| Dundathu Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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  Dundathu | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 25°27′44″S 152°44′19″E / 25.4622°S 152.7386°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 238 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 23.11/km2 (59.8/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4650 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 10.3 km2 (4.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Fraser Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Maryborough | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
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Dundathu is a rural locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Dundathu had a population of 238 people.[1]
Geography
[edit]The Mary River forms part of the southern boundary. Saltwater Creek forms a large part of the southern boundary as it flows east to join the Mary.[3]
Maryborough–Hervey Bay Road (State Route 57) runs through from south to north.
History
[edit]William Pettigrew explored along the Mary River in search of timber. He landed at the place he named Dundathu on 29 October 1862. Pettigrew established a sawmill which was operating by October 1863. William Sim was a partner in the Dundathu mill, having previously worked in another of Pettigrew's sawmills.[4] On 25 December 1893, the sawmill was destroyed by fire and it was not insured.[5] The mill was not rebuilt and people moved away. Another fire in August 1895 destroyed a number of empty houses, with Dundathu settlement described as "ashes and desolation" from which it did not recover.[6][7]
On Sunday 21 January 1866, a church was opened in Dundathu provided by Pettigrew and Sims. It was 32 by 18 feet (9.8 by 5.5 m) with a spire rising to 30 feet (9.1 m) with opening for a bell and a clock. The church was to be used as a school during the week and a separate teacher's residence was built.[8] Although initially operating as a non-vested non-denominational school, with the abolition of the non-vested school system in 1880, it became under the control of the Queensland Government as Dundathu Provisional/State School. It closed on May 1895, after the teacher was withdrawn due to low student numbers caused by the closure of the sawmill.[9][10][11]
In 1878, a traveller along the Mary River described Dundathu as follows:[12]
"The next break in the peaceful monotony of the placid river is Dundathu, a timbering establishment consisting of a sawmill, store, school, and about thirty cottages, all nestling in a green hollow among picturesque conglomerate rocks, and commanded by the handsome villa residence of the Sim family."
Demographics
[edit]In the 2016 census, Dundathu had a population of 252 people.[13]
In the 2021 census, Dundathu had a population of 238 people.[1]
Education
[edit]There are no schools in Dundathu. The nearest government primary school is in neighbouring St Helens to the south-west. The nearest government secondary schools is Aldridge State High School in Maryborough to the south-west.[14]
Amenities
[edit]Duriseer Park is a 2.9 hectares (7.2 acres) recreational area on the Maryborough - Hervey Bay Road (25°27′47″S 152°44′00″E / 25.4631°S 152.7334°E).[15] It has playground and picnic/BBQ facilities.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Dundathu (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Dundathu – locality in Fraser Coast Region (entry 46645)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ Google (20 August 2021). "Dundathu, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "POLICE COURT". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser. Vol. VI, no. 422. Queensland, Australia. 10 November 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 27 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser. No. 6, 608. Queensland, Australia. 26 December 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 27 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "NOTES AND NEWS". Gympie Times And Mary River Mining Gazette. Vol. XXVII, no. 3331. Queensland, Australia. 27 August 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 27 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Kerr, John (1998). Forest industry heritage places study : sawmills and tramways South Eastern Queensland (PDF). pp. 278–279. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2024.
- ^ "MARYBOROUGH". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. V, no. 569. Queensland, Australia. 23 January 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – 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
- ^ "Item ID9721, Dundathu State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "No title". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser. No. 7, 001. Queensland, Australia. 2 April 1895. p. 2. Retrieved 27 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE SKETCHER". The Queenslander. Vol. XIV, no. 155. Queensland, Australia. 3 August 1878. p. 557. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Dundathu (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Durisdeer Park". Fraser Coast Regional Council. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
