Burnett Heads, Queensland

Burnett Heads Queensland
Entering Burnett Heads
Burnett Heads
Coordinates	24.7741°S 152.4172°E / -24.7741; 152.4172 (Burnett Heads (town centre))
Population	2,908 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	164.3/km^2 (425.5/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4670
Area	17.7 km^2 (6.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	10.1 km (6 mi) NNW of Bargara 17 km (11 mi) NE of Bundaberg 374 km (232 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Bundaberg Region
State electorate(s)	Burnett
Federal division(s)	Hinkler
Localities around Burnett Heads: Fairymead Coral Sea Coral Sea Fairymead Burnett Heads Coral Sea Rubyanna Qunaba Mon Repos

Burnett Heads is a coastal town and locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Burnett Heads had a population of 2,908 people.^[1]

Geography

The locality of Burnett Heads is on the southern side of the Burnett River at its mouth into the Coral Sea.The river forms the western and northern boundaries, while the ocean forms most of the eastern boundary.^[4][5]

The land use is a mixture of residential (mostly with proximity to the coast), industrial (mostly the Port of Bundaberg) and some agricultural use (growing sugarcane). There is a network of cane tramways to transport the harvested sugarcane to the Millaquin sugar mill for processing.^[5]

History

The Barolin run was leased by Alfred Henry Brown from 1862. This was on a coastal strip of the Barolin Plain which stretched from the southern side of the Burnett River to the northern side of the Elliott River.^[6][7][8][9]

Burnett Heads Provisional School opened on 3 April 1878. On 17 September 1888, it became Burnett Heads State School.^[10]

New Bundaberg is now Port Bundaberg and the Barolin Marine Township Estate is the current Burnett Heads township. Both townships are part of the current Burnett Heads locality.

In February 1883, land surveyed by Charlton and Gardiner, licensed surveyors, in the township of New Bundaberg was offered for sale in the Victoria Hall, Bundaberg. The locality map advertising the sale also shows land in the Barolin Marine Township Estate to be offered for sale on the same day. The same map shows the Lighthouse, Pilot Station and Public Telegraph Office at South Head.^{[11][12][13][14]}

The Maryborough Chronicle later reported that the New Bundaberg town allotments sold well, recording the buyers and prices paid while the Barolin estate did not sell so well on the day.^[15] The auction was conducted three auctioneers: Bryant and Co., John Cameron and W. E. Curtis. .

In 1883 the Maryborough Barolin Syndicate proposed to build a private tramline and Railway station from New Bundaberg to connect with the terminus of the Bundaberg and Burrum railway. In 1884 the New Bundaberg Land, Building, and Investment Co., Limited acquired the rights to the land reserved for that purpose. The tramline did not eventuate.^[16][17][9]

In 1917 New Bundaberg was described as a mosquito Infested swamp.^[9]

Methodist services were held at the Burnett Heads State School, until a Methodist Church was opened in 1903.^[18]

Burnett Heads Post Office opened by 1919 (a receiving office had been open from 1888), closed in 1924 and reopened around 1942.^[19]

On Sunday 3 May 1931, Archbishop James Duhig consecrated a new Roman Catholic Church in Burnett Heads. It was entirely funded by the Zunker family in memory of their dead parents. Over 1000 people attended the ceremony.^[20]

Archbishop William Wand laid the foundation stone for St John the Divine Anglican Church on Sunday 6 August 1939.^[21] The land for the church had been donated by Christian Mittleheuser.^[22][23][24]

In 1958, the Port of Bundaberg was established at Burnett Heads to better support the sugar industry and the larger ships being employed. The port of Bundaberg originally operated from the town reach of the Burnett River at Bundaberg with the Bundaberg Harbour Board being established in 1895. A major dredging project was undertaken in 2001 to cater for even larger vessels.^{[25][26][better source needed]}

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Burnett Heads had a population of 2,656 people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.8% of the population. 80.5% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 4.0. 91.9% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 31.0%, Anglican 22.5%, Catholic 16.3% and Uniting Church 7.7%.^[27]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Burnett Heads had a population of 2,908 people.^[1]

Heritage

The town's most notable feature is its historic timber lighthouse, the Old Burnett Heads Light, dating from 1873. The structure, originally sited on South Head (the southern entrance to the Burnett River), was replaced by a modern structure in 1971; the original lighthouse was restored and moved to a local park off Mittelheuser Street. It includes the original Fresnel lens.^[28]

Economy

The Port of Bundaberg is located on the Burnett River at Wharf Drive (24.771°S 152.383°E / -24.771; 152.383 (Port of Bundaberg)). It is operated by Gladstone Ports Corporation. It has two wharves:^{[25][26][better source needed]}

• Sir Thomas Hiley Wharf for sugar, gypsum, wood pellets, bulk liquids, molasses and formerly silica sand.
• John T. Fisher Wharf for molasses imports, but is no longer in use due to aged wooden wharf needing major works, all imports and exports are handled by the Sir Thomas Hiley Wharf, there is however plans to repurpose the John T Fisher Wharf so it can be used to load items such as woodchip etc.

