Barron, Queensland

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = suburb

| name = Barron

| city =Cairns

| state = qld

| image =Sugar cane fields with mountains beyond, Lower Freshwater Road, Barron, Cairns, 2018 02.jpg

| caption =Sugar cane fields with mountains beyond, Lower Freshwater Road, Barron, 2018

| coordinates = {{coord|-16.8655|145.71|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Barron (centre of suburb)}}

| local_map = yes

| zoom = 11

| pop = 68

| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}

| pop_footnotes =

| established =

| postcode =

| area = 11.7

| timezone = AEST

| utc = +10:00

| dist1 = 10.6

| dir1 = NW

| location1 = Cairns CBD

| dist2 = 1684

| dir2 = NNW

| location2 = Brisbane

| dist3 =

| dir3 =

| location3 =

| dist4 =

| dir4 =

| location4 =

| lga = Cairns Region

| stategov = Barron River

| fedgov = Leichhardt

| near-n = Yorkeys Knob

| near-ne = Holloways Beach

| near-e = Machans Beach

| near-se = Aeroglen
Stratford

| near-s = Freshwater

| near-sw = Kamerunga

| near-w = Caravonica

| near-nw = Smithfield

}}

Barron is a suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|48513|Barron|suburb in Cairns Region|accessdate=26 December 2020}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Barron had a population of 68 people.

Geography

Although Barron has been a suburb of Cairns rather than a locality since 2002, as at 2021, the principal land use is farming with little residential development.{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=|access-date=1 April 2021}}

The locality is bounded to the north-east by the Captain Cook Highway and in the other directions by Kamerunga Road (approximately). The Tablelands railway line also forms the southern boundary with Freshwater railway station ({{coord|-16.8810|145.7099|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Freshwater railway station}}) serving the suburb.{{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}}

The Barron River enters the suburb from the south-west (Kamerunga) as does Freshwater Creek (formerly the Davidson River) with their confluence on the western boundary of the suburb ({{coord|-16.8666|145.7|type:river_region:AU-QLD|name=Freshwater Creek (mouth)}}). The river then flows towards the north of the suburb and then to the south-east (along the boundary with Stratford), finally exiting to the east (Machans Beach).{{cite QPN|13213|Freshwater Creek|watercourse in Cairns Regional|accessdate=26 December 2020}}

The land is flat and low-lying (less than 10 metres above sea level). The main crop is sugarcane and a network of cane tramways pass through the suburb to deliver the harvested sugarcane to the Mulgrave Sugar Mill in Gordonvale.

Demographics

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Barron had a population of 42 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30177|name=Barron (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Barron had a population of 68 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30176|name=Barron (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

Education

There are no schools in Barron. The nearest government primary schools are Caravonica State School in neighbouring Caravonica to the west, Machans Beach State School in neighbouring Machans Beach to the east, and Freshwater State School in neighbouring Freshwater to the south. The nearest government secondary schools are Smithfield State High School in Smithfield to the north-west, Redlynch State College in Redlynch to the south-west, and Cairns State High School in Cairns North to the south-east.

Amenities

File:Bunny Adair Park with equestrian facilities, Barron, Cairns, 2018.jpg

The Bunny Adair Park on Lower Freshwater Road (once in Freshwater but now in Barron) ({{coord|-16.8804|145.7094|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Bunny Adair Park}}) is named after politician and Freshwater Hotel publican, Bunny Adair.{{cite web|url=http://queenslandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/far-north-queensland-place-names-bo-bz.html|title=Far North Queensland Place names bo – bz|last=Hodes|first=Jeremy|work=Queensland History|publisher=Blogger|accessdate=2 February 2014|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203072749/http://queenslandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/far-north-queensland-place-names-bo-bz.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=20 November 2020|title=Land for public recreation - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122211519/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009|archive-date=22 November 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}} The park has equestrian facilities and is home to the Freshwater Pony Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/facilities-sport-leisure/sport-and-recreation/sport/sport-parks|title=Sport fields|last=|first=|date=12 December 2017|website=|publisher=Cairns Regional Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924070216/https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/facilities-sport-leisure/sport-and-recreation/sport/sport-parks|archive-date=24 September 2018|url-status=live|access-date=24 September 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://freshwaterponyclub.com/|title=Freshwater Pony Club|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924070413/http://freshwaterponyclub.com/|archive-date=24 September 2018|url-status=live|access-date=24 September 2018}}

Attractions

File:Freshwater railway station, platform side, Barron, Cairns, 2018.jpg

Freshwater railway station ({{coord|-16.8810|145.7099|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Freshwater railway station}}) is a popular departure point for the Kuranda Scenic Railway with free parking, a restored historic railway station building, restaurant in heritage railway carriages, and a theatrette.{{Cite web|title=Freshwater Station|url=https://www.ksr.com.au/Stations/Pages/FreshwaterStation.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Kuranda Scenic Railway|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309102108/https://www.ksr.com.au/Stations/Pages/FreshwaterStation.aspx}} The station is on Kumerunga Road near the junction with Old Smithfield Road.