Paradise, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ParadiseCoringa, Queensland |
|
|---|---|
 Paradise
Location in Queensland
|
|
| Postcode(s) | 4621 |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | North Burnett Region |
| State electorate(s) | Callide |
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn |
Paradise is a fascinating place in Queensland, Australia. It's located right by the Burnett River, within an area called Coringa in the North Burnett Region. Even though it's still officially called a town, Paradise is now a ghost town. This means it no longer has any buildings or people living there.
The Story of Paradise
Paradise began as a busy gold mining town. People flocked there hoping to find their fortune. However, like many mining towns, it was abandoned once all the gold was found.
Life in a Gold Rush Town
The town was officially created on July 20, 1891. During its busiest time, Paradise had important services for its residents. A post office opened on April 3, 1890, helping people send and receive letters. There was also a school, called Paradise Provisional School, which opened around 1892. It was located at 25°21′15″S 151°55′14″E / 25.3542°S 151.9206°E.
When the Gold Ran Out
By 1904, the gold was mostly gone. This meant fewer people lived in Paradise. The school closed in 1904, and the post office closed around June 1905. The school building and the town's public hall were even moved to another town called Mount Shamrock. This shows how quickly towns could disappear when their main resource was gone.
Paradise Today
Today, parts of the old town site are covered by a lake. This lake was formed when the Paradise Dam was built on the Burnett River. Before the area was flooded, experts from the University of Queensland carefully dug up the old town site. This archaeological dig helped them learn a lot about what life was like in Queensland's gold rush towns. It's like a time capsule, showing us how people lived over a hundred years ago.
