Selwyn, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SelwynQueensland |
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 Selwyn
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 25 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.00238/km2 (0.0062/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4823 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 10,504.7 km2 (4,055.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Cloncurry | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Selwyn is a small, mostly abandoned town in the Shire of Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia. It's located in a rural area. Once a busy mining town, Selwyn now has a very small population. In 2021, only 25 people lived in the area around Selwyn.
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Exploring Selwyn's Past
Selwyn gets its name from the Selwyn Range. This mountain range was named after Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn. He was an important geologist who led the Geological Survey of Victoria from 1852 to 1869.
The town was once known as Mount Elliott. This name came from James Elliott, a prospector. He discovered copper and gold in this area in 1889.
Schools and Railways in Selwyn
A school called Mount Elliott Provisional School opened in 1908. It became Mount Elliott State School in 1909. In 1912, its name changed to Selwyn State School. The school closed around 1936.
A railway line was built to Selwyn in 1910. It was called the Selwyn railway line. This line helped transport goods from the Hampden and Mount Elliott mines. It connected Selwyn to the Great Northern Railway at Cloncurry. The railway line to Selwyn closed in 1961.
Selwyn's Boom and Bust
Selwyn's population grew a lot in the early 1900s. In 1918, about 1500 people lived there. The town had a hospital and four hotels.
However, in 1920, the price of copper dropped a lot. This caused many people to leave Selwyn. By 1921, only 191 people remained in the town.
Who Lives in Selwyn Today?
The number of people living in Selwyn has changed over the years. In 2016, the area had 50 residents. By 2021, the population had decreased to 25 people.
Important Historical Sites
Selwyn has some places that are protected because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One important site is the Mount Elliott Mining Complex. These sites help us remember the town's past.
Selwyn in the Present Day
Even though the town of Selwyn is mostly abandoned, mining still happens nearby. In the south-west part of the area, phosphate is mined and processed. Phosphate is a mineral used to make fertilizers for farming.
This mining facility is located at Phosphate Hill. It employs about 250 people. They can produce a lot of phosphate each year. The mine has its own power station called the Phosphate Hill Power Station. A special railway line also connects the mine to the main railway network.