Education

Burnett Heads State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Burnett Heads Road (24.7717°S 152.4145°E / -24.7717; 152.4145 (Burnett Heads State School)).^[29][30] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 146 students with 11 teachers (9 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).^[31]

There is no government secondary school in Burnett Heads. The nearest government secondary school is Kepnock State High School in Kepnock to the south-east.^[5]

Facilities

Burnett Heads Fire Station is at 15 Brewer Street (24.7639°S 152.4100°E / -24.7639; 152.4100 (Burnett Heads Fire Station)).^[32]

Burnett Heads SES Facility is at 13 Brewer Street beside the fire station (24.7637°S 152.4100°E / -24.7637; 152.4100 (Burnett Heads SES Facility)).^[32]

Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg has its base at 51 Harbour Esplanade (24.7608°S 152.4014°E / -24.7608; 152.4014 (Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg)).^[32] Its area of coverage is approximately 4,000 square nautical miles (14,000 km²; 5,300 sq mi) off the Central Queensland coast from Fairfax Islands (23.856°S 152.371°E / -23.856; 152.371 (Fairfax Islands)) to the north, to Burrum River (25.179°S 152.614°E / -25.179; 152.614 (Burrum River)) to the south, and to the ocean side of Fraser Island (approx 24.694°S 153.295°E / -24.694; 153.295 (Ocean east of Fraser Island)) to the east.^[33]

Amenities

St John the Divine Anglican Church is at 1 Paul Mittelheuser Street (24.7634°S 152.4080°E / -24.7634; 152.4080 (St John the Divine Anglican Church)). A service is held every Saturday.^[34]

Burnett Heads Uniting Church is at 14 Zunker Street (24.7648°S 152.4113°E / -24.7648; 152.4113 (Burnett Heads Uniting Church)). A service is held every Sunday morning.^{[35][36][37][38][39]}

There are a number of parks in the area:

• 4BU Park (24.7620°S 152.4017°E / -24.7620; 152.4017 (4BU Park))^[40]
• Abberton Park (24.7765°S 152.3893°E / -24.7765; 152.3893 (Abberton Park))^[40]

• Dorothea Mackellar Park (24.7793°S 152.4202°E / -24.7793; 152.4202 (Dorothea Mackellar Park))^[40]

• Gorman Park (24.7606°S 152.4106°E / -24.7606; 152.4106 (Gorman Park))^[40]

• Jack Strathdee Memorial Park (24.7640°S 152.4151°E / -24.7640; 152.4151 (Jack Strathdee Memorial Park))^[40]

• Memorial Park (24.7636°S 152.4037°E / -24.7636; 152.4037 (Memorial Park))^[40]

• Pilot Station Reserve (24.7617°S 152.4139°E / -24.7617; 152.4139 (Pilot Station Reserve))^[40]

• QCWA Park (24.7637°S 152.4086°E / -24.7637; 152.4086 (QCWA Park))^[40]

• Simpson Park (24.7755°S 152.4167°E / -24.7755; 152.4167 (Simpson Park))^[40]

Events

In recognition of its lighthouses, Burnett Heads stages the annual Lighthouse Festival on the last Saturday in October.^[41]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Burnett Heads (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Burnett Heads – town in Bundaberg Region (entry 5382)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
3. "Burnett Heads – locality in Bundaberg Region (entry 44698)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
4. "Burnett Heads, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
6. "Barolin Shire | Queensland Places". queenslandplaces.com.au. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
7. "MR H. E. KING IN REPLY". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXVIII, no. 4, 947. Queensland, Australia. 7 August 1873. p. 3. Retrieved 11 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Barolin Forfeited Selections --The Colony "Diddled" out of 5000 acres of Land". Toowoomba Chronicle And Darling Downs General Advertiser. No. 1572. Queensland, Australia. 13 December 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 11 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "THE SLOPING HUMMOCK". The Bundaberg Mail And Burnett Advertiser. Vol. 47, no. 6, 163. Queensland, Australia. 10 February 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
10. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
11. "Township of New Bundaberg". rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
12. "Classified Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXVII, no. 7, 818. Queensland, Australia. 1 February 1883. p. 8. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "Barolin Estate". State Library of Queensland. 1 February 1883. hdl:10462/comp/10236.
14. "Advertising". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 2, 977. Queensland, Australia. 30 January 1883. p. 3. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "NEW BUNDABERG SALE". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 2, 994. Queensland, Australia. 19 February 1883. p. 3. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "Township of New Bundaberg". rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
17. "MARYBOROUGH". The Telegraph. No. 3, 343. Queensland, Australia. 2 July 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
18. Methodist Church of Australasia. Bundaberg Circuit (1925), Jubilee souvenir 1875-1925, The Church, archived from the original on 30 August 2021, retrieved 30 August 2021
19. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
20. "CHURCH CONSECRATED". The Brisbane Courier. No. 22, 858. Queensland, Australia. 4 May 1931. p. 15. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
21. "40 NEW CHURCHES BY END OF YEAR". The Courier-mail. No. 1850. Queensland, Australia. 7 August 1939. p. 2. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
22. "St John the Divine Anglican Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
23. Reid, Emma (25 July 2019). "St John the Divine Anglican Church's 80th birthday – Bundaberg Now". Bundaberg Now. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
24. "Year Book" (PDF). Anglican Archdiocese of Brisbane. 2019. p. 135. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
25. "Port of Bundaberg". Gladstone Ports Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
26. "Precinct Outlook: Port of Bundaberg" (PDF). Gladstone Ports Corporation. p. 3. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
27. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Burnett Heads (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
28. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Australia: Southern Queensland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
29. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
30. "Burnett Heads State School". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
31. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
32. "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
33. "VMR Bundaberg". Marine Rescue Queensland. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
34. "Worship". Anglican Parish of Bundaberg. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
35. "Bargara Uniting Church". Bargara Uniting Church. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
36. "Worship Services". Bundaberg Uniting Church. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
37. "Burnett Heads Uniting Church" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
38. "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
39. "Burnett Heads Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
40. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
41. "The Lighthouse Festival". Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2017.

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Burnett Heads
• "Old Burnett Heads Lighthouse". Lighthouses of Queensland. Lighthouses of Australia Inc.
• "New Burnett Heads Lighthouse". Lighthouses of Queensland. Lighthouses of Australia Inc.
• Town map of Burnett Heads (north), 1972
• Town map of Burnett Heads (south), 1973