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Kilcoy, Queensland

Coordinates: 26°56′35″S 152°33′55″E / 26.9430°S 152.5652°E / -26.9430; 152.5652 (Kilcoy (town centre))
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Kilcoy
Queensland
Main Street, Kilcoy
Kilcoy is located in Queensland
Kilcoy
Kilcoy
Coordinates26°56′35″S 152°33′55″E / 26.9430°S 152.5652°E / -26.9430; 152.5652 (Kilcoy (town centre))
Population1,996 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density605/km2 (1,567/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4515
Area3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Somerset Region
State electorate(s)Nanango
Federal division(s)Blair
Localities around Kilcoy:
Sheep Station Creek Sheep Station Creek
Winya		 Winya
Woolmar Kilcoy Winya
Woolmar Woolmar Winya

Kilcoy is a rural town and locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,996 people.[1]

Geography

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The township is on the D'Aguilar Highway, 94 kilometres (58 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane, and just to the north of Lake Somerset.

Climate

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Rainfall in January 2013, another year of floods was 364.4 millimetres (14.35 in).[4]

History

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Aboriginal history

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The Aboriginal people of the Brisbane River Valley and Kilcoy region are the Jinibara People, traditionally a nation of five clans: the Dungidau centred in the Kilcoy region and the junction of the Stanley and Brisbane Rivers; the Dala or Dallumbara clan inhabiting the Conondale Range west to the Brisbane River; the Gurumngar around the southern end of the D’Aguilar Range; the Nalbo along the Maleny-Mapleton escarpment and the Dungibara on the Upper Brisbane River.[5][6]

Duungidjawu (also known as Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Duungidjawu country. The Duungidjawu language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Somerset Region and City of Moreton Bay, particularly the towns of Caboolture, Kilcoy, Woodford and Moore.[7]

Kilcoy was the heartland of the Jinibara People and the name comes from a patch of lawyer cane (jini) on Mount Kilcoy;[8] 'bara' means' people' or 'folk'; thus Jinibara are the 'People of the Lawyer cane'. Kilcoy was known as Bumgur, meaning the 'blue cod'.[9]

The Kilcoy region is a rich Aboriginal cultural landscape. Mount Archer was known as Buruja, and also the name of a wetland near Villeneuve that was one of the main camps of the Dungidau clan. Bora rings existed at 'Wellcourt' on Somerset Dam and at Sandy Creek east of Kilcoy, Oaky Creek and Waraba Creek.[10]

The junction of the Brisbane and Stanley Rivers was known as Gunundjin, meaning a 'hollow place', and a sacred place, called Gairnbee Rock, recalled a dreaming story of a girl who went swimming there and was turned by her father, a gundir (clever man) by magic into a rock to save her from a dangerous evil spirit.[11] The Stanley River was also called Gairnbee, meaning the water gum.[12]

British colonisation

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Kilcoy Post Office, 2015
Sir Evan Mackenzie

In 1841, brothers Evan[13] and Colin Mackenzie, of Kilcoy Castle, Newtown Scotland, took up land west of Durundur (in the Stanley River valley) and began grazing sheep soon after land was opened to free settlement.[14] They named it after their home town.[15] They sold the property to Charles A. Atherton in 1849.[16] Atherton in turn sold it to Captain Louis Hope and John Ramsay in 1854.[17] The partnership broke up ten years later, and Hope became sole owner and built the Kilcoy Station homestead of bricks, made on the property, and red cedar. Station managers for Captain Hope were Bryant about 1860, Captain Talbot, 1864 and William Butler from 1871 until the sale, where he purchased the homestead block.[14] Hopetoun Post Office opened on 1 December 1892 (a Kilcoy receiving office had been open from 1889) and was renamed Kilcoy in 1907.[18]

Massacre of Aboriginal people

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See also: Mass poisonings of Aboriginal Australians

In 1842 on the outskirts of Kilcoy Station owned by MacKenzie, 30–60 aborigines of the Gubbi Gubbi tribe, two Djindubari and some men from the Dalla tribe[19] died from eating flour that settlers had laced with strychnine or arsenic.[20][21]

