The Suttor River rises here. The river marks part of the eastern and all of the southern and western boundaries of Mount Coolon. The Sellheim River forms a small section of the northern border. The landscape is dotted with many waterholes and numerous peaks belonging to the Leichhardt Range.[citation needed]
Mount Coolon was originally called Koala, and was founded on Yangga tribal lands. It was renamed after Thomas Coolon, a prospector.[2]
In 1918, following a claims dispute, Coolon shot and killed four men, then committed suicide.[22]
Koala Provisional School opened on 11 July 1921. On 1 September 1925, it became Koala State School. In 1946, it was renamed Mount Coolon State School in 1946. It closed in 1950, but reopened in 1962.[23] It finally closed on 30 April 1971.[24]
Mount Coolon Post Office opened on 1 May 1925 (a receiving office had been open from 1922) and closed in 1984.[25]
Koala police station opened in 1925 and was renamed Mount Coolon police station in 1931. It closed in 1967. 18 police officers served at the station over its lifetime.[23]
Between 1925 and 1967 when the station closed there were 18 officers stationed at Mt Coolon.
Demographics
In the 2011 census, the locality of Mount Coolon had a population of 567 people.[26]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Mount Coolon had a population of 64 people.[27]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Mount Coolon had a population of 172 people.[1]
Heritage listings
Mount Coolon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
There are no schools in Mount Coolon. Glenden State School in Glenden to the east is the nearest government primary and secondary school; however, the distances involved in a daily commute mean that distance education and boarding schools are other options.[30]
Amenities
Mount Coolon Hotel is at 1 Mill Street. It provides meals and accommodation.[31]
The former Mount Coolon State School is now the Mount Coolon Community Centre.[23]
^"Mount Coolon Tragedy". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXXIV, no. 11337. Queensland, Australia. 12 December 1918. p. 5. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abc"HISTORY". Mt Coolon Hotel. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.