:Mount Morgan, Queensland

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = town

| name = Mount Morgan

| state = qld

| image = {{Photomontage

| photo1a = Mount Morgan State High School - former Technical College Building, from E (2015).jpg{{!}}Old Technical College

| photo1b = Mount Morgan Cemetery including Chinese Shrine and Linda Memorial (2008).jpg{{!}}Mount Morgan Cemetery

| photo2a = Mount Morgan School of Arts, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg{{!}}School of Arts

| photo2b = Mount Morgan railway station.jpg{{!}}Mount Morgan Railway Station

| spacing = 2 | border = 0 | color = #F2F2F2 | size = 300}}

| caption = From left to right;
Old Technical College, Mount Morgan Cemetery
Mount Morgan School of Arts, Mount Morgan railway station

| coordinates = {{coord|-23.6441|150.3897|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Mount Morgan (town centre)}}

| pop = 2,487

| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} (town)

| pop_footnotes =

| established = 1882

| postcode = 4714

| area = 12.1

| timezone = AEST

| utc = +10:00

| dist1 = 39.5

| dir1 = SSW

| location1 = Rockhampton CBD

| dist2 = 634

| dir2 = NNW

| location2 = Brisbane

| dist3 =

| dir3 =

| location3 =

| dist4 =

| dir4 =

| location4 =

| elevation = 341

| maxtemp =

| mintemp =

| rainfall =

| lga = Rockhampton Region

| stategov = Mirani

| fedgov = Flynn

| near-n = Baree
Leydens Hill

| near-ne = Johnsons Hill

| near-e = Struck Oil

| near-se = Limestone

| near-s = Horse Creek

| near-sw = Boulder Creek

| near-w = The Mine

| near-nw = Walterhall

}}

Mount Morgan is a rural town and locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|23098|Mount Morgan|town in Rockhampton Region|accessdate=29 December 2020}}{{cite QPN|48786|Mount Morgan|locality in Rockhampton Region|accessdate=29 December 2020}}

The town was the administrative centre of the Mount Morgan Shire until March 2008, when it was amalgamated with neighbouring local government areas to form the Rockhampton Region.

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,487 people, while the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,018 people.

Geography

The town of Mount Morgan is situated on the Dee River, {{convert|38|km|mi}} south of the city of Rockhampton, and is {{convert|680|km|mi}} north of the state capital, Brisbane. The Burnett Highway passes through the town.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=11 April 2022}}

There are a number of neighbourhoods within the locality:

Gordon Vale ({{coord|-23.65|150.3833|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Gordon Vale (neighbourhood)}}){{cite QPN|14384|Gordon Vale|locality unbounded in Rockhampton Regional|accessdate=29 December 2020}}

Kenbula ({{coord|-23.6578|150.3706|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Kenbula (neighbourhood)}}), located around the former Kenbula railway station{{cite QPN|17921|Kenbula|locality unbounded in Rockhampton Regional|accessdate=29 December 2020}}

Talban ({{coord|-23.6503|150.3758|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Talban (neighbourhood)}}), located around the former Talban railway station{{cite QPN|33160|Talban|locality unbounded in Rockhampton Regional|accessdate=29 December 2020}}

The names Kenbula and Talban were both assigned by the Queensland Railway Department on 18 November 1911. Both are Aboriginal names, Kenbula meaning ironbark tree and Talban meaning stone curlew.

History

File:StateLibQld 2 237174 View of the town of Mount Morgan and the mine beyond.jpg]]

File:StateLibQld 1 291027 West works, Mt. Morgan, 1898.jpg

Prior to European migrants settling in the area, the area was part of the Kangulu peoples traditional lands.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Mount Morgan was founded as a gold mining town in 1882.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/kangulu.htm|title=Tindale Tribes – Kangulu|website=South Australian Museum Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002235750/http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/kangulu.htm|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=3 October 2017}} The town takes its name from the family who took out the original gold mining leases in the area: Frederick Augustus Morgan and his brothers Thomas Squire Morgan and Edwin Francis Morgan.{{Cite web|title=The Morgan Brothers|url=https://www.mountmorgan.org.au/History/The-Morgan-Brothers|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Mount Morgan Historic Township|language=en-AU|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515165006/https://www.mountmorgan.org.au/History/The-Morgan-Brothers}}

