Thornborough, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thornborough Queensland
Thornborough Location in Queensland
Population	21 (2021 census)
• Density	0.0506/km2 (0.131/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	415.4 km2 (160.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Shire of Mareeba
State electorate(s)	Cook
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Thornborough: Mount Mulligan Mount Mulligan Glen Russell Chillagoe Thornborough Glen Russell Chillagoe Dimbulah Arriga Mutchilba

Queensland National Bank, Thornborough, around 1888

Thornborough is a very small rural town in Queensland, Australia. It is also a "locality," which means it's a specific area or place. In 2021, only 21 people lived in Thornborough.

This town became well-known in the 1870s because of gold mining. Today, there are only a few old buildings left in the town.

Where is Thornborough?

Thornborough is located in the Shire of Mareeba. Another old mining town, Kingsborough, is found to the north-east of Thornborough.

A Look Back in Time

Thornborough was named in 1876. It got its name from George Henry Thorn, who was the leader of Queensland at the time. He was called the Queensland Premier.

By May 1877, the town's streets were planned out. They were named after important people from North Queensland. These included James Venture Mulligan and William (Billy) McLeod.

Schools in Thornborough

A school called Thornborough Provisional School opened around 1878. In 1909, it became Thornborough State School. For a short time in 1918, it was a "half-time school." This meant it shared a teacher with Dimbulah School. The school closed after that, but reopened in 1920 and then closed for good in 1925.

Another school, Wolfram Camp Provisional School, opened in 1905. It became Wolfram Camp State School in 1909 and was later renamed Wolfram State School. This school closed in 1930, reopened in 1938, and then closed permanently around 1940.

Who Lives in Thornborough?

In 2016, the area of Thornborough had a population of 9 people. By 2021, the number of people living in Thornborough had grown to 21.

Historic Places to See

Thornborough and its nearby areas have some important historic sites. These places are "heritage-listed," meaning they are protected because of their history. Some of these include:

• The General Grant Mine, located off Dimbulah–Mount Mulligan Road, near Kingsborough.
• The Kingsborough Battery, found off the old East Street (now Kingsborough–Thornborough Road) in Kingsborough.
• The Tyrconnel Mine and Battery, located on Kingsborough–Thornborough Road.