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Alpha, Queensland

Coordinates: 23°39′07″S 146°38′18″E / 23.6519°S 146.6383°E / -23.6519; 146.6383
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Alpha
Queensland
The main street of Alpha
Alpha is located in Queensland
Alpha
Alpha
Coordinates23°39′07″S 146°38′18″E / 23.6519°S 146.6383°E / -23.6519; 146.6383
Population559 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2.7483/km2 (7.118/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

Alpha is a rural town and a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Alpha had a population of 559 people.[1]

Geography

[edit]
Alpha railway station, 2013

Alpha is in Central West Queensland. It lies on Alpha Creek.[4]

The Capricorn Highway runs through from east to west, and the Clermont-Alpha Road enters from the north-east.[4]

The Central Western railway line passes through the town, which is served by Alpha railway station.[5]

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

History

[edit]

The town of Alpha is situated approximately 400 kilometres to the west of Rockhampton, with the name being derived from Alpha Pastoral Station, established in 1863. This was a very large station, dominating the area and growing to more than 1,600 square kilometres by the 1890s.[6]

The area was originally visited and partly explored by the New South Wales Surveyor-General, Thomas Mitchell in 1846 and it was his reports that were to encourage settlement, particularly from the 1860s.[6] Early European settlers to move into the region included Robert Donaldson and Agnes Adelaide Donaldson.[citation needed]

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), which was being built westwards from Rockhampton. The major coastal centre was keen to take full advantage of the inland pastoral wealth being generated and pushed for a central railway line. Construction commenced in 1867,[6] reaching Emerald in 1879[6] and 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.[7]

Alpha Provisional School opened on 30 August 1886. It became Alpha State School on 7 September 1894. A preschool centre was added in 1987.[8][9]

Churches followed, with the Catholic Church opening in 1890 and the United Protestant Church in 1894.[6] The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart opened a Catholic primary school in 1902[10] and a convent school was established in 1904. Originally Three Sisters of St Joseph stepped off the train in Alpha on Thursday 15 May 1902.

They moved Into a rented and furnished cottage in Byron Street, where six months of provisions filled the larder. Fifty years later, one of the first pupils recalled that every town child was out to see the Sisters'. The St Joseph Order, which was established in Australia, also founded Convents in other nearby diccesan towns. Sister M Gonzaga, who was in charge, with Sisters M Gervase and M Lourdes, was soon very busy teaching, as four months later, pupils presented a successful concert for a large crowd.[citation needed]

The church became the temporary school until a two storey Convent was bullt by 1906 and the school occupied the lower floor. Boys and girls from neighbouring districts boarded at the Convent to attend school until the 1930s.[citation needed]

St Joseph's Convent School gained its own building in 1918. It was erected at a cost of £820, the maionty of which was raised in the local community. when the convent became dangerously riddled with white ants in 1922, it was replaced by a single storey building.[citation needed]

In November 1950, Alpha was inundated with flood water and the Sisters were forced to leave their convent and shelter in the top floor of the school. To reach it they carried provisions and a primus stove in buckets on their heads and waded through waist deep water.[citation needed]

The Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1952 with musical items and a three-act operetta, as well as a visit from Rev. Mother Pierre, head of St Joseph Order of Nuns in Queensland.[citation needed]

The older school building was replaced by another two-storey building 12 years later. The new school of St. Joseph's of Alpha, was opened by Francis Rush, Bishop of Rockhampton on June 12, 1963. It was constructed by local builders. Brownjohn and Johnson and supervised by Fr. W Collins at a cost of about 10,000 pounds and is now a private residence.[citation needed]

Before the Sisters left Alpha for the last time in December 1977, their 75 years of service in the community was celebrated. Many nuns had spent time in Alpha and were remembered by past pupils with respect and affection. A roll call of past pupils was answered by representatives of each decade including three names from the 1902–10 period. St Joseph's convent continued for two years under instruction from lay teachers, Michael & Irene Watkins; but by the end of 1979, only about 25 students remained and it closed altogether.[citation needed]

The Sisters of St Joseph were central to the development of a musical culture in Alpha. The basis was their teaching of practice and theory in pianoforte and violin, as well as singing. Pupils sat yearly for examinations from the London College of Music, Trinity College, London or the Australian Music Examination Board, many passing with honours.[citation needed]