Over the years, the Mount Morgan Mine has produced gold, silver and copper. Among those making a fortune from this mine was William Knox D'Arcy. D'Arcy used his fortune to finance oil exploration in Iran, which led to the formation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (now BP).{{Citation|last=Carment|first=David|title=D'Arcy, William Knox (1849–1917)|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/darcy-william-knox-5882|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography|place=Canberra|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|language=en|access-date=2022-01-17|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201101408/https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/darcy-william-knox-5882|url-status=live}}

Mining of clay in a nearby hill for the production of furnace bricks commenced soon after that time, continuing until the early 1900s,{{Cite journal|last=Staines|first=HRE|date=1954|title=Dinosaur footprints at Mount Morgan.|journal=Queensland Government Mining Journal|volume=55|issue=623|pages=483–485}} The resulting man-made caves came to be known as the Fireclay Caverns, which contained large openings that measure between 4–12 metres in height from the cave floor.{{Cite journal|last1=Romilio|first1=Anthony|last2=Dick|first2=Roslyn|last3=Skinner|first3=Heather|last4=Millar|first4=Janice|date=2020-02-13|title=Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism?|journal=Historical Biology|volume=33|issue=9|pages=1573–1579|doi=10.1080/08912963.2020.1720014|issn=0891-2963|doi-access=}} Dinosaur footprints (preserved as infills) were later found in nine different sections of the Fireclay Caverns, lining the ceiling dated to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian).{{Cite journal|last=Romilio|first=Anthony|date=2020-04-20|title=Additional notes on the Mount Morgan dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia.|journal=Historical Biology|volume=33|issue=10|pages=2005–2007|doi=10.1080/08912963.2020.1755853|s2cid=218778298|issn=0891-2963}}

Mount Morgan Post Office opened on 18 May 1885 (a receiving office had been open from 1884).{{Cite web | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Phoenix Auctions | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=*Mount*Morgan* | access-date = 9 March 2021 | archive-date = 17 January 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235031/http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=%2AMount%2AMorgan%2A | url-status = live }}

Mount Morgan Central State School opened in 1887 and grew so rapidly that it was separated into two schools on different sites the following year, forming Mount Morgan Boys State School and Mount Morgan Girls and Infants State School. The word 'Central' was added to the name of these two schools from 1911. They were amalgamated back into one school in 1929.{{Cite web|title=The oldest state secondary schools in Queensland|url=http://education.qld.gov.au/library/edhistory/topics/oldest-sec-schools.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140634/http://education.qld.gov.au/library/edhistory/topics/oldest-sec-schools.html|archive-date=29 January 2018|access-date=2018-01-29|website=education.qld.gov.au|language=en-AU|df=dmy-all}}

The town of Mount Morgan grew in a haphazard fashion around the entrance to the mining lease near the Dee River from the early 1880s. By 1889 a number of the major religions had established congregations and erected churches including the Primitive Methodists (1885), the Catholics (1887) and the Anglicans (1889). That year the town's name was formally changed from 'South Calliungal' to 'Mount Morgan', and by 1891 the Queensland census recorded a population of 3514.Erik Eklund, [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/163809700?q Mining Towns: making a living, making a life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414012454/http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/163809700?q |date=14 April 2014 }}, UNSW Press, Sydney, 2012, pp. 75-76.

Circa 1888-1889 an Anglican church opened in Mount Morgan.{{cite news|date=27 July 1889|title=General News.|volume=XXXVI|page=170|newspaper=The Queenslander|issue=721|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19815928|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522070053/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19815928|url-status=live}}

File:arhs mount morgan.jpg

Until the arrival of the railway in 1898, everything was transported by horse teams. The Mount Morgan Mining Company had a depot in Quay Street, where the wagoners would load up. Initially, there were two routes to Rockhampton, one via Crocodile (now Bouldercombe) and the other via Kabra, Boongarry and Moonmera. In 1885, a road was built over the Razorback Range.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56945822 |title=BACK TO COACHING AND TEAMSTER DAYS. |newspaper=The Morning Bulletin |location=Rockhampton, Qld. |date=7 June 1950 |access-date=3 March 2011 |page=3 Supplement: Supplement |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235032/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56945822 |url-status=live }}

The railway line between Mount Morgan and Rockhampton opened on 26 November 1898,{{cite book|last=Kerr|first=John|title=Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways|date=1990|publisher=Boolarong Publications|isbn=978-0-86439-102-5|page=225}} with two railway stations serving the locality:

Mount Morgan railway station, now abandoned ({{coord|-23.6392|150.3867|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan railway station (former)}}){{Cite web|date=2 October 2020|title=Railway stations and sidings - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005070354/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd|archive-date=5 October 2020|access-date=5 October 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}
Walterhall railway station, now abandoned ({{coord|-23.6302|150.3876|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Walterhall railway station (former)}})

Like many Australian towns, in 1899 to 1900, the Siege of Mafeking was avidly followed in the news in Mount Morgan. With every confidence in a British victory, in March 1900, the town's people decided to prepare to celebrate the relief of Mafeking as soon as it was announced. The town band was to assemble immediately on the corner of East and Morgan Streets and other entertainments were arranged, such as a bonfire and a greasy pig.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52570518|title=MOUNT MORGAN.|date=28 March 1900|newspaper=Morning Bulletin|access-date=31 October 2018|issue=10,651|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=LXI|page=6|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235041/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52570518|url-status=live}} On 20 May 1900, on hearing the news of the relief of Mafeking, bonfires were lit on the hills around the town, the bands were playing, and patriotic speeches were made.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75676520|title=The Celebration in the Colonies.|date=22 May 1900|newspaper=The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts|access-date=31 October 2018|issue=435|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=XVII|page=7|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235039/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75676520|url-status=live}} The celebrations did not end there, as by November 1900, a "Mafeking" bell had been installed in a tower beside the town hall.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76564369|title=With the Barcaldine Band.|date=27 November 1900|newspaper=The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts|access-date=31 October 2018|issue=462|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=XVIII|page=13|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235037/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76564369|url-status=live}} The bell had been cast at the Mount Morgan Mine and weighed 7 cwt (360 kg). The sound of the bell was described as "blood curdling" and led to arguments as to whether the bell was cracked.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76564482|title=With the Barcaldine Band.|date=4 December 1900|newspaper=The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts|access-date=31 October 2018|issue=462|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=XVIII|page=13|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235046/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76564482|url-status=live}} By 1955, the wooden tower had rotted and the bell was taken down to be relocated to the verandah of the town hall.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79251915|title=MT MORGAN Place Wanted For "Mafeking" Bell|date=21 July 1955|newspaper=The Central Queensland Herald|access-date=31 October 2018|issue=1927|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=22|page=24|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235052/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79251915|url-status=live}}{{Citation|author1=Golding, F. L. (Frank L.)|title=An old mining town in Queensland : Mount Morgan|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38258758|date=1978-01-01|publisher=Royal Historical Society of Queensland|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235052/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38258758|url-status=live}} In 1969 the bell was relocated to the scout hall in Dee Street as the army leader at Mafeking was Lord Baden-Powell who established the Scouting movement in 1907.{{Citation|author1=Rodgers, Cheryl|title=Mount Morgan Boy Scout building and the Mafeking Bell, 2007|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/153927057|date=2007|publisher=John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235037/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/153927057|url-status=live}} In February 2018, the bell was returned to the main street of Mount Morgan as part of a streetscape redevelopment project.{{Cite web|url=http://gladstonenews.com.au/kens-flynn-focus-3/|title=Ken's Flynn in Focus|last=O'Dowd|first=Ken|author-link=Ken O'Dowd|date=8 March 2018|website=Gladstone News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323230656/http://gladstonenews.com.au/kens-flynn-focus-3/|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2018|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Mount-Morgan-streetscape-officially-opens|title=Mount Morgan streetscape officially opens|date=23 February 2018|publisher=Rockhampton Regional Council|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031173831/https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Mount-Morgan-streetscape-officially-opens|url-status=live}} There is a popular story that the schoolchildren of Mount Isa funded the bell by donating pennies (either to pay for it or to be melted down to construct it),{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmctours.com.au/mount-morgan-buildings.pdf|title=Information points of Mount Morgan buildings|website=TMC Tours|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-date=3 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503035354/http://www.tmctours.com.au/mount-morgan-buildings.pdf|url-status=live}} but the earliest sources so far identified for this story are from 1955, 55 years after the bell was cast, and the commemorative plaque which also presents this story was not created until 1962.{{Cite web|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/boer/display/92084-mafeking-bell|title=Mafeking Bell|website=Monument Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031081735/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/boer/display/92084-mafeking-bell|archive-date=31 October 2018|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2018}}

