The Gia people are the traditional custodians of the Proserpine area. Giya (also known as Kia) is a language of North Queensland. The Giya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Whitsunday Regional Council, particularly the towns of Bowen and Proserpine.[7]
George Elphinstone Dalrymple named the Proserpine River on an expedition in 1859.[8]Proserpine derives from the legend of the Greek goddess Persephone (whose Latin name is Proserpine), named as such due to Dalrymple's perception that the area was exceptionally fertile, and Persephone being the goddess of spring.[9]
The first British colonists arrived in the early 1860s with Daniel Emmerson forming the Proserpine pastoral station. Frederick Bode and William Dangar took up land at Bromby Park and Goorganga Creek, while Charles Bradley and James Colling established properties along the Gregory River.[8]
In 1866, Inspectors John Marlow and John Isley of the Native Police, a government funded paramilitary organisation,[10] conducted patrols through the Proserpine area. They and their troopers "dispersed" around six "large mobs" of Aboriginal people during this mission.[11] Marlow used Daniel Emmerson's property for his stock-yard and bought horses from him.[12]
The Crystal Brook Sugar Company was formed in 1882 and established a sugar industry in the region a year later. A sugar mill was built and the labouring on the plantation was performed by imported South Sea Islanders. In 1893 the plantation, which was located at Glen Isla close to the present Proserpine township, was closed and smaller sugar farms run by white owner-operators were established.[8]
Proserpine Lower Provisional School opened on 16 August 1897. In 1904, it was renamed Proserpine Provisional School, becoming Proserpine State School on 15 March 1906.[13] In 1937, the school was expanded to include a High Top to offer secondary schooling beyond Year 8.[14] In 1946, the Windermere school building at Cannon Valley was relocated to Proserpine State School which was expanding to offer secondary schooling.[15]
In 1944, the Australian Field Experimental Station was constructed at Gunyarra just south of the town. It was constructed to test and research the effectiveness of Mustard Gas in tropical conditions.[18][19]
Proserpine State High School opened on 29 January 1963. Initially the school operated from single building but a second building was constructed during 1963.[13][21] It replaced the High Top at Proserpine State School.[14]
In 1986, construction commenced on the Peter Faust Dam 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of the town to be used for flood mitigation during the wet season and irrigation. The dam was completed in 1990.[citation needed]
In March 2017, Proserpine suffered extensive damage from Cyclone Debbie.[22]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the locality of Proserpine had a population of 3,562 people.[23]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Proserpine had a population of 3,614 people.[1]
One of the town's main industries is sugar production. A sugar mill was established in 1897[26] and Proserpine Sugar Mill is now recognised as one of the most modern sugar mills in the world.[27]
The Proserpine Hospital in Taylor St is the primary health service for the Whitsunday Region .[35]
Amenities
The Proserpine Entertainment Centre
The Proserpine Entertainment Centre is at 14 Main Street. In March 2022, it reopened after being rebuilt following damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March 2017.[36][37][38]
^ abcMcClements, Mavis I (1 January 1975), A town called Proserpine, Royal Historical Society of Queensland, archived from the original on 6 November 2020, retrieved 1 November 2020
^Richards, Jonathan (2008). The Secret War: A True History of Queensland's Native Police. University of Queensland Press
^"NORTHERN MEMS". Northern Argus. Queensland, Australia. 27 June 1866. p. 3. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"STATE SCHOOL". The Proserpine Guardian. Vol. 41, no. 2786. Queensland, Australia. 22 February 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 2 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Proserpine Sugar Mill". 2006 Proserpine Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
