Torrens Creek

Torrens Creek is a town and locality in the Shire of Flinders in northern Queensland, Australia.[2][3]

Torrens Creek
Queensland
The Exchange Hotel at Torrens Creek
Torrens Creek
Coordinates20°46′0″S 145°01′0″E
Population64 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4816
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Flinders
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal Division(s)Kennedy
Localities around Torrens Creek:
Porcupine Pentland Pentland
Prairie Torrens Creek Pentland
Prairie Aramac Aramac

Geography

The town is on the Flinders Highway, 1,503 kilometres (934 mi) north-west of the state capital, Brisbane and 293 kilometres (182 mi) west of the regional centre of Townsville.

The creek of the same name arises in the Great Dividing Range, flowing southward to the Thomson River system to eventually run into Lake Eyre.[4]

History

The creek after which the town is named was named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens by the explorer William Landsborough, who discovered it in 1862 while searching for Burke and Wills. Torrens introduced Torrens title to the then colony of South Australia by means of the Real Property Act 1858; it soon spread to the other colonies and to other countries and is still in use today.[4]

The Great Northern Railway reached Torrens Creek in 1885, at which time it became the supply centre for a large district. Mailmen rode out far and wide to various stations, delivering mail along routes which are still used today. There is a cairn and plaque erected by Torrens Creek residents to honour the district's most famous mailman, Jack Blunt, who served from 1931 to 1954.[4]

In 1942 a large World War II ammunition dump, associated with the Battle of the Coral Sea,[4] exploded when a fire lit by American and Australian soldiers to create a firebreak got out of control. A series of 12 explosions resulted leaving craters 20 feet (6.1 m) deep, nearly destroying the town.[5]

Torrens Creek State School, now closed, opened in 1891.

At the 2006 census, Torrens Creek and the surrounding area had a population of 64.[1]

Amentities

The town has a hotel (pub) and a garage.[6]

Transport
Long distance rail services
Preceding station   Queensland Rail   Following station
toward Townsville
The Inlander
toward Mount Isa

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Torrens Creek (Flinders Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  2. "Torrens Creek - town (entry 35030)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  3. "Torrens Creek - locality (entry 42490)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. "Torrens Creek". Australian Explorer. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  5. "Torrens Creek". Outback Queensland. Tourism Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  6. "Flinders Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

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