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 and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne.
In the 2021 census, the locality of St George had a population of 3,130 people.
Contents
History
The town was named by Major Thomas Mitchell who crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846.
At the 2011 census, St George had a population of 2,647.
Floods
The town was severely affected by flooding in March 2010, which peaked at 13.5 metres, and again in December 2010 - January 2011.
Flooding once again occurred in February 2012. When there was a possibility of the river reaching 15 metres, about 2000 residents were mandatorily evacuated on 4 and 5 February to evacuation centres in Dalby and Brisbane. A temporary levee was built in St George on the morning of 5 February (Sunday). The Balonne River reached a height of 13.85 metres on Tuesday 7 February.
Geography
The town is 513 kilometres (319 mi) due west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast and sits just inside the region of South West Queensland, Australia.
St George is on the Balonne River which is reputedly an excellent fishing site for fish such as Yellowbelly and Murray Cod.
It sits at the junction of several highways including the Castlereagh Highway, the Moonie Highway, the Carnarvon Highway and the Balonne Highway. The only crossing of the Balonne River is the Andrew Nixon Bridge on the Balonne Highway.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the locality of St George had a population of 3,048 people.
In the 2021 census, the locality of St George had a population of 3,130 people.
Climate
St George experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh); with very hot summers and mild winters with cool nights. Average maxima significantly vary: from 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) in July to 35.3 °C (95.5 °F) in January. Mean annual rainfall, concentrated in the summer is low: 478.3 mm (18.83 in); and occurs within 45.2 rainfall days. The town is sunny: averaging 173.5 clear days and only 72.6 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −4.4 °C (24.1 °F) on the 24th of June 1949 and the 11th of July 1918 to 47.2 °C (117.0 °F) on the 3rd of January 2014.
| Climate data for St George (28º03'00"S, 148º36'00"E, 199 m AMSL) (1997-2024 normals, extremes 1881-2024) | |||||||||||||
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| 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) | |||||||||||||
Heritage listings
St George has the following heritage-listed sites:
- Wagoo Road (27°58′40″S 148°39′16″E / 27.9777°S 148.6545°E): The Anchorage
Economy
The town is a centre for cotton growing, as well as sheep, wheat, onions, garlic, corn, carrots and grapes.
Nature conservation areas
Powrunna State Forest
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Powrunna State Forest is near St George. It includes a secure reserve to provide habitat for the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat which is inaccessible to the public. The reserve was established in 2024 as a partnership between Queensland's Environment Department, Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and Gunggari native title holders, Glencore mining company, and the Wombat Foundation. Fifteen of the wombats were relocated from Epping Forest National Park in early June 2024.
Richard Underwood Nature Refuge
The Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR) is also near St George, and as of June 2024[update] is home to 18 wombats. The area, which lies along the banks of the Balonne River, was gazetted in 2008 as wombat habitat, and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) took on the lease in October 2023. The landowners are Ed and Gabrielle Underwood. It is also home to much other wildlife, including "at least 15 other species of native mammals, 12 species of amphibians, 31 species of reptiles, and at least 83 species of birds" as of 2024[update]. The refuge is completely fenced, to expel feral cats and other predators. Vegetation includes eucalypts such as silver-leaved ironbark and poplar box, along with white cypress pine and belah trees. Native grasses such as mulga mitchell grass and feathertop wiregrass grow at ground level.
Facilities
St George has a visitor information centre, cultural centre, swimming pool, showground, bowling and the St George Golf Club. The address of the golf club is Wagoo Road. It was opened in 1948.
The town also has an airport, St George Airport.
Balonne Shire Council operates a library in Victoria Street.
The St George branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 73 Victoria Street.
Christ Church Anglican is at 133 Victoria Street (28°02′16″S 148°34′42″E / 28.0378°S 148.5784°E). The St George Lutheran congregation hold their services at the Anglican Church.
Education
St George State School opened on 2 February 1874. In 1960 a secondary department was added which operated until St George State High School was opened in 1978. St George State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Grey Street (28°02′16″S 148°34′51″E / 28.0377°S 148.5807°E). In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 217 students with 24 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 246 students with 25 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education (Early Childhood to Year 12) program.
St George State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 2 Victoria Street (28°01′49″S 148°35′34″E / 28.0304°S 148.5927°E). In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 221 students with 25 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 205 students with 28 teachers (23 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent).
Burgorah South Provisional School opened in 1902. On 1 January 1909 it became Burgorah South State School. It closed on circa 1917. Myrtlemount Provisional School, Warrie Provisional School and Hollymount Provisional School (all named after local pastoral stations) opened on 29 September 1919 as a group of part-time schools (sharing a teacher between them). All three schools closed in 1922 due to low student numbers. Tow Towri State School opened circa 1931. It closed circa 1945. Towtowri is a local pastoral property. Rocky Crossing State School opened on 25 January 1988 and closed on 31 December 2003. It was 90 kilometres (56 mi) from St George.
St Patrick's Catholic School was established by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The school opened on 19 February 1933. However, rain caused the official opening and blessing by Bishop James Byrne to be postponed to Sunday 28 May 1933. In 1988 the Sisters withdrew from the operation of the school and it is now under lay leadership. St Patrick's School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 36–44 Balonne Street (28°02′07″S 148°35′11″E / 28.0353°S 148.5865°E). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 180 students with 14 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).
Events
The St George show is celebrated every year over the Labour Day long weekend (weekend of the first Monday in May). Everyone is encouraged to go and locals have a great time sharing stories at the bar and watching the rodeo.
Sport
The St George Dragons (named after the much more famous NRL team) play in the Roma District Rugby League competition.
Notable residents
St George gained national attention with the election of local accountant Barnaby Joyce to the Australian Senate following the 2004 federal election. It is also the hometown of National Rugby League player Dale Shearer.
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's father was also a resident being the Bank of New South Wales manager during the 1930s.
See also
In Spanish: Saint George (Queensland) para niños
