Killarney, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Killarney Queensland
View of Killarney from the south
Killarney Location in Queensland
Population	918 (2021 census)
• Density	11.724/km2 (30.37/sq mi)
Established	1878
Postcode(s)	4373
Elevation	507 m (1,663 ft)
Area	78.3 km2 (30.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	33.6 km (21 mi) SE of Warwick 116.2 km (72 mi) SSE of Toowoomba 177 km (110 mi) SW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Southern Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.9 °C 75 °F 9.3 °C 49 °F 741.8 mm 29.2 in
Localities around Killarney: Tannymorel Mount Colliery Mount Colliery Loch Lomond Killarney The Falls Elbow Valley Legume (NSW) Acacia Creek (NSW)

View of Killarney from the west

View of Killarney hills behind Killarney Memorial Aged Care

View of the misty hills Killarney to the north-east of Killarney

Killarney is a small country town in Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Southern Downs Region. The town is very close to the border with New South Wales. In 2021, about 918 people lived in the Killarney area.

Exploring Killarney's Location

Killarney is located about 35 kilometers (22 miles) south-east of Warwick. It sits along the Condamine River in an area called the Darling Downs. The town is only about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the border of Queensland and New South Wales.

A beautiful spot nearby is Queen Mary Falls. Here, Spring Creek drops 40 meters (130 feet) into a valley. This waterfall is part of the Main Range National Park.

Neighbourhoods in Killarney

• Mountain View is a small area within Killarney.
• Melrose is another neighbourhood in Killarney. It is named after a large farm called Melrose pastoral station.

Killarney's Past and History

The land around Killarney belongs to the Gidhabal people. Their language region covers areas like Warwick and Killarney. The Yetimarala people lived to the south of Killarney.

The area was first part of a large farm called Canning Downs. This farm was started by the Leslie brothers in 1840. Killarney grew because of farming and logging.

The name "Killarney" was chosen by Peter Murray. He visited George Leslie at Canning Downs. Murray said the scenery reminded him of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland.

Early Schools and Post Offices

Killarney State School opened on 17 August 1874. The first teacher, Gwyther Hill, started teaching in 1876. Many early settlers came to Killarney starting in 1863.

The main Killarney Post Office opened on 1 July 1877. A smaller post office, Killarney North, opened in 1889. Later, the main post office moved closer to the railway station.

A train line was built from Warwick to Killarney in 1885. This line helped the town grow. It closed in 1964.

Several other schools opened and closed over the years:

• Mountain View Provisional School opened around 1886. It closed in 1892, then reopened as Mountain View State School in 1895. It finally closed on 4 July 1965.
• Melrose State School opened in 1910 and closed around 1931.
• Wynola State School started in 1935. It used the old Melrose school building. This school helped families who couldn't read or write. It closed around 1941.

The 1968 Tornado

On 22 November 1968, a powerful tornado hit Killarney. It destroyed many old buildings in the town. Some buildings on the main street survived, like the Butter Factory and the Killarney Hotel. These buildings show what the town looked like before the storm.

People Living in Killarney

The number of people living in Killarney has changed over time.

• In 2011, about 984 people lived in the Killarney area.
• In 2016, the population was about 954 people.
• In 2021, the Killarney area had 918 residents. The town itself had 685 people.

Killarney's Economy

Killarney's economy relies on a few main things. These are farming, transportation, and more recently, tourism. A meat processing factory used to be the biggest employer. However, it closed in February 2011.

Water Supply and Weather Challenges

Killarney gets its water from a small dam on Spring Creek. In 2007, there were worries about water shortages. This was because of many years of extreme drought.

In January 2008, the Condamine River flooded after heavy rain. Buildings in the main street were covered in water. Even though the floods caused problems, they helped farmers. The water was very good for their crops after the drought.

Learning in Killarney

Killarney P-10 State School is a public school for students from Prep to Year 10. It is located on Acacia Street. In 2017, the school had 149 students. It also has a special education program.

For Years 11 and 12, students need to travel to Warwick. There is no high school in Killarney that offers these higher grades.

Local Shops and Community Life

The Killarney Co-operative is a large community-owned store. It started in 1922 and sells many different things. You can find a post office, gifts, shoes, and even a supermarket there.

Many historic buildings are still in Willow Street. The Killarney Post Office was built in 1905. The CWA building, built in 1888, used to be the School of Arts. The Killarney Hotel is also a historic building in the town.

Killarney has many active community groups. These include the Killarney Show and Rodeo Society and the Killarney Recreation Club. There are also groups like the CWA and the Lions Club.

The Killarney Recreation Club was built with money raised by local people. It has unique sculptures by local artist Paul Stumkat. These include sandstone horseheads and a "God of Sport Statue."

The Killarney branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (CWA) meets on Willow Street. They celebrated their 100th anniversary in March 2024.

Killarney also has a nursing home, a medical clinic, and a pharmacy. There's a local swimming pool, cafes, and antique shops. Once a month, markets are held in the main street.

Fun Things to See and Do

Queen Mary Falls are a short distance from Killarney

Killarney is famous for its five beautiful waterfalls. These include Teviot Falls, Queen Mary Falls, Dagg's Falls, Browns Falls, and Upper Brown's Falls. After heavy rain, you might see two more falls: Black Fella Falls and Jack Brunton's Falls. These tumble down cliffs in the Cambanoora Gorge.

The town hosts many exciting events throughout the year. These include the annual agricultural show and rodeos. There are also horse events, the Killarney Bonfire Night, and the Border Ranges Trail Ride. These events bring many visitors to Killarney.

Killarney's Climate

Killarney has a cool subtropical climate. This is typical for inland south-east Queensland. Winters can be cold with frost. Summers are warm but usually not extremely hot.

Famous People from Killarney

Some well-known people have connections to Killarney:

• Jackie Howe: A famous sheep shearer, he was born in Killarney.
• Otto Madsen: A politician who served the community.
• Steph Hancock: A talented footballer.
• Rohan Hancock: Also a footballer.
• Hugh Cornish: An Australian celebrity, born in Killarney.