Pittsworth, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pittsworth Queensland
Tattersalls Club Hotel, Pittsworth, 2011
Pittsworth Location in Queensland
Population	3,300 (2021 census)
• Density	55.6/km2 (144/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4356
Elevation	519 m (1,703 ft)
Area	59.3 km2 (22.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	38.9 km (24 mi) SW of Toowoomba 89.8 km (56 mi) NW of Warwick 171 km (106 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Condamine
Federal Division(s)	Groom
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 24.2 °C 76 °F 11.5 °C 53 °F 700.6 mm 27.6 in
Localities around Pittsworth: Springside Stoneleigh Linthorpe Yarranlea Pittsworth Broxburn Scrubby Mountain North Branch Felton

Pittsworth is a country town and area (called a locality) in the Toowoomba Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a busy place that helps support the farms and industries around it. In 2021, about 3,300 people lived in Pittsworth.

Discovering Pittsworth's Location

Pittsworth is located about 169 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of Brisbane. It's also just 41 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Toowoomba.

The town sits on a raised, hilly area of basalt rock, which is part of the Darling Downs in southern Queensland. This area is great for mixed farming and raising animals. Close by, there's a flat, fertile area that floods sometimes. This flood plain is known for growing some of Australia's best grains and cotton. Farmers use the floodwaters to help irrigate their crops.

Pittsworth's Weather

Pittsworth's Past: A Look Back

The first people known to live in the Pittsworth area were the Giabal people.

Early Settlement and Growth

Pittsworth's story began thanks to Allan Cunningham, an explorer and botanist. In 1827, he explored and named the Darling Downs region, where Pittsworth is located.

The town started around a hotel called the Beauaraba. This hotel was a popular stop for farm workers and landowners. In 1877, land from the large Beauaraba farm was made available for people to settle.

The railway line reached Pittsworth in 1877. The train station was named after Charles William Pitts, a farmer who started the Goombungee farm in 1854.

Schools and Churches

Beauaraba State School opened on May 5, 1882. It was renamed Pittsworth State School in 1889. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1932. From 1958, it also taught high school students until a separate high school opened in 1967.

The first St Andrew's Anglican Church was built in 1888-89. A new, larger church was built in 1912-1913.

The foundation stone for St Stephen's Catholic Church was laid in 1908, and the church opened in 1909.

Dairy Industry and Local Government

In 1896, the Co-operative Dairy Company opened in Pittsworth. It made high-quality cheese that was sold all over Queensland. By 1914, Pittsworth's dairy factories were making about 80% of all the cheese produced in the Darling Downs.

In 1923, the Pittsworth Dairy Company made a huge block of cheddar cheese, weighing 3,360 pounds (about 1,524 kg)! It was sent to an exhibition in England. In 1925, they broke their own record with a 4,000-pound (about 1,814 kg) cheese, which was the world's largest single block of cheese at the time!

Pittsworth became its own local government area (called a shire) on April 24, 1913. It had its own council office and hall built in 1914. Pittsworth remained the main town for the Pittsworth Shire until 2008. At that time, it joined with other shires to form the Toowoomba Regional Council.

The town was first known as Beauaraba, but its name was officially changed to Pittsworth in 1915. However, people were already calling it Pittsworth before then.

Education and Community

On August 6, 1916, a convent for the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a Catholic primary school opened. The school was first called St Joseph's Convent School. Later, a new school was built in 1958 and named St Stephen's Catholic School. The Sisters taught at the school until 1981.

The Pittsworth Branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) started in 1924. The QCWA helps women and families in rural areas. They work on things like helping children get an education and providing support to those who need it.

Pittsworth State High School opened on January 23, 1967, offering secondary education to students from Year 7 to Year 12.

The Pittsworth Library opened in 2009, providing books and resources for the community.

In 2016, a fire sadly destroyed the historic Tattersalls Club Hotel, which was built around 1900.

People in Pittsworth

In 2016, Pittsworth had 3,294 residents. By 2021, the population had grown slightly to 3,300 people.

Historic Places in Pittsworth

Pittsworth has some places that are listed for their special history, including:

• the former Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall, located on Short Street.

Learning in Pittsworth

Pittsworth has several schools for students of all ages:

• Pittsworth State School is a government primary school for students from Early Childhood (Prep) to Year 6. It's located at 42 Hume Street.
• St Stephen's School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. You can find it at 22 Murray Street.
• Pittsworth State High School is a government secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It's located on Factory Street and also has a special education program.

Places to Visit and Things to Do

Community Facilities

• The Pittsworth Library is run by the Toowoomba Regional Council and is open Monday through Saturday on Yandilla Street.
• The Pittsworth Civic Pool is a seasonal swimming pool located at 40A Yandilla Street.
• The Beauaraba branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Uniting Church Hall on Briggs Street.
• St Stephens Catholic Church is a large red-brick church that serves the Catholic community in Pittsworth and nearby areas.
• St. Andrew's Anglican Church is on the corner of Murray and Hume Streets.

Local Attractions

A popular place to visit is the Pittsworth & District Historical Society Folk Museum. This museum has a great collection of old buildings, including the former Post Office, a telephone exchange, a one-teacher school, and a fully furnished cottage from around 1900.

You can see interesting items like a lace wrap that belonged to Florence Nightingale and an outdoor display of old carts and farm equipment. The museum also celebrates the achievements of Arthur Postle, known as the "Crimson Flash." He was a famous Australian sprinter who was called 'the champion of the world' in 1906.

Exciting Events in Pittsworth

• The Pittsworth Sprints is a two-day event where cars race against the clock on a special course.
• The Pittsworth Show is held every March. It's been an important event for the region for over 100 years, with lots of fun activities and displays.
• Pittsworth parkrun is a free, timed 5-kilometer run held every Saturday morning at the Pittsworth showgrounds. It's a great way to stay active!

Pittsworth in the News

• Pittsworth FM 87.6 is a local radio station that started in 2008. It plays easy listening and country music.
• The Pittsworth Sentinel is the weekly newspaper for Pittsworth, keeping everyone up-to-date on local news.

Famous People from Pittsworth

Some notable people who have lived in or are from Pittsworth include:

• Sir Alan Roy Fletcher: A local politician who was chairman of the Pittsworth Shire Council.
• Mark Hohn: A professional rugby league player who played for Australia and Queensland.
• Arthur Postle: A world-famous Australian sprinter.
• Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Ziesemer and Theodor Martin Peter Ziesemer: Pioneers in wheat farming in the area.

Images for kids

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  First St Andrew's Anglican Church, 1901

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  The Grand Hotel at Pittsworth, c. 1903

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  Crowd attending Pittsworth Races, c. 1912