Establishment of township

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In 1877, 2,240 acres (910 ha) were resumed from the Kilcoy pastoral run and offered for selection on 19 April 1877.[22]

Bullock team hauling timber in the Kilcoy district, ca. 1912

Timber milling operations were established as early as 1877, with Frank Nicholson building at Villeneuve, followed by James Green (1888), Hancock Brothers (1897), George Seeney and William and Stan Kropp in the same vicinity.[14] The turn of the century saw a huge increase in activity as Hancock & Gore timber mill began operation.[23]

The site of the 'Town of Kilcoy' was surveyed by W. E. Hill by April 1888, and the first land sale was on 6 November that year.[14] The township quickly developed at the junction of Sheep Station and Kilcoy Creeks to service these settlers and their families.[14]

By the 1890s, the only original lease country left was in the Mt Kilcoy and Sandy Creek districts, part of Durundur Station. This country was not opened for settlement until 1902.[24]

Kilcoy's first Provisional School was opened in 1884 at Sheep Station Creek, some five to six miles north of Kilcoy Homestead, the name changing to Sheep Station Creek Provisional School in 1892 when the Kilcoy School opened its doors in Hope Street in Kilcoy.[24][25] At that time there were still no subdivisions north of William Street as that was part of Kilcoy Station which was sold up in 1907.[23]

St Mary's Anglican Church was built in 1887. The timber church could seat 120 people.[26]

A postal receiving office was established in 1889 .On 1 December 1892, the Hopetoun Post Office was opened at Kilcoy in rented premises in Royston Street. It was named after Louis Hope (the uncle of the first Governor General of Australia, Lord Hopetoun, who was a visitor to Kilcoy Station).[27] The township was referred to unofficially as Hopetoun.[14]

Kilcoy Township Provisional School opened on 15 August 1892. In 1893, it was renamed Kilcoy Provisional School. In 1898, it was renamed Hopetoun Provisional School. In 1907, it became Hopetoun State School. In 1914, it was renamed Kilcoy State School.[28]

Brighton Hills Provisional School opened circa November 1904 and closed circa July 1918. It was described as "via Kilcoy".[28]

20th century

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Kilcoy Methodist Church was built from timber by Mr C. Festers.[29] It was opened on Saturday 14 October 1905 by the Reverend William Henry Harrison, President of the Methodist Conference.[30][31] In 1977, following the amalgamation of the Methodist Church into the Uniting Church in Australia, it became the Kilcoy Uniting Church. It closed on 28 February 2021. It was on a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) site at 74 William Street (26°56′35″S 152°33′36″E / 26.94314°S 152.55991°E / -26.94314; 152.55991 (Kilcoy Methodist/Uniting Church (former))).[32][33][34][35]

Kilcoy District Memorial Hall, 1923

In 1908, the post office name was changed from Hopetoun to Kilcoy, to avoid incorrect mail distribution to other towns of the same name in Victoria and Western Australia.[14][18]

St Michael's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1911 from timber. It was extended in 1914.[36]

In 1912, the Shire of Kilcoy was formed, and the area became independent from the Caboolture Shire.[27][37]

The post office in Kennedy Street opened in 1913.[27]

Kilcoy railway in 1939

The establishment of the Kilcoy railway line in 1913 created a surge in the timber industry with more mills opening near Kilcoy (Bert Woodrow – c. 1916; Thurecht Brothers – c. 1918, George Payne – c. 1919) and at Louisavale (1912), Monsildale (1912) and Yednia (early 1900s).[24]

The rural areas within a relatively small radius of Kilcoy township catering for the settlers laboring in the industries of dairy, cattle and timber were flourishing with cultural activity and those early years around the turn of the century witnessed small schools spring up in West Vale (1887–1910), Villeneuve (1902–1960), Hazeldean (Stanley River, 1898–1973), Gregors Creek (1896–1963), Woolmar (1894–1941), Louisavale (1915–1940), Monsildale (1913–1922 and 1941–1961), Jimna (1923–2006), Yednia (1911–1946), Sheep Station Creek (1884–1942), Somerset at upper Mount Kilcoy (1915–1943), Mount Kilcoy (1909) and Sandy Creek (Winya, 1918–1960).[24]

