St Lawrence, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St LawrenceQueensland |
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View along St Lawrence's main street
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 St Lawrence
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 245 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.1773/km2 (0.459/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4707 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 18 m (59 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1,381.8 km2 (533.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Isaac Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mirani | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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St Lawrence is a small town in the Isaac Region of Queensland, Australia. It is a rural area, meaning it's mostly countryside with farms and open spaces. In 2021, about 245 people lived in St Lawrence.
Contents
Exploring St Lawrence
St Lawrence is located about 802 kilometers (500 miles) north of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. It's also just 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from the main Bruce Highway.
The town sits near St Lawrence Creek, which flows into a very large bay called Broad Sound. This bay is famous for its huge tides, which can go up or down by as much as 9 meters (30 feet) in summer!
The North Coast railway line goes right through the town. There's even a train station called St Lawrence railway station for people to use. A small area called Newport is also part of St Lawrence, located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) south-east of the main town.
A Look Back in Time
St Lawrence is on the traditional lands of the Koinmerburra people. They are the original custodians of this land.
British settlers arrived around 1860. The town of St Lawrence was first set up to manage the Customs Office for the Port of St Lawrence. This was important for checking goods coming in and out by ship. The town got its name from a part of a nearby cattle station called Waverley.
The St Lawrence State School opened its doors on May 28, 1871.
For many years, church services were held in the St Lawrence Courthouse. But when a meatworks opened in 1893, more people moved to the town. This led to the building of Christ Church Anglican. The foundation stone for the church was laid in 1898 by Thomas Joseph Byrnes, who was the Premier of Queensland at the time. The church was designed to hold about 100 people.
The St Lawrence Library opened in 2001, giving residents a place to read and learn.
St Lawrence used to be the main office for the Shire of Broadsound, which was like a local government area. In 2008, this area joined with two others to form the Isaac Region. Even though the main office for the new region is in Moranbah, the old Broadsound Shire offices in St Lawrence are still used as local offices for the Isaac Regional Council.
Long ago, St Lawrence was a busy port where cattle from inland farms were sent out by ship. Today, many people who live here work as coal miners. They often travel to and from their jobs, which is called "DIDO" (Drive-In Drive-Out).
Important Places
St Lawrence has a few places that are listed for their historical importance. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:
- Christ Church Anglican Church on Cannon Street.
- The St Lawrence Police Station on Macartney Street.
- The old Meatworks and Wharf Site on Settlement Road.
Learning and Community
St Lawrence State School is a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Macartney Street. In 2018, the school had 9 students. Its motto is 'Knowledge, Truth, Honesty'.
The first school building was destroyed by a cyclone in 1874 and had to be rebuilt. Later, a new building opened in 1938. Sadly, this building was destroyed by fire in 2007. A temporary classroom was brought in, and a special wishing well was placed there to remember the old school. In 2021, the school celebrated its 150th anniversary!
There isn't a high school in St Lawrence or nearby. So, older students might learn through distance education (learning from home) or go to a boarding school.
The Isaac Regional Council runs a public library at 22 Railway Parade. It's a great place to find books and resources.
Christ Church Anglican is on Cannon Street. It's part of the wider Anglican Church community in Central Queensland.
Fun Events
Every June, St Lawrence hosts a special event called "Wetlands Weekend." This festival celebrates the local wetlands and the food produced in the area. It started in 2008 to help people understand why wetlands are important to protect.
The weekend is full of fun activities! There are cultural events, workshops, environmental art, and live music. You can also enjoy a "Welcome to Wetlands" evening, a seafood lunch with local produce, and a bush dinner. Sometimes, famous people like TV gardener Costa Georgiadis or chef Matt Golinski visit the festival. This event helps the local economy by bringing in visitors and money.
Images for kids
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St Lawrence River - low tide
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St Lawrence River - across the park
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St Lawrence - Bird watching
