Many Peaks, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Many PeaksQueensland |
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The Grand Hotel in Many Peaks, 2017
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 Many Peaks
Location in Queensland
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| Postcode(s) | 4680 |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) |
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| LGA(s) | Gladstone Region |
| State electorate(s) | Callide |
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn |
Many Peaks is a small town located in the Gladstone Region of Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small towns in the area known as Boyne Valley. The other towns are Nagoorin, Builyan, and Ubobo.
Contents
History of Many Peaks
The Gooreng Gooreng People
The land around Many Peaks is the traditional home of the Gureng Gureng Aboriginal people. Their language, also called Gooreng Gooreng, was spoken across a large part of Queensland. This area included towns like Bundaberg, Gin Gin, and Miriam Vale.
How Many Peaks Got Its Name
The town was first called Nanandu. But in July 1909, its name was changed to Many Peaks. This was done to avoid confusion with another town named Nanango. The name "Many Peaks" comes from the Many Peaks Range, a series of hills located to the east and south-east of the Boyne Valley.
The Nanandu Post Office opened in 1907 and was renamed Many Peaks Post Office in 1909. It served the town until it closed in 1977.
Early Schools in Many Peaks
The Nanandu Provisional School opened in March 1909. Just a month later, on April 1, 1909, it was renamed Many Peaks State School. This school helped educate the children of the town until it closed in 1973. It was located at 5 Wentworth Street.
Another school, Many Peaks Railway Camp Provisional School, opened in October 1922. This school moved several times as it followed the construction camps for the Gladstone to Monto railway line. It changed names multiple times, eventually becoming Bancroft State School in 1931. This school stayed in Bancroft until it closed in 1998.
Important Buildings and People
In January 1916, a fire destroyed three shops in Many Peaks. The Theatre Grand, a large building, was also damaged. There wasn't a fire brigade or enough water to stop the blaze.
Nicholas Gianis Veneris, also known as Nicholas Hellen, bought a property in Many Peaks around 1915-1916. It had a café and a fruit orchard. He became one of the first Greek immigrants to serve as a Councillor for the Calliope Shire Council, which is a local government group.
Heritage Sites in Many Peaks
Many Peaks has several places that are "heritage-listed." This means they are important historical sites that are protected.
- Glassford Creek Smelter Sites: These are old sites where metal was melted down from ore. They are located off Many Peaks Road.
- The Builyan Cemetery: This cemetery was once called the Many Peaks Cemetery. It was set aside as a cemetery in 1910 and is now on the Gladstone Regional Council's Local Heritage Register.
- The Grand Hotel: This hotel opened in 1909 and was one of five hotels in the town. It had an interesting journey! It was originally the Railway Hotel, located near the Gladstone railway station. In 1907, it was taken apart, with every piece carefully numbered. Then, it was moved to Many Peaks and rebuilt there. The hotel also held the Many Peaks Roll of Honour, which remembered local people who died fighting in World War I. The hotel closed around 2020.
- The Many Peaks Railway Complex: This includes parts of the old railway system.
- Many Peaks Railway Dam: This is a dam built for the railway.
- Many Peaks Road Bridge: This is a historic bridge.
Education Options
There are no schools directly in Many Peaks today. However, there are three primary schools in the other towns of the Boyne Valley. The closest primary school is in Builyan.
For high school, there are no secondary schools in the Boyne Valley area. Students can attend Miriam Vale State School in Miriam Vale for schooling up to Year 10. For Years 11 and 12, students usually travel to schools like Gladstone State High School in West Gladstone, Rosedale State School in Rosedale, or Monto State High School in Monto.
Things to See and Do
Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail
The Dawes Range Tunnel section of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail opened in 2021. This trail is a path for walking and cycling built along an old railway line. This section is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) long. It starts at Barrimoon Siding, near Kalpowar, and ends at Builyan. The trail passes right through the historic town of Many Peaks.
This part of the trail has six tunnels between Barrimoon Siding and Golembil Siding. These tunnels are also heritage-listed. Tunnel Six is special because it's the only place where you can see 100-year-old rail tracks and "hogback sleepers" still preserved. Hogback sleepers are railway ties with a rounded top. They were hand-made from strong iron bark trees that grew near the railway.
Many Peaks Railway Dam
While it's not directly on the rail trail, you can easily reach the Heritage-listed Many Peaks Railway Dam. It's less than a kilometer (about half a mile) from Many Peaks town on a quiet road. At the dam, you'll find a new shelter, signs with historical information, a toilet block, and a lookout point over the old weir. Remember to bring your own drinking water, as none is available there.
