Ayr, Queensland

Ayr is a town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is the centre of a sugarcane-growing region. In the 2016 census, Ayr had a population of 8,738 people.[1]

Ayr
Queensland
Burdekin Hotel, Ayr, 2010
Ayr
Coordinates19.5744°S 147.4066°E / -19.5744; 147.4066
Population8,738 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density300.3/km2 (777.7/sq mi)
Established1882
Postcode(s)4807
Elevation12.0 m (39 ft)
Area29.1 km2 (11.2 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)Burdekin
Federal Division(s)Dawson
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
29.0 °C
84 °F		 17.8 °C
64 °F		 953.9 mm
37.6 in
Localities around Ayr:
Brandon Alva Airdmillan
Brandon Ayr Airdmillan
Brandon McDesme Jarvisfield

Geography

Ayr is located 88 kilometres (55 mi) south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) away from the (smaller) town of Home Hill. It is 112 kilometres (70 mi) north of Bowen and 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Mackay. Ayr is located near the delta of the Burdekin River. It is within the Burdekin Shire, which produces the most sugar cane per square kilometre in Australia, accessing underground water supplies and water from the Burdekin Dam to irrigate crops when rains fail.

Alva beach, also known as Lynch's Beach,[4] is a popular area for fishing and swimming located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of Ayr.

History

Biri (Birri) is a language of Central and North Queensland. Biri refers to a language chain extending from Central Queensland towards Townsville and is often used as a universal name for other languages and/or dialects across the region. The language area includes the towns of Bowen, Ayr, Collinsville and Nebo.[5]

Ayr is believed to be named after the Scottish town of Ayr, the birthplace of nineteenth-century Queensland Premier, Sir Thomas McIlwraith.[2]

Ayr Post Office opened on 25 August 1883.[6]

Ayr State School opened on 15 November 1886. In 1928 it was expanded to include a secondary school. In 1937, the secondary school became a separate entity, Ayr State High School.[7]

St Francis Primary School opened in 1912 operated by three Sisters of the Good Samaritan.[7][8]

War Memorial Park arch over the gate at the Memorial Park, 1937-1938

The Ayr War Memorial Arch is the entrance to the Memorial Park and commemorates those who served in World War I. It was dedicated in November 1925 by the shire chairman, Councillor Barsby.[9][10]

In 1926 Annie Dennis founded the Burdekin Community Church as a Pentecostal mission for South Sea Islanders.[11]

East Ayr State School opened on 8 August 1952.[7]

Ayr Opportunity School opened for children with disabilities in 1972. It was renamed Burdekin Special School in about 1985. In 2001 the name was changed to Burdekin School.[7]

Burdekin Catholic High School opened on 1 April 1974 in the Marist tradition.[7][12]

Burdekin Christian College was opened on 5 February 1982 by the Burdekin Community Church.[7][11]

In June 2018, the town become the centre of controversy when a racist poster was displayed in a shop window, asserting that foreigners and backpackers were not welcome. Within hours, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin condemned the people responsible for the poster.[13]

Heritage listings
Ayr Post Office, 2014

Ayr has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Ayr courthouse, 2009
Ayr State High School
Burdekin Shire Council Chambers

Population

According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 8,281 people in the Ayr urban centre.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 7.7% of the population.
  • 82.4% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was Italy at 2.1%.
  • 85.4% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Italian at 2.8%.
  • The most common responses for religion were Catholic 37.3%, Anglican 15.7% and No Religion 15.0%.[1]

Education

Ayr State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 141 Graham Street (19.5790°S 147.4005°E / -19.5790; 147.4005 (Ayr State School)).[18][19] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 119 students with 14 teachers (11 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).[20]

East Ayr State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 43-73 Ross Street (19.5634°S 147.4164°E / -19.5634; 147.4164 (East Ayr State School)).[18][21] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 557 students with 47 teachers (40 full-time equivalent) and 22 non-teaching staff (15 full-time equivalent).[20] It includes a special education program.[18]

St Francis' School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 99 Edward Street (19.5704°S 147.4014°E / -19.5704; 147.4014 (St Francis' School)).[18][22] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 304 students with 20 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).[20]

