Widgee

Widgee is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Widgee had a population of 794 people.[1]

Widgee
Queensland
Memorial hall
Widgee
Coordinates26.2163°S 152.4199°E / -26.2163; 152.4199
Population794 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density4.014/km2 (10.397/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4570
Area197.8 km2 (76.4 sq mi)
LGA(s)Gympie Region
State electorate(s)Gympie
Federal Division(s)Wide Bay
Suburbs around Widgee:
Oakview Lower Wonga Bells Bridge
Black Snake Widgee Glastonbury
Wrattens Forest Wrattens Forest Upper Glastonbury

History

The name is believed to have originated from the Aboriginal words Witchee Witchee meaning listen or hark.[3]

In 1887, 43,000 acres (17,000 ha) of land were resumed from the Widgee Widgee pastoral run. The land was offered for selection for the establishment of small farms on 17 April 1887.[4]

Widgee Provisional School opened on 11 July 1892. It became Widgee State School on 1 January 1909.[5]

On 10 August 1912 at the Lands Office at Gympie, the Queensland Government offered for selection 48 agricultural lots in the Widgee Repurchased Estate. The lots ranged in size from 160 to 758 acres (65 to 307 ha), in total 20,266 acres (8,201 ha). 17 blocks were situated around Waroonga Creek to the north-west of Widgee Mountain (26.2428°S 152.3731°E / -26.2428; 152.3731 (Widgee Mountain)) while 31 blocks were situated to south around Widgee Creek and Little Widgee Creek. The blocks were described as suitable for dairying and general farming with an average annual rainfall of 40 inches (1,000 mm).[6][7]

At the 2011 census, Widgee had a population of 788.[8]

Heritage listings

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

Education

Widgee State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 2156 Gympie-Woolooga Road (26.2038°S 152.4431°E / -26.2038; 152.4431 (Widgee State School)).[10][11] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 52 students with 4 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[12]

There are no secondary schools in Widgee; the nearest one is James Nash State High School in Gympie.[13]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Widgee (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Widgee - locality in Gympie Region (entry 46397)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  3. "NOMENCLATURE OF QUEENSLAND-306". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  4. "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
  5. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  6. "The Widgee Estate". State Library of Queensland (Real estate map). 1912. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. "Advertising". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 10 August 1912. p. 11. Retrieved 5 June 2020 – via Trove.
  8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Widgee". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  9. "Wodonga House (former) (entry 600643)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  10. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. "Widgee State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  13. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

Further reading
  • Donald, R. H (1969). 'Widgee Widgee'. Reid Printery.
  • Dale, J. D. (John Douglas); McCarthy, M. T. (Mary T.); Widgee State School (1992). Widgee, the development of a community. Widgee State School. ISBN 978-0-646-11300-5.
  • Widgee State School. 90th Anniversary Celebrations Committee (1982). Widgee State School 90th anniversary 1892-1982 : a history of the school. Widgee State School. ISBN 978-0-949704-03-0.
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