Monto, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monto Queensland
Looking down Newtown Street to the Burnett Highway, 2017
Monto Location in Queensland
Population	1,156 (2021 census)
• Density	19.527/km2 (50.57/sq mi)
Established	1924
Postcode(s)	4630
Elevation	248.7 m (816 ft)
Area	59.2 km2 (22.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	459 km (285 mi) from Brisbane 223 km (139 mi) from Bundaberg 157 km (98 mi) from Gladstone
LGA(s)	North Burnett Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 27.3 °C 81 °F 12.8 °C 55 °F 732.6 mm 28.8 in
Localities around Monto: Moonford Mungungo Bukali Moonford Monto Cannindah Coominglah Forest Three Moon Three Moon

Monto is a rural town and area in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 1,156 people lived in Monto.

Geography

View down Newton Street, 2014

Monto is found on the Burnett Highway. It's about 459 kilometres (285 miles) north-west of Brisbane. Rockhampton is 235 kilometres (146 miles) to the south. The Gladstone–Monto Road also meets the Burnett Highway right in town. Newton Street is the main street here.

Ancient Past

Millions of years ago, during a time called the Mississippian era, the Monto area was covered by a shallow sea. In this sea, coral grew and formed large coral reefs. Over time, these reefs turned into limestone rock, which is still found underground today. The Cannindah Reef was one of the biggest reefs from this ancient period.

History

The Gureng Gureng people are the traditional owners of this land. Their language region includes Monto and nearby towns. The name "Monto" comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "ridgy plain," which describes the local landscape.

European settlers arrived in the late 1840s. They set up large farms in the northern Burnett Valley. In the 1870s, gold was found along Three Moon Creek. This brought more people to the area. The original gold digging site is now covered by Cania Dam.

The town of Monto was officially started in 1924. This is when the post office opened. Monto State School welcomed its first students in 1926. The Catholic Church of the Little Flower was built in 1929. St Therese's Catholic Primary School opened in 1940. Monto State High School started in 1964.

After the gold ran out, Monto focused on farming and logging. These are still important industries today. The town was the main centre for the Monto Shire until 2008. Then it became part of the new North Burnett Region.

Population

In 2006, Monto had 1,159 people. By 2016, the population grew slightly to 1,189. In the most recent count in 2021, Monto had 1,156 people.

Amenities

Monto Hospital, 2014

Monto has a cultural and historical centre with a museum. There are also sports facilities, a swimming pool, and a golf club.

Monto Hospital is a 14-bed hospital. It offers 24-hour emergency services. The North Burnett Regional Council runs a public library in Monto. The Monto-Bancroft branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association also meets here. St Theresa's Catholic Church is located on Rutherford Street.

Education

Monto has several schools for young people.

• Monto State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6.
• Monto State High School is a government secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12.
• Monto Cluster Special Education Program helps students from Prep to Year 12 who need special education support. It is located at Monto State High School.
• St Therese's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6.

Heritage Listings

Monto has several places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:

• Monto Cemetery No 1 and No 2
• Monto Watertower and Rotary Park
• Monto Town Design (also known as Monto Government Administration Precinct)
• Hotel Albert
• Monto Shire Hall
• Former Monto Court House
• Former Monto Council Office and Chambers
• Monto Post Office
• Ventnor State School

Tourism

Tourism is a big part of the local economy. Many visitors come to Monto. The main attractions nearby are Cania Gorge National Park and Cania Dam. These are about 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of town.

Monto also has amazing silo art. These huge paintings on old silos tell stories of the past. They show gold mining, cattle mustering, and Aboriginal Dreaming stories. There is also a mural painted on an old water tower.

Dairy Farming

Monto used to be a very busy centre for dairy farming. There were over 400 dairy farms in the area. However, changes in the dairy industry in the 1990s caused many farms to close. Now, there are only a few dairy farms left.

Mining

Monto has deposits of coal and limestone. Some companies have tried to mine other minerals like feldspar and ilmenite. These mining operations have started and stopped at different times. For example, a mine at the Goondicum crater has had several owners over the years.

Facilities

The Monto Aerodrome is an airport located nearby in Three Moon. It has a long, sealed runway. The North Burnett Regional Council manages this airport.

Climate

Notable People

Memorial to Monto's most famous son, jockey Kenny Russell.

Many well-known people have connections to Monto, including:

• Jock R. Anderson
• Gordon Bennett (artist)
• Michael Caton
• Professor Megan Davis
• Gil Jamieson
• Mal Meninga
• Jeff Seeney
• Mark Steketee
• Daphne Seeney