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School opened in 1891 and closed in 1997.{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}

File:StateLibQld 1 290411 Red Hill State School, Mt. Morgan, 1912.jpg

Red Hill State School opened on 1900 and closed circa 1931.{{Citation |author1=Queensland Family History Society |title=Queensland schools past and present |publication-date=2010 |edition=Version 1.01 |publisher=Queensland Family History Society |isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}} It was in the Red Hill neighbourhood of Mount Morgan, and presumably is the origin of the name of School Street (approx {{Coord|-23.6529|150.3758|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Red Hill State School (former)}}).{{Cite web |date=1912 |title=County of Livingstone sheet 1 |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-county-livingstone-sh1-1912.jpg |access-date=11 April 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222001032/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-county-livingstone-sh1-1912.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=1972 |title=Town of Mount Morgan |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-mount-morgan-sh1-1972.jpg |access-date=11 April 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411074004/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-mount-morgan-sh1-1972.jpg |url-status=live }}File:Mt morgan2005.jpg

In 1902, a Baptist church opened in Mount Morgan.{{Cite web|title=Queensland Baptist churches by date of erection/opening|url=https://www.bhsq.org/barq/churches100years/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-29|website=Baptist Church Archives Queensland|archive-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126074653/https://www.bhsq.org/barq/churches100years/index.html}}{{Cite web|title=1902 Mount Morgan|url=https://www.bhsq.org/barq/churches100years/images/1902-Mount-Morgan.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-29|website=Baptist Church Archives Queensland|archive-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126074723/https://www.bhsq.org/barq/churches100years/images/1902-Mount-Morgan.html}} Prior to the opening of the church, Baptist services had been held in the Forester's Hall. In April 1902 the Port Curtis Road Methodist Church building was purchased for removal and erected on the corner of East and Dee Streets in Mount Morgan.{{cite news|date=19 April 1902|title=THE MOUNT MORGAN BAPTIST CHURCH.|volume=LXIII|page=5|newspaper=Morning Bulletin|issue=11,359|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52758208|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=29 November 2021|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235043/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52758208|url-status=live}} The stump-capping ceremony was held on Saturday 12 May 1902.{{cite news|date=12 May 1902|title=MOUNT MORGAN BAPTIST CHURCH|volume=LXIII|page=7|newspaper=Morning Bulletin|issue=11,377|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52760209|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=29 November 2021|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235059/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52760209|url-status=live}} The official opening of the church was on Sunday 22 June 1902.{{cite news|date=24 June 1902|title=MOUNT MORGAN BAPTIST CHURCH.|volume=LXIII|page=3|newspaper=Morning Bulletin|issue=11,413|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52763790|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=29 November 2021|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235050/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52763790|url-status=live}}

Mount Morgan State High School opened on 22 January 1912. It was the first school of its kind to open in Queensland.

Maranu State School opened on 24 May 1915. It closed on 1 April 1927.

Upper Dee Provisional School opened in 1919. On 11 June 1923, it became Upper Dee State School. It closed circa 1929.

The Mount Morgan Mine finally closed in November 1990, having produced 250 tonnes of gold and 360,000 tonnes of copper during its lifetime, leaving 134 million tonnes of waste rock and tailings.{{Cite web|title=Mount Morgan remediation project|url=https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/abandoned-mines/remediation-projects/mount-morgan|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Abandoned mine remediation projects|publisher=Queensland Government|language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235100/https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/abandoned-mines/remediation-projects/mount-morgan}} During the mining operation, most of the mountain was mined away, and the town now lies adjacent to a 43 m deep acid-water filled pit.{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://heritageminerals.com.au/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Heritage Minerals|language=en-US|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221060515/https://heritageminerals.com.au/|url-status=live}} The Queensland Government have begun a rehabilitation project of the minesite.

The Mount Morgan Public Library opened in 1993.{{Cite web|date=November 2017|title=Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|archive-date=30 January 2018|access-date=31 January 2018|website=Public Libraries Connect|df=dmy-all}}

In December 2020, a 24 kilometre mountain bike trail network was completed around No. 7 Dam, creating a new sporting facility for the area, as part of the Advancing Mount Morgan strategy with an aim to help boost tourism to the town.

