Childers is in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, situated on the Bruce Highway and lies 325 kilometres (202 mi) north of the state capital Brisbane and 52 kilometres (32 mi) south-west of Bundaberg. The Isis Highway runs south from the Bruce Highway in Childers.
History
The Childers area is traditionally inhabited by the Dundabarra/burra group (red soil tribe) who are large collective group of the Kabi Kabi nations in the northernmost area of the Wide Bay Burnett. Their descendants still live in the region.[4]
Europeans first arrived in the area in the 1850s. Pastoralists established properties soon after to raise cattle on the fertile lands. Back then, sugar was (as it is now) the key crop grown in the Isis.[citation needed]
The town was established in 1885. The Isis railway line to Childers opened in 1887 and was pivotal in the early development of the area. Childers Post Office opened on 14 November 1887.[5] The town is reportedly named after Hugh Childers, Britishstatesman, who was the Auditor-General of Victoria in the 1850s.[6]
Circa 1888–1889, an Anglican church was erected in Childers.[7][8] The present Christ Church Anglican was opened and dedicated on 9 May 1901.[9]
The Childers Uniting Church was originally constructed as the Methodist Church in Horton in 1886. Due to the decline of the Horton township the church was subsequently[when?] moved to Childers. It became the Childers Uniting Church in June 1977 following the amalgamation of the Methodist Church into the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977.[10]
Childers Provisional School opened on 28 January 1889. In 1891, it became Childers State School. A secondary department was added in January 1913 and operated until Isis District State High School was established in 1961. A pre-school was added in 1976.[11]
Isis Central Mill Provisional School opened on 23 January 1899. On 1 January 1909, it became Isis Central Mill State School. It closed on 11 December 1987.[11]
On 28 September 1941, ArchbishopJames Duhig laid the foundation stone for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.[13]
The foundation stone of Grace Lutheran Church was laid by Pastor K Scholz on 16 April 1961.[14]
The town made international headlines in June 2000, when an arsonist set fire to the Palace Backpackers Hostel, claiming the lives of 15 tourists. The Palace Building reopened in 2002, and includes a memorial to those lost in the blaze, a Regional Art Gallery and an Information Centre.[citation needed]
The Childers Library opened in 2000 with a major refurbishment in 2014.[15]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the locality of Childers had a population of 1,584 people. 80.1% of people were born in Australia and 87.0% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 23.0%, Anglican 21.2% and Catholic 17.8%.[16]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Childers had a population of 1,682 people.[1]
Childers is renowned for its heritage character and is classified a National Trust town. The historic colonial buildings of the main street (Bruce Highway) are set amongst large, shady leopard trees. The sugar cane industry features prominently in Childers and has sustained the town over the years. Fruit and vegetable cropping is common on the lands around town.[citation needed]
The local tourism organisation "Stay in Childers" is a not for profit incorporated association made up of local businesses.[44]
Historic Picture
Facilities
The Isis Town and Country is the town's local newspaper, available once a week on Thursday. Childers is also served by a monthly community newspaper, the Childers Chit Chat, and commercial FM radio stations Breeze 102.5 and Rebel 106.7.[citation needed]
In addition, the town services the surrounding areas with its small hospital. Childers has its own courthouse. The town has several emergency service faculties including a police station, ambulance station and fire station housing Fire and Rescue Queensland Staff and Queensland Rural Fire Service volunteers. It also hosts a branch of the State Emergency Service and PCYC Emergency Services Cadets program.[citation needed]
Childers has many general local services, an art gallery (Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery- BRAG) and Information Centre. Cultural entertainment facilitated through the Childers Cultural Centre- a town hall hired through the Bundaberg Regional Council.[citation needed]
Childers holds a Multicultural Festival once a year on the final weekend in July.[63] The town also hosts an agricultural show; which in the past was held in early August, but is now hosted in late May or early June.[citation needed]
Attractions
Noakes Lookout is off Rankin Road (25°13′16″S152°17′04″E / 25.2211°S 152.2845°E / -25.2211; 152.2845 (Noakes Lookout)).[64] At 128 metres (420 ft) above sea level, it is one of the highest points in the area, providing 360 degree panoramic views. However, as at 2013, regrowth of bushland surrounding the lookout has obscured the views and, as the lookout is on private land, there is no guaranteed right of access to the public.[65]
^"General News". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXVI, no. 721. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1889. p. 170. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"COUNTRY MAILS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLV, no. 9, 537. Queensland, Australia. 8 August 1888. p. 7. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
