St George, Queensland
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:GeoGroup Template:Infobox Australian place
St George is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne. In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of St George had a population of 3,130 people.<ref name="Census2021" />
History
Aboriginal people
The present township of St George was founded on the boundaries of three Aboriginal groups, the Mandandanji to the north, the Kooma to the south-west and the Bigambul to the south-east.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:SLQ-CC-BY</ref><ref name="collins">Template:Cite book</ref>
These people of the Balonne River fished with hoop nets and hunted ducks and marsupials for meat. They supplemented their diet with the small native melons that grew in abundance in the area, and with yams dug out from the flats along the riverbanks. Their funeral rites consisted of constructing an elevated bark platform on which the deceased would be placed, with fires lit underneath to smoke and preserve the corpse. The mummified remains would then be wrapped in bark and possum cloaks and carried with care by the relatives until they were deposited in a hollow of a tree. Surrounding trees were marked and decorated.<ref name="collins" /><ref name="roderick">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="tropical">Template:Cite book</ref>
British colonisation
In 1845, pastoralist squatters John Gordon Town and Christopher Bagot entered the vicinity looking for land to take up for cattle. The local Commissioner for Crown Lands, Roderick Mitchell conducted an expedition along the Balonne River later that year, taking the name for the river from the Aboriginal residents.<ref name="roderick" />
In 1846, the site where the town of St George now stands was Major Thomas Mitchell's Camp VIII of his expedition into northern Australia. He noticed the natural rocky ford across the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April, thereby naming the site St George's Bridge. He directed his second-in-charge Edmund Kennedy to construct a cattle depot there while he explored further north. Kennedy and his stockmen remained at St George's Bridge for around a month.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name="tropical" />
In 1847, the first cattle stations were established: Burgorah (also known as Warroo, owned by Robert Fitzgerald and managed by Patrick Brennan); Boombah (owned by Henry Dangar and managed by George Hazard); Gulnarbar (owned by George and Anthony Loder, and managed by William Clay); and Wagoo (also known as Wachoo or Culpa, owned by William Ogilvie Jnr, and managed by Robert Hazard).<ref name="collins" /><ref name="EARLY DAYS ON THE BALONNE">Template:Cite news</ref>
Conflict with the local Aboriginal people over land and the killing of cattle ensued with around 40 Aboriginal people and up to nine whites being killed on Burgorah in 1849, Patrick Brennan being wounded in the leg by a spear. Aboriginal men later counter-attacked the stockmen on Burgorah, forcing them to flee to the nearby Boombah property, where Dangar's men were able to reinforce and arm both the stockmen and members of a rival Aboriginal clan. Upon returning to Burgorah, they slaughtered the resident Aboriginal people, burying around 70 of their corpses in a large pit.<ref name="collins" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1852, sweeps by the paramilitary Native Police began in the area. Sergeant Richard Dempster with property managers Patrick Brennan and others, shot at least five Aboriginal people on Wagoo. Later that year, a detachment under Lieutenant George Fulford drove the free Aborigines into the "back country". Some Aboriginal people were allowed to remain on the properties to be utilised as labourers and prostitutes. These were called "station blacks" and by 1855 there were around 40 remaining on Burgorah and 200 at Boombah.<ref name="collins" />
By 1862, Burgorah and Gulnarbar were being utilised as a temporary Native Police barracks where Aboriginal prisoners were tied to trees and flogged, and occasionally shot dead. Lieutenant John Marlow and his troopers made a final sweep of the region in 1862, destroying Aboriginal camps and pursuing them as far as Angellala Creek where he "dispersed" them after a brief battle.<ref name="collins" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Township of St George
The township of St George was gazetted upon a portion of the Burgorah run in March 1864 with the first 59 parcels of land offered for sale a month later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="EARLY DAYS ON THE BALONNE"/>
Andrew Nixon was contracted in 1890 by the Queensland government to build a timber bridge across the Balonne River at St George's Bridge. This was completed in 1892 and later replaced by the current Andrew Nixon bridge and Jack Taylor Weir in 1953.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
St George State School opened on 2 February 1874. In 1960 a secondary department was added which operated until St George State High School was opened in 1978.<ref name="qfhs6">Template:Citation</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite QldSchool</ref>
The first St Patrick's Catholic Church was built in 1874; it is now known as the old parish hall.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> On 3 May 1959 the new St Patrick's Catholic Church was blessed and opened.<ref name=":2" />
The St. George Standard and Balonne Advertiser newspaper was published from 1878 - 1879 and 1902 - 1904.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Burgorah South Provisional School opened in 1902. On 1 January 1909, it became Burgorah South State School. It closed circa 1917.<ref name="qfhs6" />
The Balonne Beacon newspaper was published in St George from 2 January 1909 to 29 December 1954.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Myrtlemount Provisional School, Warrie Provisional School and Hollymount Provisional School (all named after local pastoral stations) opened on 29 September 1919 as a group of part-time schools (sharing a teacher between them). All three schools closed in 1922 due to low student numbers.<ref name="qfhs6" />
Tow Towri State School opened circa 1931. It closed circa 1945.<ref name="qfhs6" /> Towtowri is a local pastoral property.<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref>
Rocky Crossing State School opened on 25 January 1988 and closed on 31 December 2003.<ref name="qfhs6" /><ref name="schoolclosures">Template:Cite web</ref> It was Template:Convert from St George.<ref>Template:Cite QSA Agency</ref>
Floods
The town was severely affected by flooding in March 2010,<ref name="2010floods">Template:Cite news</ref> which peaked at 13.5 metres,<ref name="mandatory evacuation 2012">Template:Cite news</ref> and again in December 2010 - January 2011.