Burdekin Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at 2-Dec Melbourne Street (19.5729°S 147.4170°E / -19.5729; 147.4170 (Burdekin Christian College)).[18][23] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 133 students with 13 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[20]

Burdekin School is a special primary and secondary (Early Childhood-12) school for boys and girls at 159 Young Street (19.5784°S 147.4079°E / -19.5784; 147.4079 (Burdekin School)).[18][24] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 17 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 11 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).[20]

Ayr State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at Cnr Edwards & Wickham Streets (19.5770°S 147.4096°E / -19.5770; 147.4096 (Ayr State High School)).[18][25] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 480 students with 46 teachers (44 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent).[20] It has a special education program.[26]

Burdekin Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 45 Gibson Street (19.5646°S 147.4145°E / -19.5646; 147.4145 (Burdekin Catholic High School)).[18][27] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 436 students with 40 teachers (39 full-time equivalent) and 23 non-teaching staff (19 full-time equivalent).[20]

Health

Ayr is home to a small, state owned hospital. The one-storey building offers basic emergency care and has a helipad for more-serious emergencies.

Transport

Ayr's main street, Queen Street, is a wide two-laned street. The A1 passes through the town. A mostly two-laned highway, it is the major road of the Burdekin, linking Ayr with nearby Brandon and Home Hill.

Ayr Railway Station is the town's rail-transit stop with regular services from Brisbane to Cairns. While the town has no public transport, several bus routes pick up school children across the region.

Sport

A wide variety of sports are played in Ayr, including Touch football, Rugby league, Rugby Union, Soccer, tennis and golf. Netball and Table Tennis (ping pong) are also popular. The Ayr Surf Life Saving club is small and well-established.

Media

Ayr is served by an online publication The Burdekin Advocate, which is owned by News Corp Australia. The Burdekin Advocate moved from print to digital only in 2020.

Amenities

Ayr has the usual chain stores, including Domino's Pizza, ten pin bowling, a toyshop, cinema, six pubs, and a range of sports, electrical and fashion stores. Ayr has several banks including the Commonwealth, ANZ, Suncorp, National and Bendigo Bank.

The Burdekin Shire Council operates a public library in Ayr at 108 Graham Street.[28] Burdekin Library opened in 1984.[29]

The Ayr branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 20 Chippendale Street.[30]

Notable people from Ayr

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ayr (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Ayr – town in Shire of Burdekin (entry 1066)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  3. "Ayr – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 49421)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  4. "Lynchs Beach". Burdekin Shire Council. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  5. "Indigenous languages map of Queensland". State Library of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "Overview". St Francis School, Ayr. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  9. "NEWS OF THE NORTH". Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954). Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 November 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  10. "War Memorial Arch". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  11. "Burdekin Community Church". Burdekin Christian College. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  12. "Principal's Welcome". Burdekin Catholic High School. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  13. "Backpackers furious over explicit poster". Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  14. "Ayr Post Office (Place ID 106172)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  15. "Ayr Court House (entry 601126)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  16. "Ayr State High School (entry 601574)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  17. "Burdekin Shire Council Chambers (entry 601922)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  18. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  19. "Ayr State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  20. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  21. "East Ayr State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  22. "St Francis' School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  23. "Burdekin Christian College". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  24. "Burdekin School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. "Ayr State High School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  26. "Ayr SHS - Special Education Program". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  27. "Burdekin Catholic High School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  28. "Burdekin Library Public Libraries Connect". Public Libraries Connect. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  29. "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  30. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  31. "ABC OPEN: The Bond || From Project: My Back Roads". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  32. Thomas, Hedley (25 September 2015). "Life mission accomplished". The Australian. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  33. Macdonald, Ian. "Dr James Raymond Bourke, MG, AM". Senator Ian Macdonald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  34. Eatgate, Ross (February 2017). "Jim Bourke - Remembering a one-off, larger than life character as I recall him". Alliance of the Defence Service Organisations. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  35. "BOURKE, James Raymond". Virtual War Memorial. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  36. Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2005). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players - Wests Tigers. Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 1-920910-61-1.
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