Proston

Proston
Queensland
Blake St, the main street of Proston
Proston
Coordinates 26°09′53″S 151°36′10″E / 26.1647°S 151.6027°E / -26.1647; 151.6027Coordinates: 26°09′53″S 151°36′10″E / 26.1647°S 151.6027°E / -26.1647; 151.6027
Population 304 (2006 census)[1]
 • Density 5.891/km2 (15.26/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4613
Elevation 368 m (1,207 ft)
Area 51.6 km2 (19.9 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s) South Burnett Region
State electorate(s) Nanango
Federal Division(s) Flynn
Localities around Proston:
Okeden Stalworth Kinleymore
Okeden Proston Kinleymore
Okeden Melrose Melrose

Proston is a small town and locality in South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] At the 2006 census, Proston had a population of 304.[1]

Geography

The town is located 280 kilometres (170 mi) north-west of the state capital, Brisbane and 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest of the South Burnett regions commercial centre, Kingaroy. The area around Proston is hilly, grassland, grazing country, most of it cleared from the original brigalow scrub that once covered the immediate vicinity.

History

Proston Lutheran Church, ca. 1954

The town's name is taken from a pastoral run name, which in turn was a corruption of an Aboriginal word (possible from the Waka language) meaning kurrajong tree.[2]

The town was founded in 1910 with a land ballot that attracted a group of settlers from England. With little access to water, early settlers struggled to maintain a living from the land. The coming of the railway in 1923[4] eased some of the early hardships. The construction of the South Burnett Dairy Co-operative Butter Factory in 1934 led to even more growth.[5]

The closure of the railway line and Butter Factory in the 1970s threw the area into a long period of slow decline.[6] The creation of the nearby Boondooma Dam in the 1970s by daming the Boyne River provided a source of water for Tarong Power Station and solved Proston's water problems.

The Proston public library opened in 1994.[7]

Heritage listings

Proston has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Economy

The main agricultural activities in the Proston area are dairying, beef cattle and duboisia, a shrub used in the production of the drug butylscopolamine.

Sport and recreation

The area is well catered for with sports facilities and clubs. There is the nine-hole Proston Golf Club on the western edge of town. Proston's Lawn Bowls Club and the Over 50's group are also popular amongst the locals. Social tennis is held every Thursday night at the tennis grounds, Wondai Road. The locals have dances every week at the Public Hall.[9]

For fishing, the nearby Boondooma Dam is stocked with Australian bass, golden perch (yellowbelly), silver perch and saratoga. There is also a naturally occurring population of eel-tailed catfish (Jew) and spangled perch. Visitors to the dam can also waterski, sail and swim.[10] For quieter fishing and canoeing, Proston Weir is located just south of the town. The weir doesn't provide toilet facilities or picnic tables.

The Proston Car Rally club holds a rally every three months on their track, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Proston on private property. The family weekends include time trials, various classes. Free camping is provided.[9] Manar Park is an off-road park for 4x4s, dirt bikes, quads and buggies, situated on a large cattle station north-east of Boondooma Homestead. Accessible along Manar Road the park does have camping facilities.[11]

The South Burnett Regional Council operates a library in Proston at 34 Blake Street.[12][13]

Tourism

The hilliness of the terrain provides striking panoramic views of the area at several points along the main road.[6] Boondooma Dam is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of the township. In February each year, anglers compete for more than $4,500 in prizes in the Boondooma Yellowbelly Fishing Competition. A Stocked Impoundment Permit is needed to fish Boondooma Dam.[14] The dam offers caravan, camping, bunkhouse and cabin accommodation on the Lake's foreshores along with tennis courts, modern amenities blocks, a central kiosk and extensive landscaped picnic and BBQ areas.[6] Another annual event is the Proston Show and Campdraft. Held every March at the Showgrounds just on the western outskirts of town.[15]

Nearby Boondooma Homestead was built in 1850 for the settlers, the Lawson Brothers. The Building was built by a Flemish stonemason and recently during restoration, it was discovered to have been built to metric specifications, possibly a first in Queensland. The homestead can be found on the Durong to Mundubbera Road 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Proston. An unusual attraction in Proston is Sidcup Castle. The "castle" comprises seventeen rooms, five of which are hexagonal. The entire structure was built from second hand materials by Harold Douglas and designed as an exact replica of his childhood home in Sidcup, Kent.[5]

Facilities

Proston has a hotel, convenience store, café, post office and unattended police station, ambulance and voluntary fire brigade service. It also has tennis, golf and bowling clubs, a swimming pool and library.[6] Other facilities include Proston State School,[16] catering for pre-schoolers to Year 10, a medical centre and ambulance service, the Proston Rural Fire Brigade, Proston Transfer Station. The town is also serviced by Proston Meals on Wheels and also a branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA). There is also an active scout group.

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Proston (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Proston - town (entry 27576)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Proston - locality (entry 46257)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Red Soil, Wattle and Crows Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, February 1976 pp21-39
  5. 1 2 Proston – Queensland. The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Proston and Lake Boondooma. South Burnett Tourism.
  7. ↑ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 15. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter (entry 602813)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  9. 1 2 Community. Proston and Districts online
  10. ↑ Lake Boondooma. South Burnett – Discover the Magic. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Manar Tourist Park. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Proston Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Locate a Library - South Burnett Regional Council". South Burnett Regional Council. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  14. ↑ Annual Boondooma Dam Fishing Competition Archived 13 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine.. Lake Boondooma – Caravan and Recreational Park. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  15. ↑ Things to Do in Proston. Jasons Travel Media. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Proston State School". Retrieved 29 January 2017.

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