Mount Chalmers, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Chalmers Queensland
Rural landscape, Mount Chalmers, 2016
Mount Chalmers Location in Queensland
Population	226 (2021 census)
• Density	6.494/km2 (16.82/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4702
Area	34.8 km2 (13.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	29.45 km (18 mi) SW of Yeppoon 30.0 km (19 mi) NE of Frenchville 32.6 km (20 mi) NE of Rockhampton 652 km (405 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Livingstone
State electorate(s)	Keppel
Federal Division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Mount Chalmers: Ironpot Cawarral Cawarral Mount Archer Mount Chalmers Tungamull Mount Archer Nankin Nankin

Mount Chalmers is a rural town and locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Chalmers had a population of 226 people.

Geography

The town of Mount Chalmers is in the north of the locality with Mount Nicholson being a neighbourhood within the south of the locality (23°19′00″S 150°39′00″E / 23.3166°S 150.65°E / -23.3166; 150.65 (Mount Nicholson (neighbourhood))).

The locality contains the following named peaks:

• Cabbage Tree Hill (23°18′13″S 150°36′32″E / 23.3037°S 150.6088°E / -23.3037; 150.6088 (Cabbage Tree Hill)) 543 metres (1,781 ft)
• Mount Chalmers (23°18′10″S 150°39′25″E / 23.3029°S 150.65698°E / -23.3029; 150.65698 (Mount Chalmers)) 146 metres (479 ft)
• Mount Standish (23°19′11″S 150°36′58″E / 23.3197°S 150.6162°E / -23.3197; 150.6162 (Mount Standish)) 423 metres (1,388 ft)

History

Fitzroy Copper Mine, Mount Chalmers, 1907

Gold was found in Mount Chalmers in 1860 but gold mining did not commence in the area until 1869. It was named after Mr Chambers who established a battery. In 1899 copper mining commenced.

Panoramic view of Mount Chalmers, circa 1909

Mount Chalmers Provisional School opened on 23 January 1901. On 1 January 1909 it became Mount Chalmers State School. The school was mothballed on 31 December 2005 and its closure finalised on 31 December 2006. In 2014 the Livingstone Shire Council purchased the site for $230,000 for use by the local community. It is located at 16 School Street (23°17′56″S 150°38′27″E / 23.2989°S 150.6409°E / -23.2989; 150.6409 (Mount Chalmers State School (former))).

In 1908, the Yeppoon railway line was established from Sleipners Junction on the North Rockhampton to Emu Park railway line and then through to Yeppoon railway station. Mount Chalmers railway station (23°18′04″S 150°38′28″E / 23.30111°S 150.64111°E / -23.30111; 150.64111 (Mount Chalmers railway station (former))) served the town, and Mount Nicholson railway station (23°19′03″S 150°38′38″E / 23.3175°S 150.6440°E / -23.3175; 150.6440 (Mount Nicholson railway station (former))) served the south of the locality.

In 1911, the census recorded a population of 1,181.

The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart opened a Catholic primary school in 1913.

Mining ended in 1914 and people moved away; the 1921 census showed the population had fallen to 95 people.

Railway bridge on the Yeppoon railway line, Mount Chalmers, 2016

The Yeppoon railway line ceased passenger services in 1978 and closed completely in 2004.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Mount Chalmers had a population of 216 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Mount Chalmers had a population of 235 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Chalmers had a population of 226 people.

Education

There are no schools in Mount Chalmers. The nearest primary school is Cawarral State School in neighbouring Cawaral to the north-east. The nearest government secondary schools are North Rockhampton State High School in Frenchville, Rockhampton, to the south-west and Yeppoon State High School in Yeppoon to the north-east.

Amenities

The Mount Chalmers Community History Centre operates from the old school site. The old school also has a library run by volunteers and supported by the Livingstone Shire Council.