Selwyn, Queensland

The Selwyn Range passes through the north of the locality.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Cite QPN|30389|Selwyn Range|range in the Shire of Cloncurry|access-date=16 May 2025}}

Selwyn has the following mountains (from north to south):{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

• in the north-east of the locality
• Mount Tracey ({{coord|-21.4009|140.7713|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Tracey}}){{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125215033/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{cite QPN|35107|Mount Tracey|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Boorama ({{coord|-21.4312|140.8103|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Boorama}}){{cite QPN|3789|Mount Boorama|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• in the west of the locality
• Mount Birnie ({{coord|-21.6168|139.9478|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Birnie}}) {{convert|450|m}}{{cite QPN|2750|Mount Birnie|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Aplin ({{coord|-21.6730|139.9297|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Aplin}}) {{convert|496|m}}{{cite QPN|675|Mount Aplin|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Murray ({{coord|-21.8209|139.9773|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Murray}}) {{convert|368|m}}{{cite QPN|23621|Mount Murray|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Merlin ({{coord|-21.8780|140.0104|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Merlin}}) {{convert|314|m}}{{cite QPN|21653|Mount Merlin|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Phosphate Hill ({{coord|-21.8889|139.9864|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Phosphate Hill}})
• Signal Hill ({{coord|-21.9799|140.0489|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Signal Hill}}) {{convert|307|m}}{{cite QPN|30811|Signal Hill|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Swift Hills ({{coord|-22.0579|140.0336|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Swift Hills}}) {{convert|310|m}}{{cite QPN|32995|Swift Hills|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Digby Peaks ({{coord|-22.1150|140.1343|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Digby Peaks}}) {{convert|301|m}}{{cite QPN|9936|Digby Peaks|mountain in Cloncurry Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}

The Phosphate Hill branch line of the Mount Isa railway line enters the locality from the north-west (Duchess) and runs parallel to the locality's western boundary until Phosphate Hill, the site of the phosphate mine.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}} The stations on the line are (from north to south):

• Mirri railway station ({{coord|-21.7635|139.9729|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Mirri 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}}{{Cite QPN|22281|Mirri|railway station in the Shire of Cloncurry|access-date=16 May 2025}}

• Phosphate Hill railway station ({{coord|-21.8832|139.9776|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Phosphate Hill railway station}}){{Cite QPN|26582|Phosphate Hil|railway station in the Shire of Cloncurry|access-date=16 May 2025}}

The Duchess Phosphate Hill Road runs loosely parallel and west of the Phosphate Hill branch line, also terminating at the mine site.

The former Selwyn railway line had the following railway stations:

• Wontimee railway station (former, {{coord|-21.3747|140.4913|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Wontimee railway station (former)}}), named by the Railways Department from 24 September 1920, using an Aboriginal word meaning spring water{{cite QPN|39354|Wontimee|rail station - feature no longer exists in Shire of Cloncurry|access-date=20 May 2024}}
• Coppery railway station (former, {{coord|-21.3833|140.5|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Coppery railway station (former)}}), named by Railways Department on 29 October 1912. after the mineral copper which was found in the locality{{cite QPN|39246|Coppery|rail station - feature no longer exists in Shire of Cloncurry|access-date=20 May 2024}}

• Kongula railway station (former, {{coord|-21.4666|140.4833|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Kongula railway station (former)}}), named by the Railways Department from 29 December 1909 by Railways Department, using an Aboriginal word meaning either a grass necklace or a local mountain{{cite QPN|18413|Kongula|rail station - feature no longer exists in Shire of Cloncurry|access-date=20 May 2024}}

File:StateLibQld 2 81795 Mt Elliott Mine in 1909.jpg

Selwyn takes its name from the Selwyn Range, which was named in turn after Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn, a geologist who was Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria from 1852 to 1869. It was formerly known as Mount Elliott after the prospector James Elliott who discovered copper and gold in the area in 1889.