Somerset Dam during construction, July 1938

Somerset Dam was constructed between 1935 and 1959 with suspension of construction during the Second World War. The dam is situated on the Stanley River approximately 220 kilometres (140 mi) upstream from the mouth of the Brisbane River. Construction of the Somerset Dam created many jobs, one of the project's intentions as it commence during the Great Depression.[38]

In 1953, the Kilcoy Pastoral Company established an abattoir in the town.[39]

The Jinibara people were granted Native Title by the Federal Court of Australia in 2012.[citation needed] The application used a series of tape recordings made in the 1950s of Aboriginal man, Gaiarbau, (also known as Willie MacKenzie) that provided detailed understandings of Aboriginal culture in southeast Queensland.[11] Gaiabau was born at Kilcoy in the 1870s and died in a Salvation Army Home in Brisbane and was buried on 24 June 1968 in Mt Gravatt Cemetery.[40]

In the 1960s, road transport ensured the demise of the railway line (1964) and the old Kilcoy railway yard was converted many years later into a park known as Yowie Park.[24]

In January 1963, a secondary department was added to Kilcoy State School. On 1 January 1972 Kilcoy State High School opened, replacing the secondary department at Kilcoy State School.[28]

21st century

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Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church was built from timber in 2000.[41]

The current Kilcoy library opened in 2011.[42]

A sand mining operation was proposed for the town in 2011.[43]

Circa 2018, the Uniting Church building was used for services by the Kilcoy United Pentecostal Church and the Kilcoy Seventh Day Adventist Church. As at 2024, neither congregation appears to be active in the town.[44][45]

Demographics

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In the 2011 census, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,714 people.[46]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,898 people.[47]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,996 people.[1]

Heritage listings

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Kilcoy has a number of heritage-listed sites, including Kilcoy Homestead on Kilcoy-Murgon Road.[48]

Education

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Kilcoy State School, 2022

Kilcoy State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 47 Royston Street (26°56′44″S 152°33′42″E / 26.9456°S 152.5618°E / -26.9456; 152.5618 (Kilcoy State School)).[49][50] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 304 students with 28 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).[51]

Kilcoy State High School, 2022

Kilcoy State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at Seib Street (26°56′23″S 152°34′02″E / 26.9397°S 152.5672°E / -26.9397; 152.5672 (Kilcoy State High School)).[49][52] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 405 students with 39 teachers (36 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (18 full-time equivalent).[51] It includes a special education program.[49]

Amenities

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The Somerset Regional Council operates a public library at 15 Kennedy Street (26°56′28″S 152°33′50″E / 26.94117°S 152.56390°E / -26.94117; 152.56390 (Kilcoy public library)).[53]

The Kilcoy branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall at 33 Rose Street (26°56′37″S 152°33′45″E / 26.94362°S 152.56263°E / -26.94362; 152.56263 (Kilcoy QCWA Hall)).[54]

There are a number of parks in the area:

Churches

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There are a number of churches in Kilcoy, including:

The local Stanley River Roman Catholic parish has a strong ecumenical focus.[62]

Attractions

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The Kilcoy District Historical Society operates the Hall of History at 39 Hope Street in Yowie Park (26°56′51″S 152°33′49″E / 26.94750°S 152.56373°E / -26.94750; 152.56373 (Hall of History)). The hall contains documents, photos, and artifacts from the district's history.[63]

A history trail has been established to tour past the historical buildings in the town. The trail guide is available from the Hall of History.[64]

The Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre is at 41 Hope Street (26°56′52″S 152°33′48″E / 26.94776°S 152.56322°E / -26.94776; 152.56322 (Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre)).[65]

