Jericho, Queensland

Jericho is a rural town and locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Jericho had a population of 115 people.[1]

Jericho
Queensland
The main street
Jericho
Coordinates23.605°S 146.1258°E / -23.605; 146.1258
Population115 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1.331/km2 (3.447/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4728
Elevation352 m (1,155 ft)
Area86.4 km2 (33.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Barcaldine Region
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Jericho:
Aramac Laglan Laglan
Barcaldine Jericho Alpha
Barcaldine Blackall Alpha

Geography

Jericho is in Central West Queensland. The town is centrally located in the south of its locality. The Capricorn Highway traverses the locality from west (Garfield/Mexico) to east (Hobartville/Mexico), passing through the town on Darwin Street. The Blackall Jericho Road commences at the town and exits the locality via the south (Mexico).[4]

The Central Western railway passes through the town and locality, immediately to the south of the highway to the west of the town and immediately to the north of the highway to the east of the town. The town is served by the Jericho railway station on Darwin Street (23.6018°S 146.1258°E / -23.6018; 146.1258 (Jericho railway station)).[4][5]

Lagoon Creek rises north of the town and exits the locality to the north-east (Garfield). Jordan Creek enters the locality from the south (Mexico), passes to the immediate east of the town and splits into two branches north of the town, both of which exit the locality to the north (Garfield). All of these watercourses became tributaries to the Alice River in Garfield and contribute to the Lake Eyre drainage basin.[4]

The principal land use outside of the town is grazing on native vegetation.[4]

History

The first exploration by Europeans was by Major Thomas Mitchell who passed through the area in 1846. By the 1850s settlers had moved in.

The Jordan Creek/River (as it is variously known) was named after Harry Jordan, an early settler in the area.[6]

The town and locality name are derived from the railway station which was named Jericho in 1885 by railway surveyor/engineer Willoughby Hannam, because it was the first station west of Jordan Creek (a reference to the Biblical town of Jericho being to the west of Jordan River).[5] The Central Western railway was open to Jericho on 8 June 1885.[7]

Jericho Post Office opened on 2 July 1885 (a receiving office had been open from 1884).[8]

Jericho State School opened on 20 February 1888.[9][10]

In December 2010, half of the town's houses were indundated by floods.[11]

At the 2011 census, Jericho and the surrounding region had a population of 369.[12]

On 22 November 2019 the Queensland Government decided to amalgamate the localities in the Barcaldine Region, resulting in five expanded localities based on the larger towns: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra. Jericho was expanded to incorporate Dunrobin (all except the south-west corner), Garfield (all except the western corner), Grant (eastern corner), Hobartville (south-western part), Mexico, and Narbethong (north-east corner).[13][14][15]

Facilities

Jericho has a drive in theatre, park, swimming pool, town hall and showground.[16]

Barcaldine Regional Council operates a library at 6 Darwin Street inside the Tourist Information Centre.[17]

The Jericho branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 7 Faraday Street.[18]

Education

Jericho State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Pasteur Street (23.6042°S 146.1294°E / -23.6042; 146.1294 (Jericho State School)).[19][20] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 9 students with 1 teacher and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[21]

Tourist attractions

Crystal Trumpeters and the statue of Joshua are both located within Jericho.[22]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Jericho (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Jericho – town in Barcaldine Region (entry 17131)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. "Jericho – locality in Barcaldine Region (entry 47086)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  5. "Jericho – railway station in the Barcaldine Region (entry 17133)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  6. "Jericho". Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  7. Kerr, John (1990). Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways. Boolarong Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-86439-102-5.
  8. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  9. "Jericho SS". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  10. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  11. Calligeros, Marissa and Cameron Atfield (30 December 2010). "Second Queensland town evacuated due to floodwater". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Jericho (Jericho Shire) (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  13. "Recent place name decisions". Queensland Government. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. "Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Barcaldine Regional: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  15. "Locality Boundaries and Names: Barcaldine Regional Council: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  16. "Jericho". Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  17. "Libraries". Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  18. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  19. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  20. "Jericho State School". Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  22. Blythe Moore (14 September 2015). "Outback town pays tribute to biblical heritage with giant statue". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
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