Mount Ossa, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Ossa Queensland
Mount Ossa Location in Queensland
Population	224 (2016 census locality)
• Density	2.011/km2 (5.21/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4741
Area	111.4 km2 (43.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	30.8 km (19 mi) N of Mirani 47.4 km (29 mi) Mackay of 997 NNW km (Expression error: Unrecognized word "nnw". mi) Brisbane of
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Whitsunday
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Localities around Mount Ossa: Calen Coral Sea Seaforth Mount Pelion Mount Ossa Kuttabul Mount Charlton Mount Martin Kuttabul

Mount Ossa is a small rural town in the Mackay Region of Queensland, Australia. It's also a coastal locality, meaning it's near the sea. In 2016, about 224 people lived in Mount Ossa.

Exploring Mount Ossa's Landscape

Mount Ossa is a really interesting place because it has both flat lands and mountains. To the north, it touches the Coral Sea. There are also two creeks, Murray Creek and Conow Creek, that flow into the sea.

Flat Lands and Farming

The central and north-eastern parts of Mount Ossa are mostly flat. They are only about 10 to 20 metres above sea level. Many small creeks keep this land well-watered. Farmers here mostly grow sugarcane, which is used to make sugar. Some people also raise cattle.

Mountains and Nature

The south-western part of Mount Ossa is very different. It's mountainous and includes the mountain called Mount Ossa. This mountain is 270 metres tall and the town is named after it. This area is mostly natural bushland. It's also home to the Mount Ossa National Park, which protects the local wildlife and plants.

Roads and Railways

The main road, the Bruce Highway, goes right through Mount Ossa. It connects the town to other places. There are also smaller roads that lead to the coast. The North Coast railway line also runs through the area. The town has its own train stop called Mount Ossa railway station (20°57′28″S 148°50′06″E / 20.9577°S 148.8349°E / -20.9577; 148.8349 (Mount Ossa railway station)).

There used to be two other train stops nearby that are now closed:

• Buthurra (20°59′11″S 148°51′44″E / 20.9865°S 148.8623°E / -20.9865; 148.8623 (Buthurra railway station))
• Clanside (20°56′16″S 148°49′25″E / 20.9377°S 148.8235°E / -20.9377; 148.8235 (Clanside railway station))

A Look at Mount Ossa's Past

The town of Mount Ossa got its name from the mountain and the railway station. A surveyor named William Charles Borlase Wilson chose the name. He picked it from Greek mythology, where there are mountains called Ossa and Pelion.

Early Schools in the Area

About 8 kilometres south-west of Mount Ossa, there used to be a small community called Silent Grove.

• In 1928, the Silent Grove Provisional School opened.
• Later, in 1936, the Silent Grove Upper State School also opened.
• In 1938, the Silent Grove Provisional School closed. It was replaced by the Mount Ossa State School.
• The Silent Grove Upper State School closed around 1964.
• Finally, the Mount Ossa State School closed in 1970.

This means that for a long time, there haven't been any schools directly in Mount Ossa.

Learning Near Mount Ossa

Today, there are no schools in Mount Ossa itself. Students living here travel to nearby towns for their education.

Primary Schools

For younger students, the closest primary schools are:

• Calen District College in Calen
• Seaforth State School in Seaforth
• Hampden State School in Hampden

Secondary Schools

Older students attend secondary schools like:

• Calen District College in Calen
• Mackay North State High School in North Mackay
• Mirani State High School in Mirani