Edmonton, Queensland

Edmonton is a town and suburb in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2016 census, Edmonton had a population of 10,753 people.^[1]

Edmonton Cairns, Queensland
Triangle palms at SugarWorld, Edmonton, 2008
Edmonton
Coordinates	17°01′08″S 145°44′40″E / 17.0188°S 145.7444°E / -17.0188; 145.7444 (Edmonton (town centre))
Population	10,753 (2016 census)^[1]
• Density	524.5/km^2 (1,359/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4869
Elevation	16.8 m (55 ft)
Area	20.5 km^2 (7.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	13.7 km (9 mi) SSW of Cairns CBD 335 km (208 mi) NNW of Townsville 1,666 km (1,035 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Cairns Region
State electorate(s)	Mulgrave
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Edmonton: Bentley Park White Rock Portsmith Lamb Range Edmonton Wrights Creek Lamb Range Mount Peter Wrights Creek

Geography

Edmonton is located 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) by road south-southwest of the Cairns CBD.^[4] It is within the Cairns Region local government area.^[5]

The Bruce Highway passes from the south (Mount Peter / Wrights Creek) to the north (Mount Sheridan / White Rock) through the centre of the suburb and the North Coast railway line passes from south to north through Edmonton parallel and to the east of the highway. The suburb is served by Edmonton railway station (17°01′11″S 145°44′42″E / 17.0197°S 145.7450°E / -17.0197; 145.7450 (Edmonton railway station)) and Queerah railway station (17°00′17″S 145°44′41″E / 17.0047°S 145.7447°E / -17.0047; 145.7447 (Queerah railway station)).^[6][7] A cane tramway network delivers harvested sugarcane to the Mulgrave Sugar Mill at Gordonvale.^[5]

The average elevation of Edmonton, Cairns is 16.8 metres (55.1 feet) above sea level.

History

Edmonton is situated in the Yidinji traditional Aboriginal country.^[8]

Originally known as Hambledon, then Hambledon Junction, Edmonton began as a group of sugarcane plantations selected in 1883 by Thomas Swallow.^[9]

Blackfellow's Creek Provisional School opened in 1887 with 23 students, becoming Blackfellow's Creek State School in 1903. In 1910, it was relocated to its current site and renamed Hambledon State School.^[10][11]

There was a railway station known as Hambledon Junction from 1897, but in 1911 the Queensland Railways Department took over the Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway from the Cairns Divisional Board and renamed it Edmonton, probably after Edmonton, London, England. The town then took this name.^[2][3][6]

 

The Historic Hambledon Hotel, 2018

The Hambledon Hotel was built in 1907. It burned down in 1918 but was rebuilt in 1919. It is now known as the Historic Hambledon Hotel.^[12]

On 20 April 1916, the Cane Beetles March commenced at Mooliba (now Mirriwinni). It was a snowball march to recruit men into the Australian Imperial Force during World War I at a time when enthusiasm to enlist had waned after the loss of life in the Gallipoli campaign. The march began at Mooliba with 4 men, passing through Babinda, Aloomba, Gordonvale, and Edmonton, and ending in Cairns 60 kilometres later with 29 recruits.^[13][14]

After some years of fund raising, in September 1924, the Anglican community in Edmonton called for tenders to erect a church building.^[15][16] A stump-capping ceremony was held on Saturday 8 November 1924.^[17] The new church was opened and dedicated on Christmas Day, 25 December 1924.^[18][19] In 2000, the Anglican Church sold the church building. It was at 32 Queen Street (17°01′17″S 145°44′48″E / 17.0213°S 145.7466°E / -17.0213; 145.7466 (Edmonton Anglican Church)). It has been converted into a private residence.^[20][21]

Queerah railway station was originally called Wahwon, an Aboriginal name meaning scrub turkey and on 8 September 1925 was renamed Queerah, an Aboriginal word, meaning a cyclone.^[7]

