Ficks Crossing, Queensland
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2019}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = suburb
| name = Ficks Crossing
| city =
| state = qld
| image =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|-26.265|151.8927|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Ficks Crossing (centre of locality)}}
| pop = 39
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| postcode = 4606
| area = 13.9
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 6.9
| dir1 = W
| location1 = Murgon
| dist2 = 38.4
| dir2 = NNE
| location2 = Kingaroy
| dist3 = 98.8
| dir3 = W
| location3 = Gympie
| dist4 = 271
| dir4 = NNW
| location4 = Brisbane
| lga = South Burnett Region
| stategov = Nanango
| fedgov = Flynn
| near-n = Wheatlands
| near-ne = Murgon
| near-e = Murgon
| near-se = Cherbourg
| near-s = Cherbourg
| near-sw = Wondai
| near-w = Wondai
| near-nw = Wheatlands
}}
Ficks Crossing is a rural locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|46218|Ficks Crossing|locality in South Burnett Region|access-date=2 August 2019}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Ficks Crossing had a population of 39 people.
Geography
Barambah Creek loosely bounds the locality to the north-east and east, while its tribuatary Yellow Waterhole Creek loosely bounds the locality to the south-east.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |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 }}
The Bunya Highway enters the locality from the north-east (Murgon), crossing Barambah Creek on the John Krebs Bridge ({{Coord|-26.24149|151.89428|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=John Krebs Bridge}}),{{Cite Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-26.2413956,151.8947261,3a,45.1y,242.35h,82.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1suP2tBcJqCWlnZFgXc4P_1w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D7.415848876960524%26panoid%3DuP2tBcJqCWlnZFgXc4P_1w%26yaw%3D242.35229547427275!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyOS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D|access-date=31 January 2025|title=John Krebs Bridge|SV=yes|date=August 2024}} and exits to the west (Wondai).{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |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 }}
The land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |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 }}
History
The locality presumably takes its name from the Ficks Crossing ford over Barambah Creek ({{Coord|-26.26500|151.89278|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Ficks Crossing (ford)}}). The low-level bridge was constructed over the creek at the crossing in 1917.{{cite news |date=24 November 1917 |title=Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152540892 |accessdate=31 January 2025 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=13,890}} The approaches to the bridge were carried away by flood water in 1923.{{cite news |date=5 December 1923 |title=RELIEF RAINS. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181762862 |accessdate=31 January 2025 |newspaper=Daily Standard |location=Queensland, Australia |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=3406}} In 1935, ongoing problems with the low-level bridge resulted in a request to the Queensland Government to build a high-level bridge.{{cite news |date=3 August 1935 |title=WONDAI HOSPITAL |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149967512 |accessdate=31 January 2025 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=20,282}} A weir for irrigation just upstread of the crossing was also proposed.{{cite news |date=31 October 1936 |title=WONDAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149985114 |accessdate=31 January 2025 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=20,376}}{{cite news |date=5 December 1936 |title=WATER CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149985435 |accessdate=31 January 2025 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=20,406}}
Ficks Crossing National Fitness Camp operated at 47 Ficks Crossing Road from 1980 to 2008.{{Cite web |title=Ficks Crossing Active Recreation Centre |url=https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/institutions/ficks-crossing-active-recreation-centre |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=National Redress Scheme}}
The Silver Lining School in Ficks Crossing was established in 2019 with a program for young men. In 2021, a program for young women was introduced.{{Cite web |title=Our Schools – Silver Lining Foundation Australia Ltd |url=https://silverlining.org.au/our-schools/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |language=en-US |archive-date=6 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241106154346/https://silverlining.org.au/our-schools/ |url-status=live }}
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Ficks Crossing had a population of 37 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31045|name=Ficks Crossing (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Ficks Crossing had a population of 39 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31034|name=Ficks Crossing (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}
Education
Silver Lining School is a private secondary school for boys and girls at 14722 Bunya Highway ({{Coord|-26.26060|151.88799|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Silver Lining School}}). It is operated by the Silver Lining Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the education and training of Indigenous young people who suffer from social disadvantage to give them a sense of purpose.{{Cite web |title=Silver Lining Foundation Australia |url=https://silverlining.org.au/ |access-date=31 January 2025}} The school draws most of its students from neighbouring Cherbourg. In 2022, the school had 22 students in the young men's program and 13 students in the young women's program.{{Cite web |title=2023 Annual Report: Silver Lining School (based on 2022 data) |url=https://silverlining.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Annual-Report-file-Silver-Lining-School-Web-Res-FINAL.pdf |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=Silver Lining Foundation |pages=5-6 |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803004408/https://silverlining.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Annual-Report-file-Silver-Lining-School-Web-Res-FINAL.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Burgin |first=Robert |date=2024-02-15 |title=Silver Lining school getting kids on track through growing veggies, rearing livestock and trying rodeo |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-16/silver-lining-foundation-ficks-crossing-indigenous-youth-purpose/103469576 |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
The nearest government primary schools are Wheatlands State School in neighbouring Wheatlands to the north-west, Murgon State School in neighbouring Murgon to the east, and Wondai State School in neighbouring Wondai to the south-west. The nearest government secondary schools are Wondai State School (to Year 9) and Murgon State HIgh School (to Year 12), also in Murgon.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |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 }}
Attractions
There is a waterhole on Barambah Creek offering opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and picnics. It is accessed from Ficks Crossing Road ({{Coord|-26.25332|151.89263|type:river_region:AU-QLD|name=Ficks Crossing waterhole}}).{{Cite web |title=Ficks Crossing |url=https://www.discoversouthburnett.com.au/attractions/natural-attractions/ficks-crossing/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Discover South Burnett |archive-date=6 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241106144304/https://www.discoversouthburnett.com.au/attractions/natural-attractions/ficks-crossing/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{South Burnett Region}}