St Lawrence, Queensland
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = St Lawrence
| state = qld
| image = StLawrence_Qld01.jpg
| caption = View along St Lawrence's main street
| coordinates = {{coord|-22.3455|149.5352|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=St Lawrence (town centre)}}
| pop = 245
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| postcode = 4707
| area = 1381.8
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 159
| dir1 = S
| location1 = Mackay
| dist2 = 186
| dir2 = NW
| location2 = Rockhampton
| dist3 = 238
| dir3 = ESE
| location3 = Moranbah
| dist4 = 809
| dir4 = NNW
| location4 = Brisbane
| lga = Isaac Region
| stategov = Mirani
| fedgov = Capricornia
| elevation = 18
| maxtemp = 31.8
| maxtemp_footnotes =
| mintemp = 10.9
| mintemp_footnotes =
| rainfall = 1018.6
| rainfall_footnotes =
| near-n = Clairview
| near-ne = The Percy Group
| near-e = The Percy Group
| near-se = Ogmore
| near-s = Ogmore
| near-sw = Clarke Creek
| near-w = Lotus Creek
| near-nw = Collaroy
}}
St Lawrence is a rural town and locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|32101|St Lawrence|town in Isaac Region|accessdate=27 December 2020}}{{cite QPN|47035|St Lawrence|locality in Isaac Region|accessdate=27 December 2020}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of St Lawrence had a population of 245 people.
Geography
St Lawrence is located {{convert|802|km|mi}} north of Brisbane and {{convert|6|km|mi}} off the Bruce Highway.The town is located south of St Lawrence Creek, which flows into a vast bay known as Broad Sound, a waterway noted for its large tidal range (up to {{convert|9|m|ft}} in the summer).
The North Coast railway line passes through the town, which is served by St Lawrence railway station.
Newport is a neighbourhood within the locality, about {{Convert|5|km}} south-east of the town ({{coord|-22.3686|149.5658|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Newport}}).{{cite QPN|24168|Newport|locality unbounded in Isaac Regional|accessdate=27 December 2020}}
=Climate=
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = St Lawrence (1991–2020)
| collapsed = yes
| Jan record high C = 44.0
| Feb record high C = 40.2
| Mar record high C = 38.8
| Apr record high C = 34.8
| May record high C = 35.5
| Jun record high C = 31.0
| Jul record high C = 31.6
| Aug record high C = 32.7
| Sep record high C = 34.8
| Oct record high C = 39.1
| Nov record high C = 43.5
| Dec record high C = 40.0
| year record high C = 44.0
| Jan high C = 32.0
| Feb high C = 31.8
| Mar high C = 31.3
| Apr high C = 29.5
| May high C = 26.9
| Jun high C = 24.5
| Jul high C = 24.3
| Aug high C = 25.2
| Sep high C = 27.4
| Oct high C = 29.1
| Nov high C = 30.5
| Dec high C = 31.6
| year high C = 28.7
| Jan mean C = 27.5
| Feb mean C = 27.4
| Mar mean C = 26.4
| Apr mean C = 24.1
| May mean C = 21.1
| Jun mean C = 18.5
| Jul mean C = 17.7
| Aug mean C = 18.5
| Sep mean C = 21.1
| Oct mean C = 23.6
| Nov mean C = 25.4
| Dec mean C = 26.9
| year mean C = 23.2
| Jan low C = 23.0
| Feb low C = 23.0
| Mar low C = 21.5
| Apr low C = 18.7
| May low C = 15.2
| Jun low C = 12.5
| Jul low C = 11.1
| Aug low C = 11.7
| Sep low C = 14.8
| Oct low C = 18.1
| Nov low C = 20.4
| Dec low C = 22.1
| year low C = 17.7
| Jan record low C = 17.6
| Feb record low C = 16.7
| Mar record low C = 14.3
| Apr record low C = 7.7
| May record low C = 5.6
| Jun record low C = 2.3
| Jul record low C = 1.1
| Aug record low C = 1.4
| Sep record low C = 4.8
| Oct record low C = 7.6
| Nov record low C = 12.9
| Dec record low C = 14.0
| year record low C = 1.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 159.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 177.1
| Mar precipitation mm = 102.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 41.3
| May precipitation mm = 37.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 33.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 29.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 30.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 18.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 40.3
| Nov precipitation mm = 73.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 110.3
| year precipitation mm = 855.1
| unit precipitation days = 1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 8.8
| Feb precipitation days = 10.0
| Mar precipitation days = 6.5
| Apr precipitation days = 4.6
| May precipitation days = 3.6
| Jun precipitation days = 4.0
| Jul precipitation days = 2.5
| Aug precipitation days = 2.5
| Sep precipitation days = 2.1
| Oct precipitation days = 3.7
| Nov precipitation days = 5.4
| Dec precipitation days = 7.1
| year precipitation days = 60.8
| Jan dew point C = 21.4
| Feb dew point C = 21.7
| Mar dew point C = 20.2
| Apr dew point C = 17.6
| May dew point C = 14.3
| Jun dew point C = 11.8
| Jul dew point C = 10.5
| Aug dew point C = 11.3
| Sep dew point C = 14.2
| Oct dew point C = 16.9
| Nov dew point C = 18.6
| Dec dew point C = 20.5
| year dew point C = 16.6
| source 1 = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-5-WMO-Normals-9120/Australia/CSV/StLawrence_95369.csv
|title = St Lawrence Climate Normals for 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|format = CSV
|access-date = 1 March 2025}}
}}
History
St Lawrence is located on Koinmerburra Country; the Custodians of this land are the Koinjmal People.http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p72191/pdf/article038.pdf (insufficient citation)
British settlement in the area began circa 1860 when John Arthur Macartney established Waverley pastoral station. The township of St Lawrence was originally established to maintain the Customs Office for the Port of St Lawrence.{{Cite web|title = St Lawrence - Isaac Regional Council|url = http://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/st-lawrence|website = www.isaac.qld.gov.au|accessdate = 2015-12-30|archive-date = 6 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160106162412/http://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/st-lawrence|url-status = live}} It takes its name from one of the blocks on the Waverley pastoral station.