Flooding once again occurred in February 2012, and about 2000 residents were mandatorily evacuated on 4 and 5 February to evacuation centres in Dalby and Brisbane.<ref name="2012 floods">Template:Cite news</ref> A temporary levee was built in St George on the morning of 5 February (Sunday).<ref name="mandatory evacuation 2012" /> The Balonne River reached a height of 13.85 metres on Tuesday 7 February.<ref name="2012 floods" />
Geography
St George is a town and locality in the Shire of Balonne,<ref name="qpnt">Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name="qpnl">Template:Cite QPN</ref> situated Template:Convert due west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and sits just inside the region of South West Queensland. It is at the junction of several highways including the Castlereagh Highway, the Moonie Highway, the Carnarvon Highway and the Balonne Highway. The only crossing of the Balonne River is the Andrew Nixon Bridge on the Balonne Highway.Template:Citation needed
St George is on the Balonne River which is reputedly an excellent fishing site for fish such as Yellowbelly and Murray Cod.Template:Citation needed
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of St George had a population of 3,048 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of St George had a population of 3,130 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Climate
St George experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with very hot summers and mild winters with cool nights. Average maxima significantly vary from Template:Convert in July to Template:Convert in January. Mean annual rainfall, concentrated in the summer is low, Template:Convert, and occurs within 45.2 rainfall days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The town is sunny, averaging 173.5 clear days and only 72.6 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from Template:Convert on 24 June 1949 and 11 July 1918 to Template:Convert on 3 January 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Heritage listings
St George has the following heritage-listed sites:
- Wagoo Road (Template:Coord): The Anchorage<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
Economy
The town is a centre for cotton growing, as well as sheep, wheat, onions, garlic, corn, carrots and grapes.Template:Citation needed
Nature conservation areas
Powrunna State Forest
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Powrunna State Forest is near St George. It includes a secure reserve to provide habitat for the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat which is inaccessible to the public. The reserve was established in 2024 as a partnership between Queensland's Environment Department, Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and Gunggari native title holders, Glencore mining company, and the Wombat Foundation. Fifteen of the wombats were relocated from Epping Forest National Park in early June 2024.<ref name=loftus2024>Template:Cite web</ref>
Richard Underwood Nature Refuge
The Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR) is also near St George, and Template:As of is home to 18 wombats.<ref name=loftus2024/> The area, which lies along the banks of the Balonne River, was gazetted in 2008 as wombat habitat, and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) took on the lease in October 2023. The landowners are Ed and Gabrielle Underwood. It is also home to much other wildlife, including "at least 15 other species of native mammals, 12 species of amphibians, 31 species of reptiles, and at least 83 species of birds" Template:As of. The refuge is completely fenced, to expel feral cats and other predators. Vegetation includes eucalypts such as silver-leaved ironbark and poplar box, along with white cypress pine and belah trees. Native grasses such as mulga mitchell grass and feathertop wiregrass grow at ground level.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Facilities
St George has a visitor information centre, cultural centre, swimming pool, showground, bowling and the St George Golf Club. The address of the golf club is Wagoo Road.<ref name="stgc">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was opened in 1948.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The town also has an airport, St George Airport.
Balonne Shire Council operates a library in Victoria Street.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The St George branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 73 Victoria Street.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Christ Church Anglican is at 133 Victoria Street (Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The St George Lutheran congregation hold their services at the Anglican Church.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
St George State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 128 Victoria Street (corner of Grey Street, Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 217 students with 24 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 246 students with 25 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">Template:Cite web</ref> It includes a special education (Early Childhood to Year 12) program.<ref name="SchoolList2018" />
St George State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 2 Victoria Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 221 students with 25 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 205 students with 28 teachers (23 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017" />
St Patrick's Catholic School was established by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The school opened on 19 February 1933.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="qfhs6"/> However, rain caused the official opening and blessing by Bishop James Byrne to be postponed to Sunday 28 May 1933.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1988 the Sisters withdrew from the operation of the school and it is now under lay leadership.<ref name=":2" /> St Patrick's School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 36–44 Balonne Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 180 students with 14 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017" />
Events
The St George show is celebrated every year over the Labour Day long weekend (weekend of the first Monday in May).Template:Citation needed
Sport
The St George Dragons (named after the much more famous NRL team) play in the Roma District Rugby League competition.Template:Citation needed
Notable residents
St George gained national attention with the election of local accountant Barnaby Joyce to the Australian Senate following the 2004 federal election. It is also the hometown of National Rugby League player Dale Shearer.Template:Citation needed
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's father was also a resident being the Bank of New South Wales manager during the 1930s.Template:Citation needed