Mount Chalmers, Queensland

Mount Chalmers is a town and locality in the Shire of Livingstone, Queensland, Australia.[2][3]

For the Antarctic mountain, see Mount Chalmers.

Mount Chalmers
Queensland
Rural landscape, Mount Chalmers, 2016
Mount Chalmers
Coordinates23°17′51″S 150°38′24″E
Population216 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4702
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Livingstone
State electorate(s)Keppel
Federal Division(s)Capricornia
Localities around Mount Chalmers:
Ironpot Cawarral Cawarral
Mount Archer Mount Chalmers Tungamull
Mount Archer Nankin Nankin

History
Fitzroy Copper Mine, Mount Chalmers, 1907

Gold was found in Mount Chalmers in 1860 but gold mining did not commence in the area until 1869. It was named after Mr Chambers who established a battery. In 1899 copper mining commenced.[4]

Panoramic view of Mount Chalmers, circa 1909

A provisional school opened on 23 January 1901; it was proclaimed Mount Chalmers State School in 1909.[5]

In 1908 the Yeppoon railway line was established from Sleipners Junction on the North Rockhampton to Emu Park railway line and then through to Yeppoon railway station.[4] Mount Chalmers railway station (23°18′04″S 150°38′28″E) served the town.[6]

In 1911, the census recorded a population of 1181. However, the mining ended in 1914 and people moved away; the 1921 census showed the population had fallen to 95 people.[4]

Railway bridge on the Yeppoon railway line, Mount Chalmers, 2016

The Yeppoon railway line ceased passenger services in 1978 and closed completely in 2004.[7]

The school was mothballed on 31 December 2005 and its closure finalised on 31 December 2006.[8] In 2014 the Livingstone Shire Council purchased the site for $230,000 for use by the local community.[9] It is located at 18 School Street (23.2989°S 150.6415°E / -23.2989; 150.6415 (Mount Chalmers State School)).[10]

In the 2011 census, Mount Chalmers had a population of 216 people.[1]

Amenities

The Mount Chalmers Community History Centre operates from the old school site.[11] The old school also has a library run by volunteers and supported by the Livingstone Shire Council.[12][13]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mount Chalmers (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  2. "Mount Chalmers – town (entry 22988)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. "Mount Chalmers – locality (entry 49425)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. "Mount Chalmers". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  6. "Mount Chalmers railway station (entry 22989)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. "Emu Park/Yeppoon Railway" (PDF). Archer Park Rail Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  8. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  9. "Council purchases Mt Chalmers State School for the community". Livingstone Shire Council. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  10. Chiclcott, Tanya; Vlasic, Kimberley (7 June 2013). "Full school asssets sale list". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. "Mt Chalmers Community History Centre". Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  12. "Mount Chalmers Library". Library Thing. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  13. "Libraries". Livingstone Shire Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.

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