Originally known as Hambledon, then Hambledon Junction, Edmonton began as a group of sugarcane plantations selected in 1883 by Thomas Swallow.[9]
Blackfellow's Creek Provisional School opened in 1887 with 23 students, becoming Blackfellow's Creek State School in 1903. In 1910, it was relocated to its current site and renamed Hambledon State School.[10][11]
Queerah railway station was originally called Wahwon, an Aboriginal name meaning scrub turkey and on 8 September 1925 was renamed Queerah, an Aboriginal word, meaning a cyclone.[7]
The Edmonton Catholic School was established on 29 April 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy with an initial enrolment of 30 pupils. In 1965 it was renamed St Therese's School. As suburban development increased around Edmonton, the rising number of students made it necessary to relocate the school to neighbouring Bentley Park in 1995. Although now under lay leadership, the school continues to operate in the Mercy tradition.[22]
The Edmonton public library building opened in 1975.[24]
The primary industry in Edmonton was traditionally growing sugarcane, but as Edmonton has grown, it has become an outer suburb of Cairns. Edmonton has experienced rapid growth in new housing estates in recent years[when?] resulting in consequent population growth.[citation needed]
On 20 October 1983, the first Sikh temple in Queensland, the Guru Nanak Gurudwara, was opened at 289 Djarragun Way (just off the Bruce Highway) but is now within the present-day boundaries of neighbouring Mount Peter.[25][26]
In March 2006, Tropical Cyclone Larry hit Edmonton causing minimal damage. The centre of the cyclone passed through the town of Innisfail, 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of the suburb.
Isabella State School opened on 29 January 2007.[28][29][30]
The Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre opened on 29 January 2019.[31]
In 2023, Blackfellow's Creek was renamed Bana Gindarja Creek. The community was divided over the name change.[32][33][34]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the suburb of Edmonton had a population of 10,753 people.[35]
In the 2021 census, the suburb of Edmonton had a population of 11,409 people.[1]
Education
Hambledon State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 77-83 Stokes Street (17°01′16″S145°44′08″E / 17.0212°S 145.7356°E / -17.0212; 145.7356 (Hambledon State School)).[36][37] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 774 students with 66 teachers (57 full-time equivalent) and 38 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent).[38] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 694 students with 63 teachers (52 full-time equivalent) and 44 non-teaching staff (28 full-time equivalent).[39] It includes a special education program.[36][40]
Isabella State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Walker Road (17°00′56″S145°43′23″E / 17.0156°S 145.7231°E / -17.0156; 145.7231 (Isabella State School)).[36][41] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 625 students with 45 teachers (40 full-time equivalent) and 37 non-teaching staff (21 full-time equivalent).[42] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 600 students with 43 teachers (39 full-time equivalent) and 36 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent).[39] It includes a special education program.[36]
There are no secondary schools in Edmonton. The nearest secondary school is Bentley Park State College in neighbouring Bentley Park to the north-west.[5]
Communications
As a suburb of Cairns, Edmonton is served by the city's broadcasting media outlets and the Cairns Post newspaper. The Southern Herald is the local independent monthly suburban newspaper which is delivered to homes in Edmonton.
^"CAIRNS NEWS". Daily Standard. No. 1011. Queensland, Australia. 1 April 1916. p. 5 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Church Building at Edmonton". The Northern Herald. Vol. XLVI, no. 596. Queensland, Australia. 3 September 1924. p. 5. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 4975. Queensland, Australia. 6 September 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Stump-Capping Church at Edmonton". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 5034. Queensland, Australia. 14 November 1924. p. 4. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"CHURCH SERVICES". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 5068. Queensland, Australia. 24 December 1924. p. 4. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"EDMONTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND". Cairns Post. Vol. XXXV, no. 5074. Queensland, Australia. 3 January 1925. p. 3. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Our History". St Therese's Catholic School, Bentley Park. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
^Blake, Thom. "Edmonton Uniting Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^"Isabella State School". Isabella State School. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^"Annual Report 2016"(PDF). Isabella State School. Archived(PDF) from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
^"Edmonton Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 25 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
^"Community Halls". Cairns Regional Council. 30 May 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
^"Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
Hambledon State School : formerly Blackfellow's Creek Provisional School : a souvenir booklet incorporating the history of the school and Edmonton-Hambledon area, Hambledon State School Centenary Committee, 1987, ISBN978-0-7316-0809-6