The St Lawrence State School opened on 28 May 1871.{{Citation|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|author1=Queensland Family History Society|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}
Anglican services were held quarterly in the St Lawrence Courthouse (now the St Lawrence Police Station) until the opening of the meatworks in 1893 attracted sufficient residents to establish a church. In March 1898, Vicar Arthur Henry Julius purchased {{Convert|5|acre}} of land at the end of Macartney Street (the main street through the town) where he said the church would be "conspicuous". The foundation block for Christ Church Anglican was laid on Saturday 21 May 1898 by Thomas Byrnes, the new Queensland Premier (and Queensland's first Roman Catholic Premier).{{cite news|date=4 June 1898|title=THE PREMIER'S VISIT.|volume=24|page=12|newspaper=The Capricornian|issue=23|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68178318|via=National Library of Australia|access-date=2 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003033021/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68178318|url-status=live}} The church was designed by Rockhampton architect, Alfred Mowbray Hutton, to seat around 100 people with a classroom for Sunday School and a bedroom for visiting clergy. The contractors were Newman Bros of Rockhampton.{{Cite web|title=Christ Church Anglican Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/anglican/directory/4305-christ-church-anglican-church|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-02|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003033020/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/anglican/directory/4305-christ-church-anglican-church}}
St Lawrence was the administrative centre of the Shire of Broadsound until 2008, when the shire was amalgamated with the Shire of Belyando and the Shire of Nebo to form the Isaac Region local government area. Moranbah is the administrative centre of the new region but the former Broadsound Shire offices at 36 Macartney Street are still used as the local offices of the Isaac Regional Council.{{Cite web|url=http://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/contact-us|title=Contact Us - Isaac Regional Council|website=www.isaac.qld.gov.au|accessdate=2015-12-30|archive-date=27 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127170423/http://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/contact-us|url-status=live}} The building was described in 2004 as "a disarmingly elegant building which seems quite out of place in this otherwise undistinguished town".{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/queensland/st-lawrence/2005/02/17/1108500203743.html|title=St Lawrence|date=8 February 2004|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=4 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103522/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/St-Lawrence/2005/02/17/1108500203743.html|url-status=live}}
Once a prosperous port town, exporting cattle from the hinterland, in 2019, many residents were DIDO coal miners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/huge-new-mine-project-to-hire-450-cq-workers/3175971/|title=Huge new mine project to hire 450 workers|last=Hooker|first=Amber|website=Morning Bulletin|language=en|access-date=2019-08-02|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802224544/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/huge-new-mine-project-to-hire-450-cq-workers/3175971/|url-status=live}}
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the locality of St Lawrence and the surrounding area had a population of 195 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC37515|name=St Lawrence (Broadsound Shire) (State Suburb)|accessdate=25 July 2009|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of St Lawrence had a population of 396 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31528|name=St Lawrence|accessdate=30 December 2015|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of St Lawrence had a population of 235 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32669|name=St Lawrence (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of St Lawrence had a population of 245 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32644|name=St Lawrence (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}
Heritage listings
File:Christ Church Anglican Church, St Lawrence, 2009.jpg
St Lawrence has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Cannon Street: Christ Church Anglican Church{{cite QHR|16926|Christ Church Anglican Church|601661|accessdate=10 July 2013}}
- Macartney Street: St Lawrence Police Station{{cite QHR|15924|Police Station and former Courthouse and Cell Block|601152|accessdate=10 July 2013}}
- Settlement Road: Meatworks and Wharf Site{{cite QHR|15938|Meatworks and Wharf Site (former)|601173|accessdate=10 July 2013}}
Education
St Lawrence State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Macartney Street ({{coord|-22.3449|149.5297|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=St Lawrence 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|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|accessdate=21 November 2018|publisher=Queensland Government}}{{cite web|title=St Lawrence State School|url=https://stlawrencess.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live|accessdate=12 March 2021|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227070004/https://stlawrencess.eq.edu.au/}} In 2015, it had an enrolment of 10 students with 2 teachers (1 equivalent full-time).{{Cite web|title=2015 School Annual Report|url=https://stlawrenss.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/SAR%202015.pdf|access-date=27 July 2016|publisher=St Lawrence State School|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816135725/https://stlawrenss.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/SAR%202015.pdf|url-status=live}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 9 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 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|accessdate=28 January 2020|publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority|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}} The school motto is 'Knowledge, Truth, Honesty'.
