Somme, Queensland

For the French department, see Somme (department).

Somme Queensland
Somme, 2015
Somme
Coordinates	28.7730°S 151.8019°E / -28.7730; 151.8019 (Somme (centre of locality))
Population	39 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	1.322/km^2 (3.42/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4382
Area	29.5 km^2 (11.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Southern Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Suburbs around Somme: Nundubbermere Nundubbermere Glen Aplin Nundubbermere Somme Fletcher Ballandean Ballandean Ballandean

Somme is a rural locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Somme had a population of 39 people.^[1]

Geography

Somme is bounded by the Severn River to the east and south and the land to the south and east is mostly used for farming and residential purposes. The land in the north-western part of Somme is mostly undeveloped.^[3]

History

Somme was named after the Battle of the Somme in northern France. It was one of the largest battles for the Australian Imperial Forces in World War I.^[2] It is one of a number of localities in the Southern Downs Regions named after World War I battles.

Somme State School opened circa 1917. In 1924 it went from being a full-time school to being a half-time school in conjunction with Apple Vale State School in Apple Vale (meaning they shared a single teacher). Both schools closed in August 1927.^[4] Somme State School was on the south-west corner of the junction of Somme Lane and an unnamed street (28.7612°S 151.8122°E / -28.7612; 151.8122 (Somme State School (former, 1917-1927))).^[5][3]

Somme State School opened on 22 February 1949 and closed in 1962. It is unclear if this was a reopening of the earlier school or a new school, a 1952 shows Somme State School as being near Somme Lane but does not pinpoint its location as precisely as the 1922 map.^[4][6][5]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Somme had a population of 53 people.^[7]

In the 2021 census, Somme had a population of 39 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Somme. The nearest primary school is in neighbouring Ballandean and the nearest secondary school is in Stanthorpe.^[8]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Somme (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Somme – locality in Southern Downs Region (entry 45976)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
4. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
5. "Count of Bentinck" (Map). Queensland Government. 1922. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
6. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m5" (Map). Queensland Government. 1952. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
7. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Somme (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
8. "Queensland State and Non-State Schools". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2015.

External links

Media related to Somme, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons