Marlborough, Queensland

Marlborough is a small town and locality in the Shire of Livingstone, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] At the 2016 census, Marlborough had a population of 149.[1]

Marlborough
Queensland
Marlborough
Coordinates22°49′S 149°53′E
Population149 (2016 census)[1]
Established1856
Postcode(s)4705
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Livingstone
State electorate(s)Mirani
Federal Division(s)Capricornia

Geography

The town lies on the Bruce Highway, 106 kilometres (66 mi) north west of the city of Rockhampton. It is within the local government area of Shire of Livingstone, but, between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Rockhampton Region. The town is a small service centre for the surrounding area, and one of a number of fuelling points on an otherwise isolated stretch of highway.

To the south lies the Kunwarara Magnesite mine, which works one of the world's largest supplies of the mineral. Marlborough is famous for producing the world's finest chrysoprase, a semi-precious gem once coveted by Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. The small but high-grade deposit is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-south-west of the township and is universally regarded as the most valuable find in the world.

History

Marlborough was established as a squatting pastoral run in 1857 by Dan Connor.[4] The name is probably connected with the First Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), a British army commander.[2]

The post office at Marlborough opened on 1 January 1861.[5] The first town allotments were sold in 1862.[6] Marlborough was the location of a Native Police barracks from 1865 to 1876. The barrracks were located at Barrack Creek on the northwest outskirts of the town.[7]

In 1993, the Principality of Marlborough was established as a short-lived micronation located at 22°30′18.19″S 149°9′6.45″E near Marlborough.[8] The principality came into being when farmer George Muirhead, facing the possibility of the repossession of his properties - Kierawonga & Indicus - by the Commonwealth Bank, challenged the legality of their bills of exchange in the Queensland Supreme Court. When he lost the case, Muirhead returned to his property under the grounds that he had been denied natural justice, and, along with his wife and approximately 30 other supporters, declared it to be an independent principality where the bank and Queensland Government had no legal authority.

Education

Marlborough State School has only a few students.[9] It opened in July 1917.[10] They compete against different schools in the area such as Clarke Creek State School, Milman State School and School of Distance Education. They compete in swimming and athletic carnivals which they normally host, having a 16-metre pool and a grassy oval.

Library Services

Livingstone Shire Council runs a weekly library service at Marlborough.[11] It is located at 15 Milman Street in the Marlborough Historical Museum building.[12]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Marlborough (Livingstone Shire) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. "Marlborough – town (entry 21019)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  3. "Marlborough – locality (entry 48747)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  4. "Death of Mr. Dan Connor". Daily Mercury (1701). Queensland, Australia. 24 March 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Porter, Harry S. (1954) Queensland Numeral Cancellations, p. 13. Melbourne: The Hawthorn Press
  6. "Rockhampton". The Courier (Brisbane). XVII (1524). Queensland, Australia. 29 December 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 25 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Richards, Jonathan (2014). ""Many were killed from falling over the cliffs:" The naming of Mount Wheeler, Central Queensland". In Clark, Ian D.; Hercus, Luise Anna; Kostanski, Laura (eds.). Indigenous and minority placenames : Australian and international perspectives. ANU Press. pp. 147–161. ISBN 978-1-925021-62-2. OCLC 870965662.
  8. Milliken, Robert (10 June 1993). "Outback 'duke' takes on the bank: A Queensland man has defied Australia by creating a principality to escape his debts". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  9. "Marlborough State School". 16 January 2018.
  10. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  11. "Livingstone Shire Council Library Services". 16 January 2018.
  12. "Marlborough Historical Museum". 16 January 2018.

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