Dotswood, Queensland

The neighbourhood of Macrossan is located in the west of the locality beside the bridge over the Burdekin River.

The Great Northern Railway passes through the locality. There are a number of abandoned railway stations on that line within the locality:

• Macrossan railway station ({{coord|-20.0051|146.4456|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Macrossan railway station}})
• Exley railway station ({{coord|-19.9515|146.5224|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Exley railway station}}){{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}}
• Eneby railway station ({{coord|-19.9225|146.5563|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Eneby railway station}})

Another abandoned station is Keelbottom railway station ({{coord|-19.4427|146.3168|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Keelbottom railway station}}) on the now-closed Greenvale railway line.

The Hervey Range Developmental Road runs through from east to west.{{cite map |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11676964 |title=Dotswood |publisher=Open Street Map |date=2022 |access-date=4 February 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204000609/https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11676964 |url-status=live }}

In 1863 Phillip Somer and Matthew Hervey were granted the license to occupy the {{Convert|42|sqmi|km2|abbr=off}} and {{Convert|25|sqmi|km2}} of the Keelbottom and Watershed Pastoral Runs respectively, by the Crown Lands Office in Brisbane.{{cite news |date=5 May 1863 |title=Classified Advertising |volume=XVII |page=4 |newspaper=The Courier (Brisbane) |issue=1630 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3163114 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=21 November 1863 |title=Classified Advertising |volume=XVIII |page=4 |newspaper=The Courier (Brisbane) |issue=1802 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3167020 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} By late 1865 these men had transferred their holdings of the Emysland, Dotswood, Nursiedob, Keelbottom, Watershed, and Tala (or Tula).runs to the Bank of New South Wales. These properties lay on one or both sides of Keelbottom Creek.{{cite news |date=12 October 1865 |title=Classified Advertising |volume=XX |page=5 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |issue=2,404 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1280074 |accessdate=7 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} Eventually Dotswood Station comprised the runs of Arthurs Peak, Back Plains, Hardwick, Pall Mall, Poon Boon, Redyke (or Red Dyke), Smiths Brook and Yallock Vale, as well as those already mentioned.{{Cite web |last=The State of Queensland |first=Housing and Digital Economy |author-link=Queensland Government |title=Alphabetical register of Pastoral Holdings 1863-1880 |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/register-pastoral-holdings-1863-to-1880/resource/460e3f22-df6f-4a84-9b67-7fc4b412c9c1 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.data.qld.gov.au |at=Property Nme - Dotswood |language=en-AU |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206235456/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/register-pastoral-holdings-1863-to-1880/resource/460e3f22-df6f-4a84-9b67-7fc4b412c9c1 |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last=Bell |first=Peter |date=August 1996 |title=Townsville Field Training Area: Conservation Management Plan for European Cultural Heritage |url=https://www.academia.edu/21872331/Townsville_Field_Training_Area_Conservation_Management_Plan_for_European_Cultural_Heritage |journal=Report to Department of Defence |page=14 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112546/https://www.academia.edu/21872331/Townsville_Field_Training_Area_Conservation_Management_Plan_for_European_Cultural_Heritage |url-status=live }}

The neighbourhood of Macrossan takes its name from the Macrossan railway station, which in turn is named after the politician John Murtagh Macrossan.{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=4 January 2020}}{{Cite QPN|20500|Macrossan|railway station in the Charters Towers Region|accessdate=4 January 2020}}

This locality was within the Star River Mineral Field, which was discovered in 1865.{{cite news |date=4 November 1865 |title=TELEGRAPHIC. |volume=XX |page=5 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |issue=2,424 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1281545 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} The following year John Macrossan passed through the area.{{cite news |date=8 April 1891 |title=The Late Hon. John Murtagh Macrossan, M.L.A. |volume=VIII |page=2 |newspaper=Cairns Post |issue=613 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39437129 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} The Ravenswood Gold Field, discovered in 1868, eventually extended north into the Star River Mineral Field.{{cite news |date=6 February 1869 |title=THE NEW GOLD FIELD. |volume=XXIII |page=5 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |issue=3,540 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1327916 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{Cite web |title=Sketch map of goldfields in the vicinity of Charters Towers [cartographic material] : Charters Towers, Ravenswood, Windsor, Carrington, Strathalbyn, Piccadilly, and part of Star River Mineral Field |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232907517 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Trove |language=en}} From 1881 silver-lead deposits in the Ravenswood mining district, the most promising at Argentine, were being mined in what was called a silver mania.{{cite news |date=13 September 1881 |title=Telegraphic News. |volume=XVI |page=2 |newspaper=The Northern Miner |issue=492 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77183486 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=24 September 1881 |title=Townsville. |volume=XXXVI |page=6 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |issue=7,396 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article911499 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} However this ended suddenly in 1883, after the failure of a locally capitalized smelting works and low returns.{{Cite book |last=Bolton |first=G. C. |url=http://hdl.handle.net/1885/114899 |title=A Thousand Miles Away : A HISTORY OF NORTH QUEENSLAND TO 1920 |publisher=AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY PRESS |year=1970 |isbn=0 7081 0048 1 |edition=2nd |location=Sydney |pages=113 |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Bell |first=Peter |date=August 1996 |title=Townsville Field Training Area: Conservation Management Plan for European Cultural Heritage |url=https://www.academia.edu/21872331/Townsville_Field_Training_Area_Conservation_Management_Plan_for_European_Cultural_Heritage |journal=Report to Department of Defence |pages=58–64 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112546/https://www.academia.edu/21872331/Townsville_Field_Training_Area_Conservation_Management_Plan_for_European_Cultural_Heritage |url-status=live }}

In late 1872 {{Convert|1100|acres|ha|lk=on|abbr=off}} on Keelbottom Creek, Kennedy district were reserved for the town reserve of Boolangalla.{{cite news |date=4 November 1872 |title=OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS. |volume=XXVII |page=3 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |issue=4,710 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1300423 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In the town of Argentine, 67 town lots, at £16 per acre, and 3 mineral selections, were offered for sale by the Crown Lands Office in October 1882. By the next year the town consisted of several public houses, one butcher's shop, a baker's shop, three stores and two gardens.{{cite news |date=21 October 1882 |title=Current News. |volume=XXII |page=533 |newspaper=The Queenslander |issue=369 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19787333 |accessdate=8 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=21 October 1882 |title=Classified Advertising |volume=XXII |page=562 |newspaper=The Queenslander |issue=369 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19787339 |accessdate=8 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=7 June 1883 |title=Mining News. |volume=XVIII |page=2 |newspaper=The Northern Miner |issue=749 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77187214 |accessdate=8 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} In December 1888 the name of the Star River Post Office was changed to Argentine Post Office.{{cite news |date=12 December 1888 |title=Monthly Postal Guide. |page=2 |newspaper=The Telegraph |issue=5,045 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187796545 |accessdate=6 February 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Dotswood had a population of 101 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30874|name=Dotswood (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Dotswood had a population of 83 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30868|name=Dotswood (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

File:Burdekin River Crossing on the Flinders Highway - panoramio (23).jpgDotswood has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Macrossan Stores Depot Group, Flinders Highway, Macrossan{{cite AHD|105330|Macrossan Stores Depot Group|fn=4/05/243/0032|accessdate=15 May 2019}}
• Burdekin River Rail Bridge, Great Northern railway{{cite QHR|15217|Burdekin River Rail Bridge (former)|600442|accessdate=7 July 2013}}

Most of this locality is within of the Department of Defence's Townsville Field Training Area.{{Cite journal |last=Bell |first=Peter |date=1996 |title=Townsville Field Training Area: Conservation Management Plan for European Cultural Heritage |url=https://www.academia.edu/21872331/Townsville_Field_Training_Area_Conservation_Management_Plan_for_European_Cultural_Heritage |journal=Report to Department of Defence |pages=3, 7 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112546/https://www.academia.edu/21872331/Townsville_Field_Training_Area_Conservation_Management_Plan_for_European_Cultural_Heritage |url-status=live }}

There are no schools in Dotswood. For students living in southern Dotswood, the nearest government primary school is Richmond Hill State School in Richmond Hill, Charters Towers, and the nearest government secondary school is Charters Towers State High School in the Charters Towers CBD. For students living in eastern Dotswood, the nearest government primary school is The Willows State School in Kirwan, Townsville, and the nearest government secondary school is Thuringowa State High School in Condon, Townsville. For students living in other parts of Dotswood, there are no nearby schools; the options are distance education and boarding school.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=23 November 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status=live }}

There are non-government schools in Charters Towers and Townsville.

Macrossan Park is a free campground overlooking the Burdekin River, situated between the rail and road bridges ({{Coord|-20.0034|146.4389|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Macrossan Park campground}}){{Cite web |title=Macrossan Park |url=https://www.visitcharterstowers.com.au/accommodation/macrossan-park |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.visitcharterstowers.com.au |language=en-gb}}

Surgeons Lookout is a tourist attraction ({{coord|-19.6864|146.5387|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Surgeons Lookout}}).{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Tourist points - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/c0b6c26c-6bde-452c-b60a-d77b969b60d2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124222328/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/c0b6c26c-6bde-452c-b60a-d77b969b60d2 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}

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{{Charters Towers Region}}

Category:Charters Towers Region

Category:Localities in Queensland