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Millaroo, Queensland
Millaroo is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.[4][5] In the 2021 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 86 people.[1] GeographyThe locality is bounded to the west by the Burdekin River.[6] The place is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-east of Townsville, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) inland from the Coral Sea. It is a sugarcane growing area with underground water supplies to irrigate crops.[6] ClimateMillaroo has a dry-winter humid subtropical climate, bordering on a tropical savannah climate (Köppen: Cwa/Aw). The town experiences a short wet season from December to March and a long dry season from April to October with cooler nights and higher sunshine. Average maxima vary from 33.4 °C (92.1 °F) in November and December to 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) in July, while average minima fluctuate between 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in January and 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) in July. Mean average annual precipitation is moderate: 843.3 mm (33.20 in); but is highly concentrated during the summer; and is spread across 57.2 precipitation days (above the 1.0 mm (0.039 in) threshold). Extreme temperatures have ranged from 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) on 13 February 1969 to −0.7 °C (30.7 °F) on 24 June 1984.[7]
History The name Millaroo comes from Millaroo Creek, which in turn was recorded by surveyor Robert Abbott in 1895, but the original of that name are unknown. There was a pastoral property of that name.[4][8] Following World War II, a number of soldier settlement blocks were established in the area for the purpose of growing tobacco, but it was not successful.[9] In 1952, there was a plan to establish a new irrigation area along the Burdekin River based around a new town. The town to be called Millaroo was to be established as a "modern" "first class" planned town with reserves, parks, and industrial zones suitable for a population of 6,000 (a similar population to that of Ayr at that time). The buildings were to be constructed with brick and concrete to reduce the fire risk.[8][10][11] In 1952, the Millaroo Research Station was established by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock to undertake agricultural research to benefit North Queensland.[9] The Burdekin Gorge Weir (20°28′21″S 147°17′26″E / 20.4726°S 147.2905°E) on the Burdekin River (between Ravenswood and Mount Wyatt) was completed in November 1953 to provide water for irrigation.[12] This led to the land at Millaroo switching to growing sugarcane.[9] Millaroo State School opened on 19 July 1954.[13][14] Millaroo Post Office opened on 1 July 1955 and closed in 1972.[15] DemographicsIn the 2011 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 200 people.[16] In the 2016 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 96 people.[17] In the 2021 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 86 people.[1] Education Millaroo State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 1-13 Cunningham Street (20°03′29″S 147°16′50″E / 20.0581°S 147.2806°E).[18][19][6] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 9 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[20] There is no secondary school in Millaroo. The nearest secondary school is Home Hill State High School in Home Hill to the north-east, but, given the distance, families may prefer to use distance education or boarding schools.[6] References
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Millaroo, Queensland. |
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