Middlemount, Queensland
| Middlemount Queensland | |
|---|---|
  Middlemount | |
| Coordinates | 22°49′S 148°42′E / 22.817°S 148.700°ECoordinates: 22°49′S 148°42′E / 22.817°S 148.700°E |
| Population | 1,914 (2011 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 4746 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Isaac Regional Council |
| State electorate(s) | Rockhampton |
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia |
Middlemount is a town in Central Queensland, Australia, located 242 kilometres (150 mi) inland (by road) from Mackay and Rockhampton. It is a mining town servicing two coal mines, Foxleigh and German Creek. At the 2011 census, Middlemount had a population of 1,914.[1]
Middlemount, like many other mining towns in Queensland virtually sprung up overnight in the early 1980s. Middlemount Post Office opened on 2 June 1980.[2] Most of the housing is owned by Anglo Coal.[3] The company operates and maintains some of the town's infrastructure. Most of the houses are almost identical, in this instance there are three types of houses; lowset L-shaped, lowset square and highset.
Nicknamed the "Giant Peanut" by some locals due to its slightly bizarre road layout. Some of Middlemount's notable former residents are Olympic cyclists Anna Meares and Kerrie Meares, Stand Up Comedian Mick Neven and music producer Blake Brown. Schapelle Corby's father also had a property in Middlemount, while working at the German Creek Mine during the 1990s. The Corby's were described as "pretty friendly" by a local Middlemount resident.
Mining
The German Creek coal mine (or Capcoal), operated by Anglo Coal, is notable as having the deepest longwall coal mine in Queensland, and also for operating Australia's only 'thin-seam' underground coal mine, using technology from the USA. It has five producing underground mines (Central, Southern, Bundoora, Grasstree and Aquila) and two open cut (open pit) mines (Oak Park and Lake Lindsay). Central and Southern mines are no longer operating, Southern has become Grasstree West and Central Closed in 2006. Aquila mine is currently in "Care & Maintenance" mode, pending changes to the coal market prices.
The Foxleigh coal mine is a joint venture between Anglo American, POSCO and Nippon Steel It is currently producing around three million tonnes of coal for the export market.
Local attractions
Middlemount has a small shopping complex which contains an IGA store, a butchery, an Australian Post Office, a jewellery and gift store, clothing store 'The Vault', a dentist, a medical centre, a chemist, an ANZ bank, a bakery, a library, 'Lemon Tree' takeaway store and cafe, a hairdressers, and a news agency. The 'Leisure Centre' located across the parking lot from the shopping centre contains 'Hot Rocks' pizza and takeaway store and cafe, a gym, and a hairdressers. Middlemount also has a local pub with a Bottle-O drive-through, a local hall, a restaurant and hotel motel 'The Swag', a skatepark, a local pool, and a golf club. The Middlemount Community School is a joined primary and high school, with years from pre-school to year twelve.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Middlemount (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ↑ Andrew Fraser & Matt Chambers (19 June 2010). "The towns mining built stand by their makers". The Australian (News Corp). Retrieved 13 September 2013.
External links
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