| Proston Queensland |
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Proston
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| Population: | 304[1] |
| Postcode: | 4613 |
| Elevation: | 368 m (1,207 ft) |
| Location: | |
| LGA: | South Burnett Region |
| State District: | Callide |
| Federal Division: | Wide Bay |
Proston is a small town in the south east of the Australian state of Queensland. The town is located 280 kilometres north west of the state capital, Brisbane and 50 km northwest of the South Burnett regions commercial centre, Kingaroy. At the 2006 census, Proston had a population of 304.[1]
The area around Proston is hilly, grassland, grazing country, most of it cleared from the original brigalow scrub that once covered the immediate vicinity. The hilliness of the terrain provides striking panoramic views of the area at several points along the main road.[2]
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The town was founded in 1910 with a land ballot that attracted a group of settlers from England. With little access to water, early settlers struggled to maintain a living from the land. The coming of the railway in 1923 [3] eased some of the early hardships. The construction of the South Burnett Dairy Co-operative Butter Factory in 1934 led to even more growth.[4]
The closure of the railway line and Butter Factory in the 1970s threw the area into a long period of slow decline.[2] The creation of the nearby Boondooma Dam in the 1970s by daming the Boyne River provided a source of water for Tarong Power Station and solved Proston's water problems.
The main agricultural activities in the Proston area are dairying, beef cattle and duboisia, a shrub used in the production of the drug butylscopolamine.
The area is well catered for with sports facilities and clubs. There is the nine hole Proston Golf Club on the western edge of town. Proston's Lawn Bowls Club and the Over 50's group are also popular amongst the locals. Social tennis is held every Thursday night at the tennis grounds, Wondai Road. The locals have dances every week at the Public Hall.[5]
For fishing, the nearby Boondooma Dam is stocked with Australian bass, golden perch (yellowbelly), silver perch and saratoga. There is also a naturally occurring population of eel-tailed catfish (Jew) and spangled perch. Visitors to the dam can also waterski, sail and swim.[6]
The Proston Car Rally club holds a rally every 3 months on their track, 7 km west of Proston on private property. The family weekends include time trials, various classes and burnouts. Free camping is provided.[5]
Manar Park is an off-road park for 4x4s, dirt bikes, quads and buggies, situated on a large cattle station north-east of Boondooma Homestead. Accessible along Manar Road the park does have camping facilities.[7]
The Proston Visitors Information Centre is located in the old railway station, Rodney Street, Proston and is open on Saturday and Sundays 10am to 4pm.
Boondooma Dam is located 20 km north-east of the township. In February each year, anglers compete for more than $4500 in prizes in the Boondooma Yellowbelly Fishing Competition. A Stocked Impoundment Permit is needed to fish Boondooma Dam.[8]
Another annual event is the Proston Show and Campdraft. Held every March at the Showgrounds just on the western outskirts of town.[9]
Nearby Boondooma Homestead was built in 1850 for the settlers, the Lawson Brothers. The Building was built by a Flemish stonemason and recently during restoration, it was discovered to have been built to metric specifications, possibly a first in Queensland. The homestead can be found on the Durong to Mundubbera Road 50 km west of Proston.
An unusual attraction in Proston is Sidcup Castle. The "castle" comprises seventeen rooms, five of which are hexagonal. The entire structure was built from second hand materials by Harold Douglas and designed as an exact replica of his childhood home in Sidcup, Kent.[4]
Proston has a hotel, convenience store, cafe, nursery, post office and police, ambulance and fire brigade services. It also has tennis, golf and bowling clubs, a swimming pool and library.[2]
For accommodation, tourists have the option of staying in town at the Proston Caravan Park next to the Showgrounds, or the Golden Spurs Hotel on the main street. Otherwise there are extensive accommodation choices out at the Boondooma Dam. The dam offers caravan, camping, bunkhouse and cabin accommodation on the Lake's foreshores along with tennis courts, modern amenities blocks, a central kiosk and extensive landscaped picnic and BBQ areas.[2]
There is a Spar convenience store which also sells takeaway food, a post office, pharmacy, fruit and vegetables, newsagency, library, Town Hall, Golden Spurs Hotel, hardware store, a small department store and a quilting shop. There is a laundromat located in Rodney Street.
Other facilities include Proston State School, catering for pre-schoolers to Year 10, a medical centre and ambulance service, the Proston Rural Fire Brigade, Proston Police Station and Proston Transfer Station.
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