Killarney, Queensland
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| Killarney Queensland |
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| Population: | 831 [1] | ||||||
| Established: | 1878 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 4373 | ||||||
| Elevation: | 507 m (1,663 ft) | ||||||
| LGA: | Southern Downs Regional Council | ||||||
| State District: | Southern Downs | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Maranoa | ||||||
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Killarney is a small town located 35 km south-east of Warwick, on the Condamine River in Queensland, Australia. The town is within the confines of the Southern Downs Regional Council. Killarney is located about 8 km from the Queensland/New South Wales border. It is close to Queen Mary Falls, in the Main Range National Park, where Spring Creek plunges 40 m into the valley. At the 2006 census, Killarney had a population of 831.[1]
The name of the town is said to be a result of the area's strong visual resemblance to that of Killarney in County Kerry, a region of south-western Ireland.
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[edit] History
Originally part of Canning Downs, established by the Leslie brothers in 1840, the development of the town was largely based on primary production and forestry.
The South Killarney town site was first surveyed in 1878, but the town already boasted several shops and services by this time. Many early settlers to Queensland selected land in the Killarney area with the first of these arriving in 1863. During the 1880’s Killarney was described as “one of the most flourishing towns in Southern Queensland”. [2]
The town was hit by a destructive tornado in November 1968, which destroyed many of the original buildings.[citation needed] Of those remaining, the Butter Factory, the Co-op Building, MacKenzie’s Store (now St Vinnies), the former National bank (opposite the park), former Commercial Bank (opposite the Post Office), the Post Office and the Killarney Hotel hint at its former glory. [3]
[edit] Buildings
The Killarney Co-operative is Killarney’s main street under one roof. Partially operating in the original Milward’s General Store, originally established in 1913 as the Killarney Dairy Company, the Co-operative was formed in 1922 and remains community owned. In 2008, the "Co-op" was a department store boasting in-store banking, gifts, shoes, electrical, hardware, garden, agricultural supplies, supermarket, delicatessen and coffee shop.
Several key buildings remain in Willow St. The Killarney Post Office was built in 1905. The CWA building, formerly the School of Arts, was built in 1888 on stilts over Gravel Creek and is testament to how crowded the main street had become at the towns height. The Killarney Hotel is located in Willow St and is the third hotel to sit on this site.[4]
The Killarney Recreation Club has been a recent addition to the townscape on the southern side of town, built with funds raised by the local community. Two sandstone horseheads at the entrance to the Polocrosse Fields and the “God of Sport Statue” in front of the Club were created by locally based sculptor Paul Stumkat.
[edit] Economy
The local economy is underpinned by agriculture, abattoirs, transport and more recently tourism. The annual agricultural show, rodeos, various horse-related events, the annual Killarney Country Music Festival and the annual Border Ranges Trail Ride are major events that attract substantial numbers of visitors to the town. Killarney has many active community and sporting groups including the Killarney Area Promotion Association
[edit] Attractions
The five waterfalls surrounding Killarney make this area a popular scenic destination, the Teviot Falls, Queen Mary Falls, Dagg’s Falls, Brown’s Falls and Upper Brown’s Falls. During wet weather there are two additional falls, Black Fella Falls and Jack Brunton’s Falls, which can be seen tumbling down the cliffs surrounding Killarney at the bottom of the Cambanoora Gorge.
[edit] Water supply
Water to the town is supplied from a small weir on Spring Creek.[citation needed] In April 2007, the Courier Mail newspaper reported that the town might have to be evacuated due to water shortages caused by years of extreme drought.[5]. In January 2008 the Condamine River broke it's banks after a week of steady rain and buildings in the main street were flooded[6]. Since that time Killarney[7] has returned to the verdant green hills local long term residents find more familiar.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Killarney (L) (Urban Centre/Locality). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Killarney & District Historical Society, Memories of Killarney & District. Pg 7
- ^ Killarney & District Historical Society, Memories of Killarney & District.
- ^ Killarney & District Historical Society, Memories of Killarney & District.
- ^ Towns face drought death blow by Tuck Thomspon. 26 April 2007. Retrieved on 28 April 2007.
- ^ Floods bring relief to Killarney district by By Amy Phillips Wednesday, 16/01/2008
- ^ ABC Tag All things Killarney at the ABC
- ^ The silver lining to summer's storm clouds An ABC 7:30 report that highlights "Australia as the land of drought and flooding rains"
[edit] External Links
