Gayndah, Queensland
| Gayndah Queensland |
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 Gayndah, seen from the town lookout |
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 Gayndah
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| Population: | 1,745[1] | ||||||
| Established: | 1849 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 4625 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 25°38′S 151°36′E / 25.633°S 151.6°ECoordinates: 25°38′S 151°36′E / 25.633°S 151.6°E | ||||||
| Elevation: | 106 m (348 ft) | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | North Burnett Region | ||||||
| State District: | Callide | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Flynn | ||||||
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Gayndah (
/ˈɡeɪndə/)[2] is a town located on the Burnett River in Queensland, Australia. It is 366 kilometres (227 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane, and 145 kilometres (90 mi) west of the regional city of Maryborough. The Burnett Highway passes through the town. At the 2006 census, Gayndah had a population of 1,745.[1]
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[edit] History
Exploration of the Gayndah area began in 1843. The first European settlers arrived in 1848, and the town was established in the following year. A post office was established at Gayndah in 1850.[3] Agriculture and grazing have been the dominant industries of the area. The town is the centre of Queensland's largest citrus-growing area. The Gayndah Orange Festival is held every two years to celebrate this industry.
Gayndah was considered for the capital of Queensland, but lost to Brisbane because the river was not deep enough, making it impossible for large cargo ships to unload near the town.[citation needed] Gayndah is the oldest official town in Queensland. The explorers Archer and James Charles Burnett established it in 1847.[citation needed] The town's information centre is located inside a man-made orange.
The name Gayndah is of Aboriginal origin and comes either from Gu-in-dah (or Gi-un-dah), meaning 'thunder', or from Ngainta, meaning 'place of scrub'.[4]
In 1872, the town was the location where the hoax fish Ompax spatuloides was supposedly procured.
[edit] Notable residents
Jessica Anderson, who won the Miles Franklin Literary Award in 1978 and 1980, was born in Gayndah.
Rachel Koster, an independent Australian singer/songwriter, is from Gayndah.[1]
[edit] Cultural Facilities
Gayndah has a public library, the Gayndah Library.[5]
[edit] Sister city
Gayndah has one sister city, according to the Australian Sister Cities Association.
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gayndah, Queensland |
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Gayndah (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL322000&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
- ^ New South Wales Government Gazette, 19 January 1850, cited by Frew, Joan (1981). Queensland Post Offices 1842–1980 and Receiving Offices 1869–1927, p. 277. Fortitude Valley, Queensland: published by the author, ISBN 0 9593973 0 2.
- ^ Reed, A. W. (1973). Place Names of Australia, p. 102. Sydney: A. H. & A. W. Reed. ISBN 0 589 07115 7
- ^ "Gayndah Library Webpage". Gayndah Library. http://www.northburnett.qld.gov.au/?id=34. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
[edit] External links
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