St George, Queensland

St George
Queensland

Main street of St George
St George
Coordinates 28°02′03″S 148°34′54″E / 28.03417°S 148.58167°E / -28.03417; 148.58167Coordinates: 28°02′03″S 148°34′54″E / 28.03417°S 148.58167°E / -28.03417; 148.58167
Population 2,647 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1862
Postcode(s) 4487
Elevation 200.8 m (659 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Balonne
State electorate(s) Warrego
Federal Division(s) Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
27.5 °C
82 °F		 13.9 °C
57 °F		 516.8 mm
20.3 in
Localities around St George:
Bindebango
Begonia		 Wycombe
Wellesley		 Parknook
Teelba
Bollon St George Flinton
Dirranbandi Thallon
Weengallon		 North Bungunya
North Talwood

St George is a town and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne. In the 2011 census, St George had a population of 2,647 people.[1]

Geography

The town is 513 kilometres (319 mi) due west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast and sits just inside the region of South West Queensland, Australia.

St George is on the Balonne River which is reputedly an excellent fishing site for fish such as Yellowbelly and Murray Cod.

It sits 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.

History

The town was named by Major Thomas Mitchell who crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846.[2]

At the 2011 census, St George had a population of 2,647.[4]

Floods

Jack Taylor Weir at St George

The town was severely affected by flooding in March 2010,[5] which peaked at 13.5 metres,[6] and again in December 2010 - January 2011.

Flooding once again occurred in February 2012. When there was a possibility of the river reaching 15 metres, about 2000 residents were mandatorily evacuated on 4 and 5 February to evacuation centres in Dalby and Brisbane.[7] A temporary levee was built in St George on the morning of 5 February (Sunday).[6] The Balonne River reached a height of 13.85 metres on Tuesday 7 February.[7]

Heritage listings

St George has the following heritage-listed sites:

Industry

The town is a centre for cotton growing, as well as sheep and wheat.

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.

Facilities

St George has a public library, visitor information centre, cultural centre, swimming pool, showground, bowling and the St George Golf Club.The address of the golf club is Wagoo Road.[9][10] It was opened in 1948.[11] It also has an airport, St George Airport.

Local events

The St George show is celebrated every year over the Labour Day long weekend (weekend of the first Monday in May), Everyone is encouraged to go and locals have a great time sharing stories at the bar and watching the rodeo.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "St George (UCL(". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 "St George - town (entry 32064)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "St George - locality (entry 42683)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "St George (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
  5. ↑ "Locals evacuated ahead of 120-year flood". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Mandatory evacuations ordered for St George as 15m flood predicted". News.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  7. 1 2 Caruana, Patrick; Paull, Nathan (7 February 2012). 207-1r28s.html "Flood-hit Qld resident wait in frustration" Check |url= value (help). Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "The Anchorage, St George (entry 600015)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "St George Golf Club". Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "St George". Centre for the Government of Queensland. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "St George Golf Club". Retrieved 6 November 2014.
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