Kilcoy, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids KilcoyQueensland |
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Main Street, Kilcoy
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 Kilcoy
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 1,996 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 605/km2 (1,570/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4515 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Somerset Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Nanango | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Blair | ||||||||||||||
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Kilcoy is a rural town and locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 1,996 people lived in Kilcoy.
Contents
Exploring Kilcoy's Location
Kilcoy is located in Queensland, Australia. It is about 94 kilometers (58 miles) northwest of Brisbane, the state capital. The town sits on the D'Aguilar Highway, just north of Lake Somerset.
A Look Back at Kilcoy's History
Kilcoy has a rich and sometimes difficult history. It began as a place important to Aboriginal people. Later, European settlers arrived and built a town.
Aboriginal Heritage and Culture
The original people of the Kilcoy area are the Jinibara People. They are a nation made up of five different clans. The Dungidau clan lived mainly in the Kilcoy region.
The name Kilcoy comes from the Jinibara language. 'Jini' means lawyer cane, which is a type of plant. 'Bara' means people. So, Jinibara means 'People of the Lawyer Cane'. The area was also known as Bumgur, meaning 'blue cod'.
Many places in the Kilcoy region are important to Aboriginal culture. Mount Archer was called Buruja. There were also special gathering places called Bora rings. These were used for ceremonies.
The meeting point of the Brisbane and Stanley Rivers was called Gunundjin. This was a sacred place. A rock there, Gairnbee Rock, is part of a dreaming story. It tells of a girl who was turned into a rock by her father to save her from danger.
European Settlement and Early Days
In 1841, two brothers, Evan and Colin Mackenzie, from Scotland, started a sheep farm here. They named it Kilcoy after their home in Scotland. Over the years, the land was sold to different owners.
Captain Louis Hope became the owner in 1854. He built the Kilcoy Station homestead using bricks made on the property. The first post office in the area opened in 1889. It was called Hopetoun Post Office in 1892, then renamed Kilcoy in 1907.
A Sad Event in History
In 1842, a very sad event happened near Kilcoy Station. Many Aboriginal people, between 30 and 60, died after eating flour. This flour had been mixed with poison by settlers. This was a terrible time for the Aboriginal people of the area.
Growing the Town of Kilcoy
In 1877, land was opened up for more settlers. Timber cutting became a big industry. Many sawmills started operating in the area.
The town of Kilcoy was officially surveyed in 1888. It quickly grew to serve the new settlers and timber workers. The first land sales happened in November 1888.
Kilcoy's first school opened in 1884. It was first called Sheep Station Creek Provisional School. Later, in 1892, a new school opened in Kilcoy town. It went through several name changes before becoming Kilcoy State School in 1914.
St Mary's Anglican Church was built in 1887. It was a timber church that could seat 120 people.
Kilcoy in the 20th Century
The Kilcoy Methodist Church was built in 1905. It later became the Kilcoy Uniting Church in 1977. It closed in 2021.
The post office name changed from Hopetoun to Kilcoy in 1908. This was to stop mail from going to other towns with the same name.
St Michael's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1911. It was made of timber.
In 1912, the Shire of Kilcoy was formed. This meant Kilcoy became its own local government area.
The Kilcoy railway line opened in 1913. This helped the timber industry grow even more. More mills opened nearby. However, road transport later led to the railway line closing in 1964. The old railway yard is now a park called Yowie Park.
Somerset Dam was built between 1935 and 1959. This dam created many jobs, especially during the Great Depression.
In 1953, a meat processing factory (abattoir) was built in Kilcoy.
In 2012, the Jinibara people were officially recognized as the traditional owners of their land. This was decided by the Federal Court of Australia.
A high school department was added to Kilcoy State School in 1963. Then, in 1972, Kilcoy State High School opened as a separate school.
Kilcoy in the 21st Century
The Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church was built in 2000. The current Kilcoy public library opened in 2011.
Education in Kilcoy
Kilcoy has schools for both primary and high school students.
- Kilcoy State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Royston Street. In 2018, it had 304 students.
- Kilcoy State High School is a government secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It is located on Seib Street. In 2018, it had 405 students. The school also has a special education program.
Community Facilities and Parks
Kilcoy has several places for the community to use.
- The Somerset Regional Council runs a public library on Kennedy Street.
- The Kilcoy branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) meets at their hall on Rose Street.
- There are also several parks in the area for everyone to enjoy:
- Anzac Park
- Aston Park
- Kennedy Park
Places of Worship
Kilcoy has a few churches for different faiths:
- St Mary's Anglican Church on William Street Service Road.
- St Michael's Roman Catholic Church on Kennedy Street.
- Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church on McCauley Street.
Things to See and Do
Kilcoy offers interesting places to learn about its past and get information.
- The Kilcoy District Historical Society runs the Hall of History. It is located in Yowie Park on Hope Street. Here you can see old documents, photos, and items from the area's history.
- You can follow a history trail to see the old buildings in town. A guide for the trail is available at the Hall of History.
- The Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre is also on Hope Street. You can get information about the town and surrounding areas here.
Famous People from Kilcoy
- Merri Rose was a politician from the Labor Party. Politicians are people who work in government to make decisions for the community.
Images for kids
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Main Street, Kilcoy
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Kilcoy Post Office, 2015
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Sir Evan Mackenzie
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Bullock team hauling timber in the Kilcoy district, ca. 1912
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Kilcoy District Memorial Hall, 1923
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Kilcoy railway in 1939
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Somerset Dam during construction, July 1938
