Georgetown, Queensland
| Georgetown Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Entry into Georgetown | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 243 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4871 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 292 m (958 ft)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Etheridge | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mount Isa | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Georgetown is a town and locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the 2011 census, Georgetown had a population of 243 people.[1]
Geography
Georgetown is on the Etheridge River in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Gulf Developmental Road passes through the town, linking Cairns - 380 kilometres (240 mi) to the east - and Normanton - 301 kilometres (187 mi) to the west. Georgetown is the administrative headquarters of the Shire of Etheridge, a local government area encompassing the nearby settlements of Mount Surprise, Forsayth and Einasleigh.
History
The Etheridge River was the site of a gold rush in the 1870s; the town of Georgetown was established on the site of the diggings. Originally known by the name Etheridge, the town's name was changed in 1871 to honour an early gold commissioner, Howard St George.[5] Georgetown Post Office opened on 15 January 1872.[6] Georgetown State School opened on 14 Sep 1874.[7]
By 1900 grazing had replaced gold mining as the region's primary source of income.
At the 2006 census, Georgetown had a population of 254.[8]
Heritage listings
Georgetown has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Gulf Developmental Road: Aspasia Mine and Battery[9]
- South Street: Antbed House[10]
Facilities
Georgetown has a public library, racecourse, swimming pool and a tourist information centre and camping/caravan park.[11]
In 2014, Georgetown State School had an enrolment of 57 students with 3 teachers.[12]
Climate
| Climate data for Georgetown | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 43.5 (110.3) |
41.0 (105.8) |
39.2 (102.6) |
38.3 (100.9) |
36.8 (98.2) |
34.8 (94.6) |
35.4 (95.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
39.5 (103.1) |
42.6 (108.7) |
43.3 (109.9) |
43.5 (110.3) |
43.5 (110.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 34.4 (93.9) |
33.5 (92.3) |
33.4 (92.1) |
32.5 (90.5) |
30.4 (86.7) |
28.2 (82.8) |
28.2 (82.8) |
30.0 (86.0) |
33.0 (91.4) |
35.8 (96.4) |
36.6 (97.9) |
36.1 (97.0) |
32.7 (90.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.9 (73.2) |
22.7 (72.9) |
21.5 (70.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
16.1 (61.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.1 (55.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.7 (67.5) |
21.7 (71.1) |
22.8 (73.0) |
18.4 (65.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.6 (51.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
11.1 (52.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
6.7 (44.1) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 224.9 (8.85) |
212.9 (8.38) |
123.1 (4.85) |
28.8 (1.13) |
9.3 (0.37) |
10.4 (0.41) |
6.7 (0.26) |
4.3 (0.17) |
6.4 (0.25) |
16.7 (0.66) |
50.7 (2.00) |
127.8 (5.03) |
822 (32.36) |
| Average precipitation days | 13.7 | 12.9 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 9.5 | 58.7 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[13] | |||||||||||||
In popular culture
Georgetown is one of the real locations mentioned several times in the novel "A Town Like Alice" by Nevil Shute.
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Georgetown (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Bureau of Meteorology
- ^ "Georgetown – town (entry 13605)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Georgetown – locality (entry 47872)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Georgetown (entry 13605)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Georgetown (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
- ^ "Aspasia Mine and Battery (entry 602245)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ "Antbed House (entry 601628)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ "Georgetown". Centre for the Government of Queensland. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "2014 School Annual Report". Georgetown State School. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Climate statistics for Georgetown". Bureau of Meteorology.
External links
