The Head, Queensland

The Head Queensland
The Head
Coordinates	28.2613°S 152.4436°E / -28.2613; 152.4436 (The Head (centre of locality))
Population	12 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.399/km^2 (1.03/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4373
Area	30.1 km^2 (11.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	20.8 km (13 mi) NE of Killarney 46.4 km (29 mi) SW of Boonah 59.0 km (37 mi) E of Warwick 134 km (83 mi) SW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Southern Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal division(s)	Maranoa Wright
Suburbs around The Head: Mount Colliery Mount Colliery Carneys Creek Mount Colliery The Head Koreelah (NSW) The Falls The Falls Koreelah (NSW)

The Head is a rural locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] It borders New South Wales.[3] In the 2021 census, The Head had a population of 12 people.[1]

Geography

The locality is loosely bounded by the Great Dividing Range to the north-east, east, and south-east. The south-east boundary is also the state border between Queensland and New South Wales.[3]

The terrain is mountainous, ranging from 640 to 1,230 metres (2,100 to 4,040 ft) above sea level.[3]

The Condamine River rises in the north-east of the locality (28.2388°S 152.4786°E / -28.2388; 152.4786 (Condamine River (source))) and flows through the locality exiting to the south-west (The Falls).[3] This may be the origin of the name The Head.

Wilsons Peak is a neighbourhood within the locality (28.283°S 152.433°E / -28.283; 152.433 (Wilsons Peak (neighbourhood))).[4] The mountain from which it takes its name is close to the boundary between The Head and Carneys Creek (28.2500°S 152.4833°E / -28.2500; 152.4833 (Wilsons Peak (mountain))) and is 1,229 metres (4,032 ft) in height.[5]

Part of the north-east of the locality is within the Main Range National Park. Apart from this protected area, the land use is a mixture of grazing on native vegetation and crop growing.[3]

History

The neighbourhood of Wilsons Peak is named after the mountain peak of the same name, which in turn was named by Captain Patrick Logan, commandant of the Moreton Bay penal colony, probably after Captain Wilson, the Director of Public Works in New South Wales. The peak's Indigenous name is Jirramun.[5]

Wilson's Peak State School opened on 23 August 1909 and closed on 1944.[6] It was located at 1966 Condamine River Road (28.2792°S 152.4391°E / -28.2792; 152.4391 (Wilson's Peak State School (former))).[7][3] The site is now used as short-term holiday accommodation.[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, The Head had a population of 7 people.[9]

In the 2021 census, The Head had a population of 12 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in The Head. The nearest government primary and secondary school (to Year 10) is Killarney State School in Killarney to the south-west. The nearest government secondary schools (to Year 12) are Warwick State High School in Warwick to the north-west and Boonah State High School in Boonah to the north-east.[10]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "The Head (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "The Head – locality in Southern Downs Region (entry 46160)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
4. "Wilsons Peak – unbounded locality in the Scenic Rim Region (entry 37622)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
5. "Wilsons Peak – peak in Southern Downs Region (entry 37623)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
6. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
7. "Parish of Emu Vale" (Map). Queensland Government. 1930. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
8. "Oaklea Cottages". Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "The Head (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
10. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2024.