Groper Creek, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Groper Creek Queensland
Groper Creek Location in Queensland
Population	62 (2016 census)
• Density	1.240/km2 (3.21/sq mi)
Established	1921
Postcode(s)	4806
Area	50.0 km2 (19.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	15.5 km (10 mi) ESE of Home Hill 27.7 km (17 mi) SE of Ayr 112 km (70 mi) SE of Townsville 1,238 km (769 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Localities around Groper Creek: Rita Island Rita Island Rita Island Inkerman Groper Creek Coral Sea Inkerman Wunjunga Wunjunga

Groper Creek is a small coastal town in Queensland, Australia. It is also a "locality," which means it's a specific area or district. You can find Groper Creek in the Shire of Burdekin. In 2016, only 62 people lived there.

Exploring Groper Creek's Location

Groper Creek is bordered by the Burdekin River to the north and the Coral Sea to the east. The creek itself is a "distributary" of the Burdekin River. This means it's like a smaller river branch that splits off from the main river. It flows southeast towards the Coral Sea.

Islands and Land Use

The northern part of Groper Creek is made up of several islands. The biggest ones are:

• Big Patterson Island
• Peters Island

Much of the land here is marshland, which is a type of wetland. However, some areas, like Big Patterson Island, are used for grazing. This means cattle eat the natural plants there.

Getting to Groper Creek Town

The town of Groper Creek is located on the mainland, on the western side of the locality. You can get there by driving on Groper Creek Road. This road goes through the nearby area of Inkerman and connects to Home Hill.

The Speter Island Cattle Farm

There's a farm called Speter Island Cattle Farm in Groper Creek. It's quite large, covering about 235 hectares. Part of the farm is on the mainland, and another part is on Peters Island. The farm raises a special kind of cattle called Droughtmaster/Senepol cross cattle. These cattle are pretty clever! They swim across Groper Creek when they want to graze on the other side. Don't worry, as of 2019, no crocodiles had taken any of the cattle.

A Look at Groper Creek's Past

In 1873, the Queensland Government set aside land for a landing spot on Heath's Creek. This creek was once a way for boats to travel up the Burdekin River. A wharf was even built there in 1883.

A New Landing Spot

Over time, Heath's Creek became unusable for boats. So, in 1921, a new landing area was created on Groper Creek. This happened after big floods in 1918 changed the river's path. By 1924, Groper Creek was already a popular place for fishing.

Crocodiles in the Creek

In the 1930s, many crocodiles were seen in the area. Sadly, many were shot during that time. Crocodile hunting was allowed in Queensland until 1974. Even though their numbers are lower now, you can still spot crocodiles in the creek.

Becoming an Official Town

For many years, Groper Creek was just a local name. People knew it, but it wasn't officially recognized. On November 28, 2018, it finally became an official town and locality. The name "Groper Creek" comes from the creek itself.

What You Can Find in Groper Creek

Groper Creek has some useful places for visitors and locals.

Places to Stay and Launch Boats

• There's a caravan park in the town, located on Hinkson Esplanade. It's on the southern bank of the creek.
• You'll find two public boat ramps in the town, right next to a public jetty on Hinkson Esplanade. These are great for launching your boat into Groper Creek.
• Further south, there's another boat ramp called Wallace Landing. It's on Alma Creek and can be reached via Peak Road in Inkerman.

Learning in Groper Creek

Groper Creek itself doesn't have any schools. Children living there usually go to school in Home Hill. The nearest primary school is Home Hill State School, and the nearest high school is Home Hill State High School.