Ilfracombe, Queensland

Ilfracombe
Queensland

Town entry signs.
Ilfracombe
Population: 269[1]
Established: 1891
Postcode: 4727
Elevation: 214 m (702 ft)
Location:
LGA: Longreach Region
State District: Gregory
Federal Division: Flynn

Ilfracombe ( /ˈɪlfrəkoʊm/) is a small town in Queensland, Australia that calls itself The Hub of the West. The main industry is sheep rearing, mainly for wool. Ilfracombe is situated on the Landsborough Highway, about 27 km east of Longreach, 214 metres above sea level,[2] within the Longreach Region local government area.

The town was named after a small town in Devon England.[3] At the 2006 census, Ilfracombe and the surrounding region had a population of 269.[1] The town itself has a population of 190.[4]

Notable people from the area include Quentin Bryce, Governor of Queensland and Governor-General of Australia from September 2008,[5], Paul Wilson, author of the international best selling The Little Book of Calm and the Calm series of books and rugby league footballer Matthew Scott.

It is home to a collection of antique agricultural machinery at the Ilfracombe Machinery and Heritage Museum. Other attractions and facilities in the town include a public library, swimming pool, a 14-hole golf course, racecourse and caravan park.[2]

History

Sheep stations were established in the area from 1864.[6] The Central railway line reached Ilfracombe in 1891.[7] The town was much larger in the past. It once had three hotels instead of the single hotel there now and two general stores.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Ilfracombe (Ilfracombe Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC36297&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-04-14. 
  2. ^ a b c "Ilfracombe". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. http://www.smh.com.au/news/queensland/ilfracombe/2005/02/17/1108500203415.html. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
  3. ^ "Ilfracombe". Queensland Holidays. Tourism Queensland. http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/destinations/outback/places-to-visit/ilfracombe/brochure.cfm. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
  4. ^ "Ilfracombe". Longreach Regional Council. http://www.longreach.qld.gov.au/web/guest/ilfrocombe. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
  5. ^ Schubert, Misha (2008-04-14). "A woman takes the keys to Yarralumla". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/first-female-viceregal/2008/04/13/1208024989606.html. Retrieved 14 April 2008. 
  6. ^ "Langenbaker House (entry CHIMS601088)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/chims/placeDetail.html?siteId=601088. 
  7. ^ "Longreach Regional Council". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland. http://queenslandplaces.com.au/longreach-regional-council. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 

External links