Mount Elliott Provisional School opened on 1908. On 1 January 1909, it became Mount Elliott State School. In 1910, the school had 70 students and one teacher and an extra teacher was wanted.{{cite news |date=30 October 1910 |title=PURELY PERSONAL. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201751780 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=Truth |location=Queensland, Australia |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=559}} In early May 1911, there was still only one teacher with 100 students in a building described as "not large enough for half the number" with the suggestion that typhoid outbreaks might be caused by the school's overcrowding.{{cite news |date=7 May 1911 |title=THE CRITIC. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201757086 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=Truth |location=Queensland, Australia |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=586}} In late May 1911, the Queensland Government announced that an assistant teacher was expected to arrive soon and that plans were being drawn up for a larger school building.{{cite news |date=29 May 1911 |title=MT. ELLIOTT NOTES. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80353091 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=The Northern Miner |location=Queensland, Australia |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} A call for tenders to construct the new school building was advertised in March 1912,{{cite news |date=12 March 1912 |title=Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213080581 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=The Evening Telegraph |location=Queensland, Australia |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=3337}} with a contract for £1,135 awarded in June 1912.{{cite news |date=21 June 1912 |title=Public Works |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113082979 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=Queensland Times |location=Queensland, Australia |page=2 (DAILY) |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LIII |issue=8481}} In 1912, it was renamed Selwyn State School. In November 1915, the Selwyn Hotel burned down, killing the school's headteacher who was boarding in the hotel.{{cite news |date=17 November 1915 |title=(By Telegraph.) |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63607869 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |location=Queensland, Australia |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XXXII |issue=10,301}} The school closed circa 1936. In December 1937, the school building was relocated to be used as a school building in Boulia.{{cite news |date=27 December 1937 |title=BOULIA NOTES. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62159518 |accessdate=4 December 2024 |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |location=Queensland, Australia |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LIX |issue=309}}

On 15 December 1910 ,the Selwyn railway line opened to service the Hampden and Mount Elliott mines. It was a branch of the Great Northern Railway and ran south from Cloncurry to Selwyn.{{cite web|title=Selwyn|url=http://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/selwyn|work=Queensland Places|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|accessdate=4 September 2015}}

Selwyn's population peaked in 1918 with an estimated population of 1500 people with a hospital and four hotels. However, in 1920, copper prices collapsed and, by 1921, only 191 people were still living in Selwyn.

Mount Cobalt Provisional School opened on 1924 and closed on 1926.{{Citation | author1=Queensland Family History Society | title=Queensland schools past and present | publication-date=2010 | publisher=Queensland Family History Society | edition=Version 1.01 | isbn=978-1-921171-26-0 }}

The railway line to Selwyn was closed in 1961.

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Selwyn had a population of 50 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32560|name=Selwyn (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Selwyn had a population of 25 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32535|name=Selwyn (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

Selwyn has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Mount Elliott Mining Complex ({{coord|-21.5328|140.5035|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=Mount Elliott Mining Complex (former)}}){{cite QHR|24320|Mount Elliott Mining Complex|645612|accessdate=7 July 2013}}

There are no schools in Selwyn. Students in the far west of Selwyn can attend Dajarra State School in neighbouring Dajarra to the west, but it would be too distant for other students in the locality. There are no secondary schools nearby. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

Although the town of Selwyn is now abandoned, the mining and processing of phosphate occurs in the south-west of the locality at Phosphate Hill. The facility employs about 250 people with annual capacity of 975,000 tonnes.{{Cite web|url = http://www.incitecpivot.com.au/~/media/Files/IPL/Work%20with%20us/phosphate_hill_leaflet.pdf|title = Phosphate Hill|date = |accessdate = 4 September 2015|website = |publisher = Incitec Pivot|last = |first = }}{{Cite web|url = http://www.miningoilgas.com.au/index.php/products/a-z?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=23&sobi2Id=338|title = Phosphate Hill|date = 2013|accessdate = 4 September 2015|website = miningoilgas|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150626205730/http://miningoilgas.com.au/index.php/products/a-z?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=23&sobi2Id=338|archivedate = 26 June 2015|df = dmy-all}} The mine is serviced by the on-site gas-powered Phosphate Hill Power Station ({{coord|-21.8788|139.9746|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=gas powered}}).{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Landmark Areas - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121195536/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |access-date=21 October 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Cite web|title = Phosphate Hill - Chemicals Technology|url = http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/phosphatehill/|website = www.chemicals-technology.com|accessdate = 2015-09-04}} The mine is serviced by the Phosphate Hill railway station at the terminus of the Phosphate Hill railway line which branches from the Mount Isa railway line at the Flynn railway station.{{Cite web|url = http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/business/RegulatoryFramework/Documents/Maps/Mt%20Isa%20System%20Information%20Pack%20-%20Issue%202.1%20-%20May%202007.pdf|title = Mt Isa System|date = May 2007|accessdate = 4 September 2015|website = |publisher = Queensland Rail|last = |first = }}

Selwyn Cemetery is to the east of the now-abandoned town of Selwyn ({{coord|-21.5312|140.5073|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Selwyn Cemetery}}).{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Cemetery Areas - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/2baca5c3-a111-4fbc-86c9-3b896884438b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115100513/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/2baca5c3-a111-4fbc-86c9-3b896884438b |archive-date=15 November 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}

• Mount Elliott mine
• Mount Elliott Company Metallurgical Plant and Mill

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Selwyn, Queensland}}

• [https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-selwyn-1979.jpg Town plan of Selwyn, 1979]

{{Shire of Cloncurry}}

Category:Shire of Cloncurry

Category:Mining towns in Queensland

Category:Ghost towns in Queensland

Category:Localities in Queensland