Kilkivan, Queensland

Kilkivan
Queensland

Kilkivan Hotel-Motel
Kilkivan
Coordinates 26°05′S 152°14′E / 26.083°S 152.233°E / -26.083; 152.233Coordinates: 26°05′S 152°14′E / 26.083°S 152.233°E / -26.083; 152.233
Population 691 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1840s
Postcode(s) 4600
Location
LGA(s) Gympie Region
State electorate(s) Callide
Federal Division(s) Wide Bay

Kilkivan /ˈkɪlkvæn/ is a town and locality in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia.[2][3] At the 2011 census, Kilkivan had a population of 691.[1]

Geography

The town is located on the Wide Bay Highway, 224 kilometres (139 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane and 54 kilometres (34 mi) west of Gympie.

History

Kilkivan was first inhabited by the Gubbi Gubbi tribe of the Australian Aboriginal peoples. The town was first settled by Europeans in the 1840s. Queensland’s first gold discovery was at Kilkivan in 1852 and subsequent findings escalated into a gold rush in the 1860s. The town was named for a pastoral run owned by pastoralist John Daniel Mactaggart after his father's farm name in Kintyre, Scotland.[2]

Kilkivan Post Office opened on 8 June 1868. It was known as Neureum between 1876 and 1881.[4]

Kilkivan War Memorial, 2010

The Kilkivan War Memorial commemorates those of the district who served in the wars. It was dedicated on 28 March 1996.[5]

Kilkivan State School opened in March 1876.[6][7]

Attractions

The Kilkivan and District Museum and information centre in the main street features extensive displays which pay tribute to the regions early pioneers at the museum.[8]

The country town features parks and restored historical buildings. Kilkivan has antique stores, a historical walk, and a cafe and B&B housed in the town's original bank.

Kilkivan is one of the few towns on the Bicentennial National Trail. A stone plaque commemorates the opening of the trail in 1988.

The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride is held annually in April. Over 1,000 horses and riders start from five points around Kilkivan and travel 20 – 30 kilometres (19 mi) along parts of the National Trail to Kilkivan for the Grand Parade down the main street.[9]

Mudlo Gap is a popular forest park 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) north of Kilkivan.

Mount Clara chimney, thought to be the oldest surviving mining industry chimney in Queensland, also among the first built, is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) by road outside town, and is now conserved as a tourist attraction.[10]

Economy

Major industries today include tourism, beef, dairying and forestry.

Heritage listings

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

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kilkivan (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
    Edit this at Wikidata
  2. 1 2 "Kilkivan - town (entry 18114)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. "Kilkivan - locality (entry 46348)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  5. "Kilkivan War Memorial". Monument Australia. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  6. "Schools opening dates". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. "Kilkivan SS". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. "Kilkivan Shire Museum". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  9. "Kilkivan Great Horse Ride". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  10. "Travel - Kilkivian". The Age. Fairfax. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  11. "Mount Clara Smelter (entry 600640)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.

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