In 2021, the town's water supply was so low, drinking water had to be delivered on daily basis.{{cite news |last=Pearce |first=Frazer |date=25 June 2021 |title=Mount Morgan hopes pumped hydro scheme will fix water supply crisis |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-25/mount-morgan-pumped-hydro-water-scheme-drought-stricken/100240602 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=27 November 2021 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127053331/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-25/mount-morgan-pumped-hydro-water-scheme-drought-stricken/100240602 |url-status=live }}

Demographics

In the {{CensusAU|1891}}, the town of Mount Morgan had a population of 3,514 people.{{Cite web |date=1891 |title=Eighth census of the colony of Queensland, taken of the Fifth of April, 1891 |url=https://hccda.ada.edu.au/Collated_Census_Tables/QLD-1891-census.html |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |at=Table No. XXIX., Results of census in connection with urban population}}

In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the town of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,447.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL341800|name=Mount Morgan (Urban Centre/Locality) |accessdate=13 June 2011|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,115 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31149 |name=Mount Morgan|accessdate=9 December 2015|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 1,963 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32019|name=Mount Morgan (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,487 people,{{Census 2021 AUS|id=UCL315069|name=Mount Morgan (UCL)|accessdate=8 February 2023|quick=on}} while the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,018 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32001|name=Mount Morgan (SAL)|accessdate=9 July 2024|quick=on}}

Heritage listings

Mount Morgan has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Burnett Highway: Mount Morgan Mine{{cite QHR|15526|Mount Morgan Mine Site|600751|access-date=12 July 2013}}
4 Central Street: Mount Morgan State High School{{cite QHR|Mount Morgan State High School|650005|access-date=13 February 2018}}
39 Central Street: Grand Hotel{{cite QHR|15518|Grand Hotel|600743|access-date=12 July 2013}}
East Street: Mount Morgan Cemetery{{cite QHR|15528|Mount Morgan Cemetery including Chinese Shrine and Linda Memorial|600753|access-date=12 July 2013}}
2 Gordon Street ({{Coord|-23.6469|150.3863|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan Masonic Temple}}): Mount Morgan Masonic Temple{{cite QHR|15519|Masonic Temple Mount Morgan|600744|access-date=12 July 2013}}
11 Gordon Street: St Mary's Anglican Church{{cite QHR|16897|St Mary's Anglican Church, Church hall and Bell Tower|601690|access-date=12 July 2013}}
28 Hall Street: Court House and Police Station{{cite QHR|15520|Court House and Police Station|600745|access-date=12 July 2013}}
Morgan Street: Coronation Lamp War Memorial{{cite QHR|15525|The Coronation Lamp|600750|access-date=12 July 2013}}
28 Morgan Street: Queensland National Hotel{{cite QHR|15523|Queensland National Hotel (former)|600748|access-date=12 July 2013}}
31 Morgan Street: Mount Morgan School of Arts{{cite QHR|15524|School of Arts Hall & Library|600749|access-date=12 July 2013}}
38 Morgan Street: Commonwealth Bank Building{{cite QHR|15521|Commonwealth Bank (former)|600746|access-date=12 July 2013}}
44 Morgan Street: Mount Morgan Central State School{{cite QHR|15522|Central State School|600747|access-date=12 July 2013}}
Railway Parade: Mount Morgan railway station{{cite QHR|15527|Mount Morgan Railway Station Complex|600752|access-date=12 July 2013}}
Westwood/Oakey Creek: Adolphus William Copper Smelter{{cite QHR|5033|Adolphus William Copper Smelter and Dee Township|700013|access-date=12 July 2013}}

Economy

Mining companies still prospect today in the area, and plans to extract further gold from tailings at the mine site are under development.

Education

File:Central State School, from S to eastern end of southern elevation (2001).jpg

Mount Morgan Central State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 44 Morgan Street ({{coord|-23.6456|150.3880|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan Central State School}}).{{cite web|date=9 July 2018|title=State and non-state school details|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|url-status=live|publisher=Queensland Government|accessdate=21 November 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archivedate=21 November 2018}}{{cite web|title=Mount Morgan Central State School|url=https://www.mtmorganss.eq.edu.au|accessdate=21 November 2018|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401223402/https://mtmorganss.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 209 students with 15 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).{{cite web|title=ACARA School Profile 2018|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority|accessdate=28 January 2020|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|url-status=live}}

File:Mount Morgan State High School - former Technical College Building, from E (2015).jpg

Mount Morgan State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 4 Central Street ({{coord|-23.6439|150.3873|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan State High School}}).{{cite web|title=Mount Morgan State High School|url=https://www.mtmorganshs.eq.edu.au|accessdate=21 November 2018|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322225901/https://mtmorganshs.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 183 students with 21 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent).

