Nome, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NomeQueensland |
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Crocodile Feeding at the Billabong Sanctuary, 2009
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 Nome
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 990 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 18.64/km2 (48.3/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4816 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 53.1 km2 (20.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Townsville | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Burdekin | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | |||||||||||||||
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Nome is a small rural area in Queensland, Australia. It is located near the city of Townsville. In 2021, about 990 people called Nome home. It's a place where nature and quiet living come together.
Contents
Discovering Nome: A Queensland Locality
Nome is a fascinating locality within the City of Townsville. It offers a mix of natural beauty and a peek into Australia's past. Let's explore what makes Nome special.
Exploring Nome's Landscape
Nome covers an area of about 53 square kilometers. It sits at an average height of 39 meters above sea level. The landscape features rolling hills and open spaces.
Roads and Railways
The main road, the Bruce Highway, runs along Nome's southern edge. A railway line, called the North Coast railway line, also crosses the area. Long ago, there were several small railway stations here, but they are no longer in use. These included Nome, Alligator Creek, and Killymoon stations.
Mountains and Neighbourhoods
Nome is home to two notable mountains. Mount Matthew stands 305 meters tall. Woodstock Hill reaches 234 meters high. There is also a small area within Nome called Oolbun, located in the northern part of the locality.
How People Use the Land
Most of the land in Nome is used for grazing animals. This means cattle and other livestock roam freely on natural grasslands. You can also find some rural residential areas, where people live on larger blocks of land. A small amount of farming, like growing crops, happens in the southeastern part of Nome.
Nome's Past: A Glimpse into History
The history of Nome is quite interesting, especially how it got its name and its connection to local industries.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "Nome" comes from an old railway station. People believe it's a shortened version of "NQME Siding." This stood for "North Queensland Meat Export" Siding. It shows how important the meat industry once was to this area.
The Old Meatworks and School
The Oolbun neighbourhood was once a busy industrial hub. The Alligator Creek meatworks started here in 1879. It was a large factory that processed meat. After a drought in 1884, it closed for a while.
The meatworks reopened in 1890, making meat extract. Later, in 1914, it became a freezing plant. It supplied frozen meat during World War I. A special railway line was built in 1914 to connect the meatworks to the main railway. This line had its own station, Oolbun railway station. The meatworks finally closed in 1966. Today, the old railway line and station are no longer there.
A school called Oolbun Provisional School also opened in 1917. It was part of the meatworks complex. This school closed around 1932.
Life in Nome: People and Places
Let's learn about the people who live in Nome and the facilities available to them.
Who Lives in Nome?
The population of Nome has stayed quite steady over the years.
- In 2011, there were 992 people living here.
- By 2016, the population grew slightly to 1,016 people.
- In 2021, the population was 990 people.
Most residents were born in Australia. However, Nome also has people from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Learning and Playing
Nome does not have its own schools. Children living here attend schools in nearby towns.
- For primary school, students might go to Wulguru State School or Giru State School.
- For high school, students typically attend William Ross State High School in Annandale, Townsville.
For outdoor fun, there is a park located at the end of Bloodwood Drive. It's a great spot for families to relax and play.
Fun Things to Do in Nome
One of Nome's most exciting attractions is the Billabong Sanctuary.
Discovering Wildlife at Billabong Sanctuary
The Billabong Sanctuary is an amazing place to visit. It is an interactive wildlife sanctuary. Here, you can get up close with many Australian animals. Imagine seeing crocodiles, koalas, and kangaroos! It's a fantastic way to learn about Australia's unique wildlife.
