Childers, Queensland

Childers Queensland
Childers Main Street
Childers
Coordinates	25°17′S 152°17′E / 25.283°S 152.283°E / -25.283; 152.283Coordinates: 25°17′S 152°17′E / 25.283°S 152.283°E / -25.283; 152.283
Population	1,410 (2011)[1]
Postcode(s)	4660
Elevation	109.0 m (358 ft)
Location	310 km (193 mi) from Brisbane 52 km (32 mi) from Bundaberg 71 km (44 mi) from Hervey Bay
LGA(s)	Bundaberg Region
State electorate(s)	Burnett
Federal Division(s)	Hinkler
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 26.9 °C 80 °F 15.4 °C 60 °F 1,056.8 mm 41.6 in

The rebuilt Palace Hotel

Childers local businesses

Federal Hotel

Childers is a town in southern Queensland, Australia, situated at the junction of the Bruce and Isis Highways. The township lies 325 kilometres (202 mi) north of the state capital Brisbane and 52 kilometres (32 mi) south-west of Bundaberg. Childers is located within Bundaberg Region local government area. At the 2011 census, Childers had a population of 1,410.^[1] The township is set on a ridge overlooking fields of rich volcanic soil. Childers is renowned for its heritage character and is classified a National Trust town. The historic colonial buildings of the main street (Bruce Highway) are set amongst large, shady leopard trees. The sugar cane industry features prominently in Childers and has sustained the town over the years. Fruit and vegetable cropping is common on the lands around town. Tourism is a growing industry in Childers, with a number of the preserved historic buildings in town becoming tourist attractions.

History

Europeans first arrived in the area in the 1850s. Pastoralists established properties soon after to raise cattle on the fertile lands. Back then, sugar was (as it is now) the key crop grown in the Isis. The railway line to Childers opened in 1887 and was pivotal in the early development of the area. The town is reportedly named after Hugh Childers, British statesman, who was the Auditor-General of Victoria in the 1850s.^[2] The railway line closed in 1964.

Childers has seen a number of serious fires over the years. The 1902 fire destroyed much of the town centre. The town made international headlines in June 2000, when an arsonist set fire to the Palace Backpackers Hostel, claiming the lives of 15 tourists. The hostel reopened in 2004, and includes a memorial to those lost in the blaze. It now acts as an art gallery exhibiting works from local artists.

Childers acts as a major economic centre in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region and is undergoing considerable growth.

Childers retains much of its historic significance, although many of the streets were redeveloped under a 'Streetscape' project that continues today.

Heritage listings

Childers has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Bruce Highway: Childers Post Office (former)^[3]
• Churchill Street: Childers Court House^[4]
• Macrossan Street: Christ Church^[5]
• 6 North Street: The Old Butcher's shop complex^[6]
• 18 Macrossan Street: Isis Masonic Lodge^[7]
• 45 Churchill Street: Isis District War Memorial and Shire Council Chambers^[8]
• 50 Churchill Street: Queensland National Bank (former)^[9]
• 54-58 Churchill Street: Shops and Cafe 54-58 Churchill Street^[10]
• 55 Churchill Street: Childers RSLA Club^[11]
• 59 Churchill Street: Hotel Childers^[12]
• 60 Churchill Street: Chemist 60 Churchill St^[13]
• 61 Churchill Street: National Australia Bank, Childers^[14]
• 62 Churchill Street: Ellwood & Co Drapery (former)^[15]
• 63 Churchill Street: Clock - Pizzey Memorial^[16]
• 66-70 Churchill Street: Jeffery's Building^[17]
• 69 Churchill Street: Childers QATB (former)^[18]
• 71 Churchill Street: Federal Hotel, Childers^[19]
• 72 Churchill Street: Palace Hotel, Childers^[20]
• 74-78 Churchill Street: Hardware Store (former)^[21]
• 75 Churchill Street: Paragon Theatre^[22]
• 80 Churchill Street: Lloyd's Barber Shop (former)^[23]
• 82 Churchill Street: Bakery, Childers^[24]
• 84-86 Churchill Street: Kerr's Building^[25]
• 88-90 Churchill Street: Childers Pharmaceutical Museum & Tourist Information Centre^[26]
• 92-94 Churchill Street: Dittmer's Store/Isis Town and Country^[27]
• 102-108 Churchill Street: Shops at 102-108 Churchill St^[28]
• 106-110 Churchill Street: Grand Hotel, Childers^[29]

Services

The Isis Town and Country is the town's local newspaper, being distributed once weekly. Childers is also served by a monthly community newspaper, the Childers Chit Chat, as well as its own radio station, 88.0FM Red Dirt Radio and commercial radio station Rebel 106.7. Childers remains one of the most picturesque small towns in Queensland.

Education in Childers consists of several primary schools, as well as the local high school, Isis District State High School. In addition, the town services the surrounding areas with its small hospital. Childers has its own courthouse. The town has several emergency service faculties including a police station, ambulance station and rural fire-brigade. It also hosts a branch of the SES.

Childers has many general local services including a branch of the Bundaberg library, an art gallery (Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery- BRAG) and Information Centre. Cultural entertainment facilitated through the Childers Cultural Center- a town hall hired through the Bundaberg Regional Council.

Festivals

Childers holds a Multicultural Festival once a year on the final weekend in July.^[30] The town also hosts an agricultural show; which in the past was held in early August, but is now hosted in late May or early June.

As a celebration of its cultural heritage, Childers also hosts events in October to celebrate the Crush Festival- a region-wide event to mark the end of the sugar-cane crushing season.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Childers