Greenvale, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GreenvaleQueensland |
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Nickel mining at Greenvale, 1986
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 Greenvale
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 192 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.03144/km2 (0.0814/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1973 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4816 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 6,107.8 km2 (2,358.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Charters Towers Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Greenvale is a small country town in Queensland, Australia. It is located in the Charters Towers Region. In 2021, about 192 people lived in Greenvale. It is known for its mining history and natural surroundings.
Contents
Greenvale's Location
Greenvale is a place where nickel and other metals are mined. It is about 220 kilometers (137 miles) northwest of Townsville.
The town is located near the Burdekin River. It is also on the Gregory Highway. There is a good sealed road that connects Greenvale to Townsville.
Old Railway Line
A special railway line, called the Greenvale railway line, used to carry ore from Greenvale. It ran to a processing plant near Townsville. This line was active from 1974 to 1993.
There are several old railway stations along this line:
- Greenvale railway station (18°58′26″S 144°56′42″E / 18.9739°S 144.9449°E)
- Miners Lake railway station (18°58′44″S 144°59′51″E / 18.9789°S 144.9975°E)
- Pilkara railway station (19°04′49″S 145°11′12″E / 19.0802°S 145.1866°E)
- Malan railway station (19°11′23″S 145°24′30″E / 19.1896°S 145.4082°E)
Local Airstrips
Greenvale and its surrounding areas have several small airstrips. These are places where small planes can land and take off.
Some of these airstrips include:
- Craigs Pocket Airstrip (18°33′56″S 145°00′24″E / 18.5656°S 145.0068°E)
- Marionvale Airstrip (18°35′46″S 144°53′49″E / 18.5961°S 144.8969°E)
- Wyandotte Airstrip (18°45′14″S 144°50′23″E / 18.7538°S 144.8397°E)
- Miners Lake Airstrip (18°59′48″S 145°00′50″E / 18.9968°S 145.0140°E)
Greenvale's History
The land around Greenvale has a long history. It is part of the traditional country of the Gugu Badhun people. Their language is an Australian Aboriginal language of North Queensland.
The town of Greenvale was officially named on December 16, 1972. It got its name from a large farm, or "pastoral run," that was operated by John Langton in the 1860s.
Early Schools and Post Office
Several schools opened and closed in Greenvale during the 1970s. This was likely due to the changing needs of the mining construction camps.
- Greenvale Project No 2 State School opened in May 1972 and closed in October 1974.
- Greenvale Project No 1 State School opened in February 1974 and closed in March 1974.
- Greenvale State School opened in September 1972 and is still open today.
The Greenvale Post Office started operating on November 1, 1973.
The Greenvale Railway Line's Legacy
The railway line that once served the nickel mine was very important. Some of the longest trains in Australia used to travel on it. The tracks were removed around 2000. However, the bridges and other parts of the line still remain.
Sometimes, people walk along the old railway path from Yabulu to Greenvale. They do this to raise money for good causes.
When the nickel mine was fully working, Greenvale had a larger population. It was estimated that about 650 people lived there. Even though the original mine closed, new mining activities have started in the area. This means homes are still occupied by workers.
Greenvale's Economy
Greenvale's economy is mostly based on mining. The area has a lot of nickel and cobalt. Companies have been exploring the Greenvale mining area. They want to reopen the nickel and cobalt operations.
Scandium Discovery
During recent exploration, a special discovery was made. A place called Lucknow ridge, south of the mine, has a very large amount of scandium oxide. Scandium oxide is a rare and valuable metal. Experts say its quality and purity are very high.
Scandium oxide is important for making solid oxide fuel cells. These fuel cells can create electricity efficiently from low-carbon gas fuels. This could be a cleaner way to produce energy in the future.
Education in Greenvale
Greenvale State School is the main school in the town. It is a government primary school for students from Early Childhood to Year 6. It is located on Cassia Court (18°59′57″S 144°58′50″E / 18.9991°S 144.9805°E).
In 2018, the school had 28 students. It had 4 teachers and 8 other staff members.
There are no high schools in Greenvale or very close by. Students who want to continue their education after primary school have a few choices. They can study through distance education (learning from home). Another option is to attend a boarding school.
Things to See and Do
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The Three Rivers Hotel
The Three Rivers Hotel is a famous spot in Greenvale. It was made well-known by the country singer Slim Dusty in one of his songs. However, the actual "hotel" mentioned in the song was not a real hotel building. It was a "Mess Hall" at a construction camp.
The songwriter, Stan Coster, wrote the song there. He was working on building the railway line. During a very wet season in 1974, workers were stuck inside. They started digging channels to drain water from their "boozer" (a basic building where they drank). They jokingly named these channels after three local rivers: Burdekin, Star, and Clarke. This is how the name "Three Rivers Hotel" came about.
Other Attractions
Greenvale also has a 9-hole golf course. There is a caravan park for visitors and a general store or mini supermarket. The hotel serves meals and has rooms for rent. These rooms were once used by mine staff.
Undara Volcanic National Park is another interesting place to visit. It is about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Greenvale. This park is famous for its ancient lava tubes.
