. These include the Bellenden Ker National Park and Goldsborough Valley State Forest.

Famous People from Gordonvale

Some well-known people have connections to Gordonvale:

• Brianna Coop, an Australian Paralympic sprinter.
• Nate Myles, an Australian and Queensland rugby league player.
• Curtis Pitt, a politician.
• Adam Sarota, a footballer.

Images for kids

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  Mulgrave Central Mill and mountains

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  Norman Street, located beside the public park

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  Aerial view of Gordonvale, 1937

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  Mulgrave Central Mill at dusk

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  Delonix regia, the Royal Poinciana tree in flower, Church Street, Gordonvale, Queensland. Seed pods visible on upper branches.

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  Gordonvale Police Station at its opening, 2018