St George, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St GeorgeQueensland |
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Australian Hotel, 2021
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 St George
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 3,130 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.2835/km2 (0.734/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1862 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4487 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 200.8 m (659 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 11,042.5 km2 (4,263.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Balonne | ||||||||||||||
| Region | South West Queensland | ||||||||||||||
| County | Belmore | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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St George is a rural town in Queensland, Australia. It is the main administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne. In 2021, about 3,130 people lived in St George.
Contents
St George: A Brief History
The town of St George got its name from Major Thomas Mitchell. He named it after crossing the Balonne River on St George's Day, April 23, 1846.
Facing Floods in St George
St George has faced severe floods several times. Major floods hit the town in March 2010 and again in December 2010 – January 2011.
Another big flood happened in February 2012. About 2,000 residents had to move to safer places like Dalby and Brisbane. This happened because the river was expected to rise very high. A temporary wall was quickly built to help protect the town.
Geography and Location
St George is located about 513 kilometers (319 miles) west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It sits in the South West Queensland region of Australia.
The Balonne River
The town is on the Balonne River, which is known for great fishing. You can catch fish like Yellowbelly and Murray Cod here.
Major Highways Connecting St George
St George is a meeting point for several important roads. These include the Castlereagh Highway, the Moonie Highway, the Carnarvon Highway, and the Balonne Highway. The only way to cross the Balonne River in town is over the Andrew Nixon Bridge.
Climate and Weather
St George has a hot, semi-arid climate. This means it has very hot summers and mild winters with cool nights. The average highest temperature is around 35.3°C (95.5°F) in January. The average lowest is about 5.2°C (41.4°F) in July.
The town gets about 478.3 mm (18.8 inches) of rain each year. Most of this rain falls during the summer. St George is a very sunny place, with many clear days throughout the year.
| Climate data for St George (28º03'00"S, 148º36'00"E, 199 m AMSL) (1997-2024 normals, extremes 1881-2024) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 47.2 (117.0) |
46.8 (116.2) |
43.3 (109.9) |
37.2 (99.0) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.3 (88.3) |
30.9 (87.6) |
37.6 (99.7) |
40.4 (104.7) |
42.6 (108.7) |
45.1 (113.2) |
45.9 (114.6) |
47.2 (117.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 35.3 (95.5) |
33.9 (93.0) |
32.0 (89.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
22.2 (72.0) |
26.5 (79.7) |
29.8 (85.6) |
32.2 (90.0) |
34.2 (93.6) |
28.1 (82.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
13.9 (57.0) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
5.2 (41.4) |
6.2 (43.2) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.7 (58.5) |
18.1 (64.6) |
20.5 (68.9) |
13.9 (57.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.7 (51.3) |
10.2 (50.4) |
5.7 (42.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
3.3 (37.9) |
4.4 (39.9) |
7.8 (46.0) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 52.5 (2.07) |
62.2 (2.45) |
49.5 (1.95) |
21.4 (0.84) |
31.6 (1.24) |
29.9 (1.18) |
23.7 (0.93) |
20.5 (0.81) |
25.2 (0.99) |
43.3 (1.70) |
60.0 (2.36) |
60.2 (2.37) |
478.3 (18.83) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 45.2 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 33 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 43 | 38 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 33 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.5 (41.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.8 (37.0) |
2.0 (35.6) |
2.8 (37.0) |
4.6 (40.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
9.9 (49.8) |
7.1 (44.8) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1997-2024 normals, extremes 1881-2024) | |||||||||||||
Local Economy
St George is an important center for farming. Farmers here grow cotton, wheat, onions, garlic, corn, and carrots. They also raise sheep and grow grapes.
Nature and Wildlife Conservation
St George is close to special areas that protect nature and wildlife.
Powrunna State Forest: Wombat Home
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Powrunna State Forest is near St George. It has a special, protected area for the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat. This area is not open to the public to keep the wombats safe. In June 2024, fifteen wombats were moved here from another national park. This project is a team effort between the Queensland Environment Department, local Indigenous groups, a mining company, and a wombat foundation.
Richard Underwood Nature Refuge
The Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR) is also near St George. As of June 2024, it is home to 18 wombats. This area along the Balonne River was set aside for wombats in 2008. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) helps manage it.
The refuge is also home to many other animals. These include at least 15 types of mammals, 12 types of amphibians, 31 types of reptiles, and 83 types of birds. The area is completely fenced to keep out animals that might harm the wildlife, like feral cats. The plant life includes different kinds of eucalyptus trees and native grasses.
Community Facilities and Services
St George has many useful facilities for its residents and visitors. These include a visitor information center and a cultural center. There is also a swimming pool, a showground, and a bowling club. The St George Golf Club opened in 1948.
The town also has its own airport, St George Airport. The Balonne Shire Council runs a library on Victoria Street. The local branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association also has its rooms in town.
Christ Church Anglican is located on Victoria Street. The St George Lutheran congregation holds its services at this Anglican Church.
Education in St George
St George has several schools for students of all ages.
St George State School
St George State School first opened on February 2, 1874. It is a government primary school for students from early childhood up to Year 6. In 2017, the school had 246 students. It also has a special education program.
St George State High School
St George State High School is a government secondary school. It teaches students from Year 7 to Year 12. The high school opened in 1978. In 2017, there were 205 students enrolled at the school.
St Patrick's Catholic School
St Patrick's Catholic School was started by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. It opened on February 19, 1933. This school is a Catholic primary school for students from Preparatory to Year 6. In 2017, 180 students attended St Patrick's School.
Local Events
The St George show is a popular event held every year. It takes place on the Labour Day long weekend, which is the first Monday in May. It's a fun time for locals to gather, share stories, and watch the rodeo.
Sports in St George
The local rugby league team is called the St George Dragons. They play in the Roma District Rugby League competition. Their name is inspired by the famous NRL team.
Famous People from St George
Several notable people have connections to St George. Barnaby Joyce, a well-known accountant, was elected to the Australian Senate in 2004. He brought national attention to the town. National Rugby League player Dale Shearer also grew up here.
Even Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's father lived in St George. He was the manager of the Bank of New South Wales during the 1930s.
Images for kids
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Australian Hotel, 2021
See also
In Spanish: Saint George (Queensland) para niños
