Proston, Queensland
| Proston Queensland | |
|---|---|
  Proston | |
| Coordinates | 26°10′0″S 151°36′0″E / 26.16667°S 151.60000°ECoordinates: 26°10′0″S 151°36′0″E / 26.16667°S 151.60000°E |
| Population | 304 (2006 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 4613 |
| Elevation | 368 m (1,207 ft) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | South Burnett Region |
| State electorate(s) | Callide |
| Federal Division(s) | Wide Bay |
Proston is a small town in the south-east of the Australian state of Queensland. The town is located 280 kilometres (170 mi) north-west of the state capital, Brisbane and 50 kilometres (31 mi) 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]
History
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.
Heritage listings
Proston has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- cnr Drake Street and Wondai Road: Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter[5]
Economy
The main agricultural activities in the Proston area are dairying, beef cattle and duboisia, a shrub used in the production of the drug butylscopolamine.
Sport and recreation
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.[6]
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.[7]
For quieter fishing and canoeing, Proston Weir is located just south of the town. The weir doesn't provide toilet facilities or picnic tables.
The Proston Car Rally club holds a rally every three months on their track, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Proston on private property. The family weekends include time trials, various classes. Free camping is provided.[6]
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.[8]
Tourism
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 kilometres (12 mi) 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.[9]
Another annual event is the Proston Show and Campdraft. Held every March at the Showgrounds just on the western outskirts of town.[10]
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 kilometres (31 mi) 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, café, 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]
Facilities
There is a Spar convenience store which also sells takeaway food, a post office, pharmacy, bakery that also sells fruit and vegetables, a newsagency, library, Community Hall, Golden Spurs Hotel, hardware store, a small department store that sells men's, women's and children's clothing and shoes as well as kitchenwares, homewares, toys and organic food items, plus a quilting and craft shop. There is also 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. The town is also serviced by Proston Meals on Wheels and also a branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA). There is also an active scout group.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Proston (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Proston and Lake Boondooma. South Burnett Tourism.
- ↑ Red Soil, Wattle and Crows Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, February 1976 pp21-39
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Proston – Queensland. The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ↑ "Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter (entry 33399)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Community. Proston and Districts online
- ↑ Lake Boondooma. South Burnett – Discover the Magic. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ↑ Manar Tourist Park. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ↑ Annual Boondooma Dam Fishing Competition. Lake Boondooma – Caravan and Recreational Park. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ↑ Things to Do in Proston. Jasons Travel Media. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
External links
Media related to Proston, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons
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