Children travelled many miles to receive regular music instruction from the Nuns. Seven decades of music instruction provided the foundation for many concerts. The Golden Jubilee concert featured a choir, singing by individuals. duets, trios and groups, recitations, dance and comedy. Adults as well as the children performed.[citation needed]

Another impact of the music classes were years of dance music played by local people at debutante balls, shows, rodeos and fancy-dress balls, which continued long after St Joseph's School closed.[citation needed]

Jericho Shire, which included the town, was incorporated in 1917, with the main shire offices and council facilities located in the town of Jericho.[6]

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.[9]

On 8 April 1941, two people were killed when a goods train from Emerald plunged through a section of the wooden rail bridge over Alpha Creek on approach to the Alpha railway station.[11][12]

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.[13][14][15]

Demographics

[edit]

In the 2006 census, the town of Alpha had a population of 402 people.[16]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Alpha had a population of 571 people.[17]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Alpha had a population of 335 people.,[18]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Alpha had a population of 559 people.[1]

Mining

[edit]

On 29 May 2012 the first mine proposed to be developed in the Galilee Basin, known as the Alpha Coal Project, which is a joint development of Indian conglomerate GVK and Hancock Coal, was approved by the Government of Queensland.[19]

Waratah Coal is planning to develop a new mine close to the town called the China First Coal Project.[20] This mine is to be built on the Bimblebox nature refuge which is home to the endangered black-throated finch.[21] A counter-view is that Bimblebox is a privately owned former grazing property, now unmanaged and run wild, growing and spreading various noxious weeds.[citation needed]

Waratah Coal's China First Project 2011 Environmental Impact Statement admits that there would be a range of both positive and negative effects on Alpha, and that they would "cause irreversible change to the physical landscape and the social fabric of towns." But it concludes that the development of mines in the vicinity of Alpha presents a unique opportunity for the town and surrounding communities to benefit from sustainable and socially acceptable development.[22]

Bimblebox, a feature-length documentary directed by Michael C O'Connell (Mountaintop Removal), 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 film's producers of being funded by the Central Intelligence Agency.[23]

Education

[edit]

Alpha State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 11 Milton Street (23°39′03″S 146°38′32″E / 23.6507°S 146.6422°E / -23.6507; 146.6422 (Alpha State School)).[24][25] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 40 students with 8 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).[26] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 39 students with 10 teachers and 11 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).[27]

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.[28] Alternatively, there is distance education and boarding schools.[29] Alpha State School provides support to students studying Years 11 and 12 by distance education.

Amenities

[edit]

Alpha has a tourism information centre, golf course, art gallery, showground, parks, swimming pool, tennis courts, museum, hardware store, newsagents, bank, pub, grocery store, butcher, baker, post office, BP, Caltex, craft shop, hairdresser, pharmacy, hospital,[30] police station and fire station.

Barcaldine Regional Council operates a library at the Alpha town hall on Tennyson Street.[31][32]

Alpha Uniting Church is at 25 Milton Street (23°39′00″S 146°38′21″E / 23.6500°S 146.6392°E / -23.6500; 146.6392 (Alpha Uniting Church)).[33][34]

The Alpha branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Uniting Church Hall at 4724 Milton Street.[35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Alpha (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  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. ^ a b Alpha, Queensland (Map). OpenStreetMap. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Queensland Places - Alpha | State Library Of Queensland". www.slq.qld.gov.au. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ Kerr, John (1990), Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways, Boolarong Publications, p. 34, ISBN 978-0-86439-102-5
  8. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. ^ a b Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  10. ^ "Queensland". Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  11. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Railway bridge collapse at Alpha (1941)". Blog. State Library of Queensland. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  12. ^ "ENGINE CREW KILLED". Cairns Post. No. 12, 210. Queensland, Australia. 9 April 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 2 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Recent place name decisions". Queensland Government. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Alpha (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  17. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Alpha". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 August 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Alpha (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Waratah Coal". Waratah Coal. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Bimblebox teeming with life: botanists". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Alpha State School". Archived from the original on 3 January 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  26. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  27. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  28. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Distance Education". Education. Queensland Government. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Alpha Hospital and Multipurpose Health Service". Central West Hospital. 25 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019.
  31. ^ "Libraries". Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  32. ^ "Alpha Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Find a church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Alpha Uniting Church" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
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