Amenities

The Rockhampton Regional Council operates the Mount Morgan Library at 31 Morgan Street ({{Coord|-23.6452|150.3866|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan public library}}).{{Cite web|date=1 September 2014|title=Mount Morgan Library, Public Libraries Connect|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/rockhampton/mt_morgan_library|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131142346/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/rockhampton/mt_morgan_library|archive-date=31 January 2018|access-date=31 January 2018|website=Public Libraries Connect|df=dmy-all}}

The Mount Morgan branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall at 127 East Street ({{Coord|-23.6463|150.3898|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan CWA Hall}}).{{Cite web|title=Branch Locations|url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|access-date=26 December 2018|publisher=Queensland Country Women's Association|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|url-status=live}}

Mount Morgan Mountain Bike Trails are managed by Rockhampton Regional Council.{{Cite web|date=18 December 2020|title=Brand new bike trails|url=https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Brand-new-bike-trails|url-status=live|access-date=9 March 2021|website=Rockhampton Regional Council|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235050/https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Brand-new-bike-trails}}{{Cite web|title=Mount Morgan Bike Trail|url=https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/CouncilServices/Works-and-Projects/Completed-Projects/Mount-Morgan-Bike-Trail|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Rockhampton Regional Council|language=en-AU|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330180558/https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/CouncilServices/Works-and-Projects/Completed-Projects/Mount-Morgan-Bike-Trail}} Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club conducts social rides there and also has plans to commence racing at the new trail park in 2021.{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Rocky MTB|url=http://www.rockymtb.org.au/welcome-rocky-mtb|access-date=9 March 2021|website=Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club|archive-date=14 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714024946/http://www.rockymtb.org.au/welcome-rocky-mtb|url-status=live}}

There are a number of churches in Mount Morgan, including:

St Mary's Anglican Church, 11 Gordon Street ({{coord|-23.6463|150.3866|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=St Mary's Anglican Church}}){{Cite web|title=St Mary's Anglican Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/anglican/directory/4257-st-maryand#39;s-anglican-church|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235047/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/anglican/directory/4257-st-maryand#39;s-anglican-church}}
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 35A Hall Street (facing Gordon Street, {{Coord|-23.6469|150.3882|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Sacred Heart Catholic Church}}){{Cite web|title=Rockhampton – Cathedral Parish of St Joseph|url=https://rok.catholic.net.au/parish/rockhampton-st-joseph-cathedral/|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton|language=en-US|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206232631/https://rok.catholic.net.au/parish/rockhampton-st-joseph-cathedral/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Sacred Heart Catholic Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/catholic/directory/4256-sacred-heart-catholic-church|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235048/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/catholic/directory/4256-sacred-heart-catholic-church}}
Mount Morgan Uniting Church, 86 East Street (corner Gordon Street, {{Coord|-23.6463|150.3893|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Morgan Uniting Church}}){{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.southrockyuc.org.au/?page_id=10|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Uniting Church in Australia, Parish of Rockhampton South|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308092003/https://www.southrockyuc.org.au/?page_id=10}}{{Cite web|title=Mount Morgan Uniting Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/4253-mount-morgan-uniting-church|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235059/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/4253-mount-morgan-uniting-church}}
St Enoch's Presbyterian Church, 78 East Street ({{Coord|-23.6445|150.3893|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=St Enoch's Presbyterian Church}}){{Cite web|title=St Enoch's Presbyterian Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/presbyterian-church-of--australia/directory/4254-st-enochand#39;s-presbyterian-church|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117235055/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/presbyterian-church-of--australia/directory/4254-st-enochand#39;s-presbyterian-church}}
Peace Christian Church (of the Peace Apostolic Ministries), 80 East Street ({{Coord|-23.6439|150.3892|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Peace Christian Church (former Mount Morgan Baptist Church)}}); the building was formerly the Mount Morgan Baptist Church{{Cite web|title=A Local Congregation in Mt Morgan|url=https://www.peace.org.au/mtmorgan/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Peace Apostolic Ministries|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118033614/https://www.peace.org.au/mtmorgan/index.html}}{{Cite web|title=Peace Christian Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/4255-peace-christian-church|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104071716/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/4255-peace-christian-church}}

