Millaroo, Queensland
| Millaroo Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Burdekin River at Millaroo | |||||||||||||||
  Millaroo | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 20°03′25″S 147°16′48″E / 20.0569°S 147.28°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 86 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1.490/km2 (3.860/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4807 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 50 m (164 ft)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 57.7 km2 (22.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Burdekin | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Burdekin | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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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]
Geography
The 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]
Climate
Millaroo 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]
| Climate data for Millaroo (20º03'00"S, 147º16'12"E, 45 m AMSL) (1965-1993 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1958) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 42.2 (108.0) |
44.4 (111.9) |
39.7 (103.5) |
36.5 (97.7) |
33.0 (91.4) |
32.2 (90.0) |
31.0 (87.8) |
36.4 (97.5) |
37.5 (99.5) |
38.7 (101.7) |
43.7 (110.7) |
42.0 (107.6) |
44.4 (111.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.1 (91.6) |
32.5 (90.5) |
31.7 (89.1) |
30.2 (86.4) |
27.9 (82.2) |
25.8 (78.4) |
25.5 (77.9) |
27.5 (81.5) |
29.8 (85.6) |
31.8 (89.2) |
33.4 (92.1) |
33.4 (92.1) |
30.2 (86.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.6 (72.7) |
22.4 (72.3) |
20.9 (69.6) |
17.9 (64.2) |
15.0 (59.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.9 (62.4) |
20.3 (68.5) |
21.8 (71.2) |
17.0 (62.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.7 (60.3) |
17.0 (62.6) |
13.2 (55.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
3.3 (37.9) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
0.5 (32.9) |
4.0 (39.2) |
8.9 (48.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 190.7 (7.51) |
168.8 (6.65) |
128.5 (5.06) |
48.9 (1.93) |
45.9 (1.81) |
20.4 (0.80) |
15.7 (0.62) |
10.4 (0.41) |
8.5 (0.33) |
25.6 (1.01) |
55.0 (2.17) |
127.4 (5.02) |
843.3 (33.20) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.4 | 10.3 | 8.3 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 7.2 | 57.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 229.4 | 200.6 | 220.1 | 222.0 | 223.2 | 234.0 | 251.1 | 266.6 | 273.0 | 297.6 | 285.0 | 257.3 | 2,959.9 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 56 | 56 | 58 | 64 | 64 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 73 | 62 | 67 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1965-1993 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1958)[3] | |||||||||||||
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]
Demographics
In 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
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Millaroo (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. "Map of Millaroo". Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Millaroo DPI Climate Statistics (1958-1993)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Millaroo – town in Shire of Burdekin (entry 22074)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ "Millaroo – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 44668)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Millaroo DPI Climate (1958-1993)". FarmOnline Weather. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ a b "AYR SHIRE DECISIONS". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXII. Queensland, Australia. 18 January 1952. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c "Millaroo Research Station Archive". James Cook University. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "TOP-LEVEL TEAM WILL INSPECT BURDEKIN WORKS". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXII. Queensland, Australia. 23 August 1952. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "First-class Area For Millaroo?". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXIII. Queensland, Australia. 30 January 1953. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BURDEKIN GORGE WEIR COMPLETED". Queensland Times. No. 24, 850. Queensland, Australia. 4 November 1953. p. 6 (Daily). Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Millaroo (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Millaroo (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Millaroo State School". Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
