Mount Garnet, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount GarnetQueensland |
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Mount Garnet pub
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 Mount Garnet
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 532 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.0570/km2 (2.738/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4872 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 660 m (2,165 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 503.3 km2 (194.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Tablelands Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hill | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Mount Garnet is a rural town and area in the Tablelands Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a place where you'll find lots of open spaces and natural beauty. In 2021, about 532 people lived in the Mount Garnet area.
Contents
Exploring Mount Garnet's Geography
Mount Garnet is located at the south-western edge of the Atherton Tableland. This is a high, flat area of land that is great for farming. The town is also on the Kennedy Highway, a main road that connects different places.
You can reach Mount Garnet by driving about three hours south-west from Cairns. The journey takes you through scenic routes like the Bruce Highway and the Gillies Range Road.
Around Mount Garnet, you'll find smaller communities like Tableland Tin, Innot Hot Springs, and Silver Valley. There's also a neighbourhood called Nymbool in the western part of the area. The old town of Coolgarra, which is now abandoned, is also nearby.
Warruma Swamp and Local Industries
Not far from Garnet Hill is Warruma Swamp. This wetland is a home for many different kinds of birds. It used to be a natural swamp that always had water. Now, it's used to supply water to the town. Fresh water is pumped from the Herbert River into Warruma, and then from there into tanks for the town's water supply.
Mining isn't the only important activity in Mount Garnet. Some of the best cattle farms are found here. Farmers also grow crops like mangoes and corn near the Herbert River. You can even reach the beautiful Blencoe Falls on the Herbert River from some of these cattle properties.
Mountains Around Mount Garnet
Mount Garnet is surrounded by several mountains. Here are some of them, listed from north to south:
- Boulder Peak (910 metres high)
- Excelsior Pinnacle (870 metres high)
- Mount Veteran (876 metres high)
- Mount Fairyland (818 metres high)
- Fuzzy Hill (837 metres high)
- Round Mountain (870 metres high)
- Mount Garnet (782 metres high)
- Ironstone Hill
- Seven Mile Hill (767 metres high)
- Luceys Knob (673 metres high)
Mount Garnet's Rich History
Mount Garnet is on the traditional lands of the Mbarbaram people. The Warungu language, an Australian Aboriginal language, was spoken in this region, including areas from the Upper Herbert River to Mount Garnet.
Early Mining and Town Growth
Mount Garnet was built as a mining town in the late 1800s. Many different minerals can be found here, including tin, copper, zinc, and garnet. Garnet Hill, which is close to the local school, was a major source of tin and garnet back then. You can still see old mine shafts on the hill, covered with sheets of tin.
In 1882, Albert Vollenweider found copper and garnet in the area. He started a small mining operation. Later, in 1898, he sold his mining rights to John Moffat. By 1899, a company called Mt Garnet Freehold Copper and Silver Mining Company was producing high-quality copper. The town grew quickly and became the second-largest inland town in Queensland at the time.
However, by 1906, the company faced financial problems and closed down. Many people moved away to find work. But then, in 1901, rich veins of tin were discovered, and tin mining began to boom. The town started to grow again.
The Mount Garnet Post Office opened on 25 July 1899. The Mount Garnett Provisional School opened on 22 January 1901, and later became Mount Garnett State School.
Churches and Community Life
The Mount Garnet Methodist Church was built in 1902 using timber. It could seat 90 people. In 1977, it became the Mount Garnet Uniting Church, but it is now closed.
In 1937, a new Anglican church, St David's Anglican Church, began construction and was officially opened in 1938. It was built from timber.
In 1939, the Catholic church from Mungana was moved to Mount Garnet by train. On 1 October 1939, the Holy Rosary Catholic Church was officially opened. It was built in a Gothic style with a red roof and white crosses.
Tin Mining and Modern Times
Tin became the most important mineral for the town. In 1928, a large coal-powered dredge was built to dig for tin, but it wasn't very successful and even sank in a flood. Later, new electric dredges were used, like Nanyeta and Nanyeta II. Tin mining supported the town until 1986, when the price of tin dropped, causing many families to leave.
In the 1930s, several cattle stations and farms were set up in the area. They grew crops like tobacco, potatoes, corn, and peanuts. Today, various mining operations and lime production continue just outside the town.
In 2000, the original copper mine reopened, processing copper, zinc, lead, and silver. After some changes in ownership, the mine is now operated by Consolidated Tin Mines, which plans to process tin. Another company, Mount Garnet Tin Resources (MGT), also processes high-grade tin at its Mount Veteran plant.
Sports and Recreation
In 1938, land was given to the people of Mount Garnet to use for sports. A grand racecourse and rodeo grounds were built. During World War II, soldiers used these grounds for rest and relaxation while training. Soldiers helped with construction, and in return, cattle station owners provided horses and bulls for races and rodeos. Today, this area has a top-notch rodeo ground, racecourse, and a golf club. The golf greens are actually inside the racetrack! The races have been held here for over 75 years.
Population Changes in Mount Garnet
The number of people living in Mount Garnet has changed over the years:
- In 2006, the town had 458 people.
- In 2011, the area had 433 people.
- In 2016, the area had 430 people.
- In 2021, the area had 532 people.
Places of Historical Importance
The Mount Garnet area has several sites that are listed for their historical importance:
- Coolgarra Battery, an old mining processing plant.
- Gunnawarra Homestead, a historic home.
- Nettle Creek Tin Dredge, an old machine used for tin mining.
- Mount Garnet Mine Assay Office, an office where minerals were tested.
Education in Mount Garnet
Mount Garnet State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Garnet Street. In 2018, the school had 44 students.
There are no secondary schools in Mount Garnet itself. The closest government secondary school is Ravenshoe State School, which goes up to Year 12. However, it can be a long drive for some students. Other options for secondary education include learning from home through distance education or attending a boarding school.
Getting Around Mount Garnet
The Old Railway Line
A railway line was built to Mount Garnet starting in 1897. It was a difficult project, and it wasn't fully ready until 1904. The line was used to transport minerals, timber, cattle, and crops to coastal ports. It also brought goods and mining machinery into the town. The railway closed on 1 July 1961.
The railway bridge at Mount Garnet was destroyed by a big flood in 1967, but you can still see its remains in Return Creek. The old rail tracks were removed in 1961, and now the path is used as a road for four-wheel-drive vehicles. This road is a very nice drive, and you can see the old stone culverts (tunnels for water) that were built by stonemasons, many of which still work today.
Modern Transport
Today, most transport in Mount Garnet happens by large trucks and semi-trailers. The Kennedy Highway, which runs through Mount Garnet, is quite busy. It's known as the "Gateway to the Coast" and the "Gateway to the Gulf." This road becomes especially important when the Bruce Highway (another major road) is closed due to flooding.
Community Places and Services
Amenities
- The Mount Garnet branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) meets at the QCWA Hall on Garnet Street.
- Holy Rosary Catholic Church is on Opal Street.
- St David's Anglican Church is on Garnet Street.
Facilities
Mount Garnet has several important community facilities:
- Mount Garnet Police Station
- Mount Garnet SES Facility (for emergency services)
- Mount Garnet Primary Health Centre (for health care)
- Mount Garnet Ambulance Station
- Mt Garnet Cemetery