Events

Mount Morgan is known to hold the Golden Mount Festival in the main street at the end of April or the start of May as part of the Labour Day holiday. The festival usually starts on a Friday and finishes the next Monday. The Morgan Street is closed to vehicles during Saturday of the Festival for the day for markets and activities such as floats and "Running the Cutter" races.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Attractions

File:Mt Morgan Panorama Feb 2008 - bobzy.jpg

Tourism plays a large part in the economy of the town today, with a visitor centre located at the old railway centre and recreation area at Dam No.7. The area was host to one of the few rack railways (as part of the line from Mount Morgan to Rockhampton) to operate in Australia. The rack portion of the line was replaced by a conventional adhesion railway in the 1950s, with a small portion of track retained at the town centre."Last Days of the Mount Morgan Rack Railway" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, December 1950 pp. 125–126 In turn, the replacement line was closed in 1987, and the town no longer has a rail connection. The Mount Morgan railway station is still standing and now operates as a Museum and Tourist Information Centre. There is a regular bus service between Rockhampton, Gracemere and Mount Morgan provided by Young's Bus Service.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Notable people

Jens Hansen Lundager, mayor of Mount Morgan, editor of the Mount Morgan Argus, photographer
Alma Moodie, German-based concert violinist and teacher[http://library-resources.cqu.edu.au/thesis/adt-QCQU/uploads/approved/adt-QCQU20050427.131849/public/10chapter9.pdf Chapter9: Leisure and entertainment: aspects of popular culture at Mount Morgan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824034900/http://library-resources.cqu.edu.au/thesis/adt-QCQU/uploads/approved/adt-QCQU20050427.131849/public/10chapter9.pdf |date=24 August 2006 }}{{Cite web |url=http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=200434279037623;res=E-LIBRARY |title=Kay Dreyfus, Alma Moodie and the Landscape of Giftedness, 2002 |access-date=1 December 2008 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403174808/https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=200434279037623;res=E-LIBRARY |url-status=live }}
Stephen Moore (rugby union), captain of the Wallabies, lived in Mount Morgan when his family first came to Queensland
Mervyn Henry Stevenson, superintendent of the Townsville police district and inductee of the Australian Stockman's Hall of FameAnderson, John, "Tough bush adversary", Townsville Bulletin, 22 December 2001."Fitting farewell for bush policeman", Townsville Bulletin, 22 December 2001.

Gallery

File:Mafeking Bell, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|The Mafeking Bell in the main street of Mount Morgan, Queensland.

File:Mafeking Bell plaque, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|The Mafeking Bell Plaque

File:Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland. It is a heritage-listed state school.

File:Murals at Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Murals at Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland

File:Mount Morgan School of Arts, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Mount Morgan School of Arts is heritage-listed

File:Information sign - Mount Morgan School of Arts, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Mount Morgan School of Arts information sign

File:Fire Station, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Fire Station, Mount Morgan, Queensland, Australia

File:Mount Morgan State High School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Mount Morgan State High School is a heritage-listed state high school

File:Murals at Mount Morgan State High School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg|Murals at Mount Morgan State High School

References

External links

[http://queenslandplaces.com.au/mount-morgan University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Mount Morgan]
[http://www.theage.com.au/news/Queensland/Mount-Morgan/2005/02/17/1108500203598.html Article in the Age Newspaper about Mount Morgan]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20061107040124/http://www.mtmorganshs.qld.edu.au/ Mount Morgan State High School]
[http://www.abc.net.au/capricornia/stories/s1672813.htm Mount Morgan Tourist Push]
[http://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au Rockhampton Regional Council]
{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56945700 |title=Back to Mount Morgan. |newspaper=The Morning Bulletin |location=Rockhampton, Qld. |date=7 June 1950 |access-date=3 March 2011 |page=1 Supplement: Supplement |via=National Library of Australia}}
{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106296351 |title=Mount Morgan: Its Catholic Life |newspaper=The Catholic Press |location=Sydney |date=1 August 1907 |access-date=19 October 2015 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}}
[https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-mount-morgan-sh1-1972.jpg Town map of Mount Morgan (north), 1972]
[https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-mount-morgan-sh2-1973.jpg Town map of Mount Morgan (south), 1973]
[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1dejkfd/alma99257863402061 Photographs of Mount Morgan and Iron Island 1901-1910], State Library of Queensland