Monkland, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monkland Gympie, Queensland
Scottish Gympie Gold Mine, No. 2 shaft, 1900
Monkland Location in Queensland
Population	1,135 (2021 census)
• Density	206.4/km2 (535/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4570
Elevation	63 m (207 ft)
Area	5.5 km2 (2.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	4 km (2 mi) SSE of Gympie 164 km (102 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Gympie Region
State electorate(s)	Gympie
Federal Division(s)	Wide Bay
Suburbs around Monkland: Gympie Victory Heights East Deep Creek Gympie Monkland East Deep Creek Southside Glanmire Mothar Mountain

Monkland is a small area or locality in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a rural spot, meaning it has a lot of open land and fewer big buildings. In 2021, about 1,135 people lived in Monkland.

Exploring Monkland's Location

Monkland is a suburb of Gympie, located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south-east of Gympie's town center. It sits on the north-east side of the Mary River. The main road, the Bruce Highway, goes right through Monkland. Another important road, Brisbane Road, branches off the highway.

Between these two roads, you'll find the Lake Alford Recreational Park. This park is home to the Goldminer’s Monument, which reminds us of the area's gold mining past. The North Coast railway line runs along the eastern edge of Monkland, and Glanmire railway station serves the area.

A Look Back at Monkland's History

The area around Gympie became very busy in the late 1860s because of a big gold rush. People came from all over to find gold! Monkland got its name from a gold prospector who named it after a town in Scotland. Many successful gold mines were located here, including the No.2 Great Eastern Gold Mine. By 1873, Monkland was growing fast, with shops and four hotels on its main street. Many families had moved to the area.

In April 1873, a church called the Primitive Methodist Church opened a larger building. Another church, the Presbyterian Church, was also being built.

Monkland State School's Journey

Because so many families lived in Monkland, people wanted a local school. In 1880, a public meeting was held to ask for one, as the walk to the nearest school was very long. Monkland State School officially opened on September 24, 1884, with 74 students.

In 1932, a tornado hit the school, and a new building had to be constructed. The school was rebuilt again in 1958, and extra classrooms were added in the 1970s and 1980s. The original house where the headmaster lived is still there and is now a protected heritage site.

Railways and Their Impact

The North Coast railway line was built through Monkland in 1889, connecting Gympie to Brisbane. This made travel and transport much easier. However, this part of the railway was closed in 1989 when the line was updated and changed.

Steam locomotive on the Mary Valley railway

Another railway line, the Mary Valley railway line, started in Monkland. It branched off the North Coast line and went west into the Mary Valley. This line was built between 1911 and 1915 to help people settle and develop the Mary River valley.

Over time, the Mary Valley railway line became less used. It finally closed, but a special tourist train service called the Mary Valley Rattler began operating on parts of the line in 1998. This allows visitors to experience a piece of history! The old Monkland railway station, built in 1911, is now a heritage site.

Who Lives in Monkland?

In 2006, Monkland had about 1,042 people living there. By 2016, the population grew to 1,125 people. The most recent count in 2021 showed that 1,135 people call Monkland home.

Special Places in Monkland

Monkland State School Residence, 1997

Monkland has several places that are important to its history and are protected as heritage sites. These include:

• The No. 1 Scottish Gympie Mine and Battery on Old Brisbane Road.
• Monkland State School on Brisbane Road.
• The Monkland State School Residence on Brisbane Road.
• Monkland Railway Station on Brisbane Road.
• Inglewood Hill Pottery at 208 Brisbane Road.
• Andrew Fisher's Cottage at 215 Brisbane Road.

What Monkland Does

Monkland has a small industrial area. There's also a factory that makes particle board for a company called Carter Holt Harvey.

Learning in Monkland

Monkland State School is a government primary school for students from Prep (the first year of school) to Year 6. It's located at 220 Brisbane Road. In 2018, the school had 78 students.

There isn't a high school in Monkland. Students usually go to Gympie State High School, which is about two kilometers away in Gympie.

Fun Things to Do in Monkland

Lake Alford, 2013

Australian White Ibis nesting in Lake Alford park, 2022

Lake Alford Park, located next to the Bruce Highway, is a great place to visit. It has a playground that kids of all abilities can enjoy. The lake is also known for the many different kinds of birds that live there.

Monkland also has a junior rugby league club, where young people can play the sport. If you like listening to the radio, the Classic Hits 558 AM (4GY) radio station operates from Monkland.

Tourist Attractions

Monkland is home to the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum. This museum has a huge collection of old documents, items, and photos that show the history of the Gympie region. Each building at the museum explores a different part of the past, and you can even see parts of the old No.2 Great Eastern Gold Mine.

The museum also holds the personal collection of Andrew Fisher. He was an early Labor Prime Minister of Australia who represented this area in the Australian Parliament.

The Monkland railway station, built in 1911, is part of the Mary Valley Rattler tourist train service. This fun train ride has been run by the Apex Club of Gympie since 1998.

Getting Around Monkland

Polleys Coaches offers bus services in Monkland. You can catch a bus to and from Gympie several times a day on weekdays and on Saturdays.