Rolleston, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RollestonQueensland |
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The main street of Rolleston
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 Rolleston
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 132 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.942/km2 (2.44/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4702 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 140.1 km2 (54.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Rolleston is a small country town and the area around it, located in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, Australia. In 2021, about 132 people lived in Rolleston.
Contents
Where is Rolleston Located?
Rolleston sits right on the Comet River. It is about 335 kilometres (208 miles) west of Gladstone. It is also 263 kilometres (163 miles) north of Roma and 694 kilometres (431 miles) northwest of Brisbane.
The closest town to Rolleston is Springsure, which is about 71 kilometres (44 miles) to the north-west. Rolleston is an important meeting point for three major roads: the Carnarvon Highway, the Gregory Highway, and the Dawson Highway.
What is the Rolleston Coal Mine?
About 13 kilometres (8 miles) west of Rolleston, there is a very large coal mine. It is called the Rolleston coal mine. Mining started there in October 2005 and is expected to continue for more than 20 years.
A Look Back at Rolleston's History
Rolleston was built on the traditional lands of the Kanolu people.
The Wadja Language
The Wadja language is an Aboriginal language from Central Queensland. This language was spoken in areas including the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda and the Central Highlands Region. It also covered places like the Blackdown Tablelands, the Comet River, and the Expedition Range. Towns like Woorabinda, Springsure, and Rolleston are also part of this language region.
How Rolleston Got Its Name
The town of Rolleston is named after Christopher Rolleston. He was a pastoralist, which means he managed large areas of land for raising livestock. He was involved in leasing many of these land areas in the 1860s.
Rolleston State School Opens
Rolleston State School first opened its doors on 9 October 1871.
The Kenniff Brothers
The Kenniff brothers, Patrick and James, were well-known cattle thieves and bushrangers in Queensland's history. They often stayed at a place called Lethbridge Pocket, which is now part of Carnarvon National Park. On Easter Sunday, 30 March 1902, a sad event happened there. Constable George Doyle and cattle station manager Albert Dahlke lost their lives.
All Saints Anglican Church
All Saints Anglican Church was officially opened on Sunday, 10 June 1934. The opening ceremony was led by Bishop Fortescue Ash.
Who Lives in Rolleston?
The number of people living in Rolleston has changed over the years:
- In 2006, there were 217 people.
- In 2011, the population was 129 people.
- In 2016, the number grew to 309 people.
- In 2021, the population was 132 people.
Learning in Rolleston
Rolleston State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located at 16 Warrijo Street. In 2018, the school had 63 students. There were 6 teachers and 7 other staff members helping out.
There are no high schools in Rolleston itself. The closest government schools that offer secondary education are Springsure State School (up to Year 10) in Springsure and Emerald State High School (up to Year 12) in Emerald. For students who live far away, distance education (learning from home) and boarding schools are also options.
Important Services and Places
Rolleston has several important services to help the community:
- Rolleston Police Station
- Rolleston Fire Station
- Rolleston SES Facility (SES stands for State Emergency Service, which helps during emergencies like floods or storms).
Community Amenities
The Central Highlands Regional Council runs a public library on Planet Street. This is a great place for reading and learning.
There are also two churches in Rolleston:
- All Saints' Anglican Church, located at 2 Warrijo Street.
- St Theresa's Catholic Church, located at 28 Orion Street.