The Edmonton Catholic School was established on 29 April 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy with an initial enrolment of 30 pupils. In 1965 it was renamed St Therese's School. As suburban development increased around Edmonton, the rising number of students made it necessary to relocate the school to neighbouring Bentley Park in 1995. Although now under lay leadership, the school continues to operate in the Mercy tradition.^[22]

The Edmonton parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns was established in 1965. Its only church, St Theresa's, is at 135 Robert Street in neighbouring Bentley Park.^[23]

The Edmonton public library building opened in 1975.^[24]

The primary industry in Edmonton was traditionally growing sugarcane, but as Edmonton has grown, it has become an outer suburb of Cairns. Edmonton has experienced rapid growth in new housing estates in recent years^[when?] resulting in consequent population growth.^{[citation needed]}

On 20 October 1983, the first Sikh temple in Queensland, the Guru Nanak Gurudwara, was opened at 289 Djarragun Way (just off the Bruce Highway) but is now within the present-day boundaries of neighbouring Mount Peter.^[25][26]

Edmonton Uniting Church opened in 1998.^[27]

In March 2006, Tropical Cyclone Larry hit Edmonton causing minimal damage. The centre of the cyclone passed through the town of Innisfail, 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of the suburb.

At the 2006 census, Edmonton had a population of 8,035.^[28]

Isabella State School opened on 29 January 2007.^[29][30][31]

In the 2016 census, Edmonton had a population of 10,753 people.^[1]

The Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre opened on 29 January 2019.^[32]

In 2023, Blackfellow's Creek was renamed Bana Gindarja Creek. The community was divided over the name change.^[33][34][35]

Education

 

Hambledon State School, 2023

Hambledon State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 77-83 Stokes Street (17°01′16″S 145°44′08″E / 17.0212°S 145.7356°E / -17.0212; 145.7356 (Hambledon State School)).^[36][37] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 774 students with 66 teachers (57 full-time equivalent) and 38 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent).^[38] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 694 students with 63 teachers (52 full-time equivalent) and 44 non-teaching staff (28 full-time equivalent).^[39] It includes a special education program.^[36][40]

 

Isabella State School, 2023

Isabella State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Walker Road (17°00′56″S 145°43′23″E / 17.0156°S 145.7231°E / -17.0156; 145.7231 (Isabella State School)).^[36][41] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 625 students with 45 teachers (40 full-time equivalent) and 37 non-teaching staff (21 full-time equivalent).^[42] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 600 students with 43 teachers (39 full-time equivalent) and 36 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent).^[39] It includes a special education program.^[36]

The Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre is an infants (Prep-2) special education school for boys and girls 15-17 Marr Street (17°01′24″S 145°44′14″E / 17.0233°S 145.7373°E / -17.0233; 145.7373 (Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre)). It provides 2 days per week of specialist autism programs and the children attend regular schools for the rest of the week.^[32]

There are no secondary schools in Edmonton. The nearest secondary school is Bentley Park State College in neighbouring Bentley Park to the north-west.^[5]

Communications

As a suburb of Cairns, Edmonton is served by the city's broadcasting media outlets and the Cairns Post newspaper. The Southern Herald is the local independent monthly suburban newspaper which is delivered to homes in Edmonton.

Amenities

The Cairns Regional Council operates the Edmonton Library at 175 Bruce Highway (17°01′02″S 145°44′38″E / 17.0173°S 145.7438°E / -17.0173; 145.7438 (Edmonton Public Library)).^[43]

Edmonton Uniting Church is at 2-6 Ravizza Close (17°01′04″S 145°44′34″E / 17.0179°S 145.7429°E / -17.0179; 145.7429 (Edmonton Uniting Church)).^[44] It is part of the Presbytery of North Queensland of the Uniting Church in Australia.^[45]

