The main street is Moore Street; the Burnett Highway follows Moore Street through the town.[5]
Goomeri lies 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of the Coast Range.[6]
History
European settlement in the Goomeri area began in 1846 with the establishment of Booubyjan Homestead and Boonara Station.[7]
The Kilkivan to Goomeri section of the Nanango railway line opened in 1902, and the Goomeri to Wondai section opened on 14 September 1903.[8] The line was officially closed in early 2010.[9]
Closer settlement took place in 1911 with the sale of rural allotments and town blocks.[7]
Goomeri Post Office opened by June 1912 (a receiving office had been open from 1902).[10]
On Sunday 21 March 1920, St Kevin's Catholic Church was officially opened and blessed by ArchbishopJames Duhig. The church building had been relocated from Nanango, where it was originally opened in 1901.[19][20]
Circa 1997, the Apostolic Church at 103 Wittenberg Road, Tansey, was relocated to 19 Olive Street in Goomeri. It originally opened in Tansey on 26 September 1926 by Reverend W. Neimeyer.[23][24][25][26][27]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the locality of Goomeri had a population of 664 people. Of these 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 8.7% of the population. The most common ancestries in Goomeri were Australian 34.6%, English 30.3%, Irish 7.1%, German 7.1% and Scottish 6.4%.[28]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Goomeri had a population of 677 people.[1]
There is no secondary school offering education to Year 12 in Goomeri; the nearest government secondary school offering education to Year 12 is Murgon State High School in Murgon to the south-west.
Goomeri has a Swimming Pool with advertised opening hours.[40]
Attractions
With parks and a number of buildings built in the 1920s, Goomeri is a quiet place that is known for its "relaxed old world charm".[citation needed] Goomeri's Hall of Memory – still in use today – was built in 1926 and is now a heritage-listed building.[29]
The town is also well known for its gourmet food.[citation needed] Goomeri offers fine dining, country food, gourmet cheeses and locally grown olives to award winning pies.[citation needed] Goomeri is a gateway to the South Burnett wine district, with vineyards and cellar doors within proximity.[citation needed] Other industries in the area include beef and dairy.
Goomeri also has an hotel and an art studio.[43][44]
The Kinbombi Falls picnic and camping area is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the Wide Bay Highway along Kinbombi Road, and 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) from Goomeri.[45] A walking track leads to a deep natural pool. A track skirts the top of the gorge, offering views of the area.
The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail follows the old railway line between the two towns. It is 88 kilometres (55 mi) long and passes through Goomeri, Murgon, Wondai, Tingoora, Wooroolin, Memerambi, and Crawford. The trail from Kilkivan to Murgon is unsealed. Queensland’s first and longest sealed rail trail section of 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Murgon to Kingaroy is for walkers and cyclists only. Short distances between towns means coffee is never far away.[46][47][48]
Events
The Goomeri Pumpkin Festival, held on the last Sunday in May each year, attracts up to 14,000 visitors each year. The highlight of the Pumpkin Festival is the "Great Australian Pumpkin Roll" down Policeman's Hill.[49]
^Blake, Thom. "Goomeri Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
^"PERSONAL". Queensland Figaro. Vol. XVII. Queensland, Australia. 18 March 1916. p. 7. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"No title". The Brisbane Courier. No. 18, 174. Queensland, Australia. 15 April 1916. p. 12. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^Blake, Thom. "St Kevin's Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
^"SOUTH BURNETT". Daily Mail. No. 7678. Queensland, Australia. 8 October 1926. p. 3. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^Blake, Thom. "Tansey Apostolic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
^ abBlake, Thom. "Goomeri Apostolic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
^Martindale, Dafyd (31 August 2022). "Goomeri Joins Studio Trail". southburnett.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
^"Kinbombi Falls". Aussie Bushwalking. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.