Notable residents

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kilcoy (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Kilcoy – town in Somerset Region (entry 18096)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Kilcoy – locality in Somerset Region (entry 47780)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ^ Monthly rainfall: Kilcoy Post Office Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  5. ^ Langevad, G. (ed.) (1983). Some Original Views around Kilcoy. Book I. The Aboriginal Perspectives; Book II: Queensland Ethnohistorical Transcripts Vol. 1, Brisbane: Gerry Langevad.
  6. ^ Winterbotham, L. P., 1957. The Gaiarbau Story: Some native customs and beliefs of the Jinibara tribe as well as those of some of their neighbours in south-east Queensland, Brisbane: Archaeology Branch, Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement.
  7. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Duungidjawu". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  8. ^ Steele, J. G., 1984. Aboriginal Pathways in Southeast Queensland and the Richmond River, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.
  9. ^ Gaiarbau cited in Winterbotham 1957
  10. ^ Turnstone Archaeology, (2009). Southeast Queensland Archaeological and Cultural Site Location Data base, Sandstone Point: Turnstone Archaeology.
  11. ^ a b Winterbotham, 1957
  12. ^ Steele 1984
  13. ^ Gibbney, H. J. (1974). "Mackenzie, Sir Evan (1816–1883)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 5. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Pioneers of the Kilcoy District Volume 1 Published 2002 by KDHS
  15. ^ "NOMENCLATURE OF QUEENSLAND.— 164". The Courier-Mail. 8 April 1936. p. 14. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  16. ^ "TRANSFERS OF RUNS". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 111. New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1849. p. 1164. Retrieved 21 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Government Gazette Notices". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 122. New South Wales, Australia. 23 September 1854. p. 2082. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ a b Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  19. ^ Meston, Archibald (20 October 1923). Old Moreton Bay tribes; their languages. Brisbane Courier. p. 18. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018.
  20. ^ Evans, Raymond (2007). A History of Queensland. Cambridge University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-521-87692-6.
  21. ^ "Leichhardt and the Aboriginal War | Leichhardt: A Scientist in a Strange Land". www.leichhardt.qm.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  22. ^ "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020 – via Trove.
  23. ^ a b Pioneers of the Kilcoy District Volume 2 Published 2002 by KDHS
  24. ^ a b c d e Kilcoy District Historical Society records
  25. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  26. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Mary's Anglican Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  27. ^ a b c Pioneers of the Kilcoy District volume 2. 1900 to 1920. Published 2002 by KDHS
  28. ^ a b c Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  29. ^ "HOPETOUN". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXII, no. 14, 824. Queensland, Australia. 17 July 1905. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "RELIGIOUS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXII, no. 14, 901. Queensland, Australia. 14 October 1905. p. 16. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "COUNTRY NEWS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXII, no. 14, 903. Queensland, Australia. 17 October 1905. p. 2. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ Blake, Thom. "Kilcoy Methodist Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Kilcoy Uniting Church - Former". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Kilcoy Uniting Church". Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. ^ "Kilcoy Methodist/Uniting Church" (Map). Google Maps. April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  36. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Michael's Catholic Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  37. ^ "Pioneers of the Kilcoy District volume 1. 1900 to 1920. Published 2002 by KDHS
  38. ^ Wiseman, Neil (12 June 2011). "The way we were: Building Somerset Dam". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Pioneers of the Kilcoy District volume 3. 1920 to 1950, Published Kilcoy District Historical Society 2007
  40. ^ Langevad 1983.
  41. ^ Blake, Thom. "Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  42. ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016–17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  43. ^ Hammond, John (29 November 2011). "Sandmining concern". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  44. ^ "The Pentecostals of Kilcoy". Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  45. ^ "Kilcoy Adventist Church". Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  46. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kilcoy (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 April 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  47. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kilcoy (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  48. ^ "Kilcoy Homestead (entry 600638)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  49. ^ a b c "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  50. ^ "Kilcoy State School". Kilcoy State School. 26 September 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  51. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  52. ^ "Kilcoy State High School". Kilcoy State High School. 27 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  53. ^ "Kilcoy Library". Public Libraries Connect. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  54. ^ "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  55. ^ a b c "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.
  56. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Mary's Anglican Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  57. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Michael's Catholic Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  58. ^ "Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  59. ^ "Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church". Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  60. ^ "South Queensland". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  61. ^ Blake, Thom. "Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church". Queensland Religious Places. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  62. ^ "Stanley River Catholic Church". Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  63. ^ "Kilcoy Hall of History". Experience Somerset. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  64. ^ "Historical Buildings of Kilcoy - History Trail Signs of Kilcoy". National Trust of Australia (Queensland). Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  65. ^ "Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  66. ^ 2023 Queensland Football Hall of Fame – Robert Copeland 14 September 2023

Further reading

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