Attractions

Edmonton is home to a mid-sized water park/recreation area named Sugarworld in Hambledon Drive (17°01′18″S 145°43′33″E / 17.0216°S 145.7259°E / -17.0216; 145.7259 (Sugarworld)).^[46] The park is on the site of the former Hambledon sugar mill and includes some relics and century-old trees from the mill.^[47]

See also

• List of tramways in Queensland

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Edmonton (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
2. "Edmonton – town in Cairns Region (entry 11212)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
3. "Edmonton – suburb in Cairns Region (entry 48618)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
4. "Cairns City to Edmondton". Google Maps. from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
6. "Edmonton – railway station in the Cairns Region (entry 11213)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
7. "Queerah – railway station in the Cairns Region (entry 27806)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
8. "Indigenous culture and history". Cairns Regional Council. 11 April 2017. from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
9. "Cairns Heritage Page" (PDF). Cairns Regional Council. (PDF) from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
10. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
11. "Our school". Hambledon State School. 14 April 2020. from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
12. "The Historic Hambledon Hotel". Arts and Culture Map. Cairns Regional Council. from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
13. Clarke, Harry (24 April 2015). "'Cane Beetles March' mobilised farmers from Babinda to Cairns to join Australian Imperial Force in WWI". The Cairns Post. from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
14. "CAIRNS NEWS". Daily Standard. No. 1011. Queensland, Australia. 1 April 1916. p. 5 (SECOND EDITION). from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "Church Building at Edmonton". The Northern Herald. Vol. XLVI, no. 596. Queensland, Australia. 3 September 1924. p. 5. from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "Advertising". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 4975. Queensland, Australia. 6 September 1924. p. 2. from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "Stump-Capping Church at Edmonton". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 5034. Queensland, Australia. 14 November 1924. p. 4. from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "CHURCH SERVICES". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 5068. Queensland, Australia. 24 December 1924. p. 4. from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
19. "EDMONTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 5074. Queensland, Australia. 3 January 1925. p. 3. from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
20. "Former Edmonton church open for inspection - realestate.com.au". Realestate.com.au. from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
21. "Queen Street, Edmonton Church - Former". Churches Australia. from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
22. "Our History". St Therese's Catholic School, Bentley Park. 20 February 2017. from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
23. "Edmonton Parish". Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns. from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
24. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 12. (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
25. . Australian Indian Historical Society. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
26. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
27. Blake, Thom. "Edmonton Uniting Church". Queensland religious places database. from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
28. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Edmonton (Cairns City) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
29. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
30. "History". Isabella State School. 26 March 2020. from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
31. "Facilities". Isabella State School. 26 March 2020. from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
32. "Education, Therapy and Support Services - Autism Queensland". Autism Queensland. 25 January 2019. from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
33. "Bana Gindarja Creek – watercourse in the Cairns Region (entry 52206)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
34. Jackson, Luke (10 May 2023). "Renaming of Blackfellows Creek to Bana Gindarja Creek" (PDF). Cairns Regional Council. (PDF) from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
35. "Community opinion divided over proposal to change 'offensive' creek name in far north Queensland". ABC News. 24 July 2022. from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
36. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
37. "Hambledon State School". Hambledon State School. 14 April 2020. from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
38. "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Hambledon State School. (PDF) from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
39. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
40. "Hambledon SS - Special Education Program". from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
41. "Isabella State School". Isabella State School. 26 March 2020. from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
42. "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Isabella State School. (PDF) from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
43. "Edmonton Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 25 March 2015. from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
44. "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
45. "Edmonton Uniting Church". from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
46. "Sugarworld". from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
47. "Sugarworld". Cairns Arts and Culture Map. from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.

Further reading

• Hambledon State School : formerly Blackfellow's Creek Provisional School : a souvenir booklet incorporating the history of the school and Edmonton-Hambledon area, Hambledon State School Centenary Committee, 1987, ISBN 978-0-7316-0809-6

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edmonton, Queensland.

• "Edmonton". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
• "Town map of Edmonton". Queensland Government. 1976.