Alpha, Queensland

Alpha is a rural town and a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Alpha had a population of 335 people.[1]

Alpha
Queensland
The main street of Alpha
Alpha
Coordinates23.6519°S 146.6383°E / -23.6519; 146.6383
Population335 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1.6470/km2 (4.266/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4724
Area203.4 km2 (78.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Barcaldine Region
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Alpha:
Jericho Laglan
Clermont		 Quetta
Peak Vale
Jericho Alpha Willows
Blackall Windeyer
Mantuan Downs		 Lochington

Geography
Alpha railway station, 2013

Alpha is in Central West Queensland. The Capricorn Highway passes through the town, which lies on Alpha Creek. The Central Western railway line passes through the town, which is served by Alpha railway station.[4]

The town is a service centre for the surrounding pastoral properties and travellers on the highway.

History

Alpha was initially established as a temporary terminus during construction of the Central Western railway line (then known as the Great Northern line, a name that would be subsequently assigned to the subsequent more northern line west of Townsville to Mount Isa). The railway, which was being built westwards from Rockhampton, was opened to Alpha on 22 September 1884. The construction camp continued moving west, but a township remained at the former terminus. Until June 1990, Queensland Rail maintained a locomotive depot in the town.[5]

Alpah Provisional School opened on 30 August 1886. It became Alpha State School on 7 September 1894. A preschool centre was added in 1987.[6][7]

Killarney Park Provisional School opened in late 1918 as a half time provisional school in conjunction with Glenleigh Provisional School (meaning there was one teacher shared between the two schools). Both schools closed in late 1919 or early 1920 due to low student numbers.[7]

At the 2006 census, Alpha had a population of 402.[8]

In the 2011 census, Alpha had a population of 571 people.[9]

On 22 November 2019 the Queensland Government decided to amalgamate the localities in the Barcaldine Region, resulting in five expanded localities based on the larger towns: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra. Alpha was expanded to incorporate Beaufort, Drummondslope, Dunrobin (south-eastern corner), Hobartville (north-eastern part), Pine Hill, Port Wine, Sedgeford, and Surbiton.[10][11][12]

Mining

On 29 May 2012 the first mine proposed to be developed in the Galilee Basin, known as the Alpha Coal Project, was approved by the Government of Queensland.[13] Waratah Coal is planning on building a new mine close to the town called the China First Coal Project.[14] This mine is to be built on the Bimblebox nature refuge which is home to the endangered black-throated finch.[15] A counter-view is that Bimblebox is a privately-owned former grazing property, now unmanaged and run wild, growing and spreading various noxious weeds. The debate continues.

Another two mines are planned. The mining expansion is expected to place a significant strain on local infrastructure. The primary concerns are a lack of available land and sewerage, water and power systems at close to capacity.[16]

Bimblebox, a feature-length documentary directed by Michael C O'Connell (Mountaintop Removal) premiered at the 2012 Byron Bay International Film Festival. Bimblebox explores the "China First" mega mine project being developed by Waratah Coal close to the town of Alpha in the Galilee basin. The film also examines opposition to the China First mine from the owners of the Bimblebox nature refuge which stands in the path of the proposed project. In a 20 March 2012 press conference Waratah coal CEO Clive Palmer accused environmental groups and the films producers of being funded by the Central Intelligence Agency.[17]

Facilities

Alpha has a tourism information centre, golf course, art gallery, showground, parks, swimming pool, tennis courts, museum, hardware store, newsagents, bank, pub, grocery store, bakery, butcher, post office, BP, Caltex, craft shop, hairdresser, pharmacy, hospital,[18] police station and fire station.

Barcaldine Regional Council operates a library at the Alpha town hall on Tennyson Street.[19][20]

The Alpha branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Uniting Church Hall at 4724 Milton Street.[21]

Education

Alpha State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at Milton Street (23.6507°S 146.6422°E / -23.6507; 146.6422 (Alpha State School)).[22][23] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 40 students with 8 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).[24]

The nearest secondary schools to Year 12 are in Barcaldine 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the west and Emerald 169 kilometres (105 mi) to the east.[25] Alternatively there is distance education and boarding schools.[26]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Alpha (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Alpha - town in Barcaldine Region (entry 462)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. "Alpha - locality in Barcaldine Region (entry 47069)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  5. Kerr, John (1990), Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways, Boolarong Publications, p. 34, ISBN 978-0-86439-102-5
  6. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Alpha (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Alpha". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  10. "Recent place name decisions". Queensland Government. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  11. "Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Barcaldine Regional: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  12. "Locality Boundaries and Names: Barcaldine Regional Council: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. Melinda Howells & Chrissy Arthur (30 May 2012). "Government approves $6.4b coal mine in Galilee Basin". ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  14. "Waratah Coal". Waratah Coal. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  15. "Bimblebox teeming with life: botanists". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  16. Simon Green (28 September 2011). "The mines are coming to quiet Alpha". Central Queensland News. APN News & Media. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  17. "Mining magnate Clive Palmer says CIA is behind campaign to kill coal industry". ABC News (Australia). 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  18. "Alpha Hospital and Multipurpose Health Service". Central West Hospital. 25 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019.
  19. "Libraries". Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  20. "Alpha Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  21. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  22. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  23. "Alpha State School". Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  24. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  25. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  26. "Distance Education". Education. Queensland Government. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.