The original school was opened on 28 May 1871 but it was completely destroyed by a cyclone on 22 January 1874 and had to be rebuilt.{{cite news|last=Petith|first=Heidi|date=13 June 2021|title=St Lawrence State School celebrates 150 years|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/st-lawrence-state-school-celebrates-150-years/4275963|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613194904/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/st-lawrence-state-school-celebrates-150-years/4275963/|url-status=live}} A new school building was officially opened on 17 June 1938.{{cite news|author=|title=New state school at St Lawrence|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169995855?searchTerm=%22St.%20Lawrence%22%20school|work=Daily Mercury|location=|date=22 June 1938|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614064605/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169995855?searchTerm=%22St.%20Lawrence%22%20school|url-status=live}} The school was completely destroyed by fire on 30 October 2007.{{cite news|author=|title=Town loses school but not its spirit|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/apn-town-loses-school-but-not-its/73069|work=Daily Mercury|location=|date=1 November 2007|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612230426/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/apn-town-loses-school-but-not-its/73069/|url-status=live}} A mobile classroom was transported from Brisbane as the school's permanent replacement.{{cite news|author=|title=Fire-hit St Lawrence school get new mobile classroom|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-11-01/fire-hit-st-lawrence-school-get-new-mobile/712764|work=ABC News|location=|date=1 November 2007|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=29 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029002001/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-11-01/fire-hit-st-lawrence-school-get-new-mobile/712764|url-status=live}} A wishing well handcrafted by Jack Dempsey was installed at the site and dedicated in 2008 in remembrance of the previous school building.{{cite web|url=https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/fire/display/113417-st-lawrence-school|title=St Lawrence School|author=|date=|website=Monument Australia|publisher=|access-date=14 June 2021|quote=|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614064608/https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/fire/display/113417-st-lawrence-school|url-status=live}}
St Lawrence State School celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021.
There is no secondary school in St Lawrence nor nearby.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=12 March 2021}} Distance education and boarding school are options.
Amenities
The Isaac Regional Council operates a public library at 22 Railway Parade ({{Coord|-22.3510|149.5233|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=St Lawrence public library}}).{{Cite web|date=21 June 2017|title=St Lawrence Library|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/isaac/st_lawrence_library|access-date=26 January 2018|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=State Library of Queensland|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185549/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/isaac/st_lawrence_library|url-status=live}}
Christ Church Anglican is on Cannon Street at the junction with Macartney Street ({{coord|-22.3458|149.5378|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=Christ Church Anglican}}). It is part of the Parish of North Rockhampton (also known as the All Saints Anglican Community) within the Anglican Church of Central Queensland.{{Cite web|title=Parish of North Rockhampton|url=https://www.anglicanchurchcq.org.au/northrock.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-02|website=Anglican Church of Central Queensland|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303074151/https://anglicanchurchcq.org.au/northrock.html}}
Events
Each June, an annual eco festival called "Wetlands Weekend" is held in St Lawrence to celebrate the wetlands and local produce.{{cite news|last=Charles|first=Caitlyn|date=29 August 2019|title=How one weekend pumped $121,000 into rural economy|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/one-weekend-pumps-121000-into-isaac-economy/3817776|url-access=subscription|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614072530/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/one-weekend-pumps-121000-into-isaac-economy/3817776/|url-status=live}} First held in 2008 to raise awareness of the importance of wetland conservation, the event incorporates various cultural activities, workshops, environmental art, musical performances as well as a 'Welcome to Wetlands' evening, a 'farm to plate' seafood lunch and a bush dinner.{{cite news|last=Lees|first=Chris|date=14 April 2016|title=St Lawrence wetlands a hidden gem for wildlife|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/st-lawrence-wetlands-a-hidden-gem-for-wildlife/2996794|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614072524/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/st-lawrence-wetlands-a-hidden-gem-for-wildlife/2996794/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Cassidy|first=Tara|date=22 May 2017|title=St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend returns|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/st-lawrence-wetlands-weekend-returns/3180977|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308071133/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/st-lawrence-wetlands-weekend-returns/3180977/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Watkins|first=Lillian|date=11 June 2021|title=Artists descend on St Lawrence for Wetlands Weekend|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/artists-descend-on-st-lawrence-for-wetlands-weeken/4275710|url-access=subscription|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611090602/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/artists-descend-on-st-lawrence-for-wetlands-weeken/4275710/|url-status=live}} There are also celebrity appearances from personalities such as Gardening Australia presenter Costa Georgiadis and celebrity chef Matt Golinski.{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Rae|date=13 June 2021|title=A foodie date with Matt Golinski in St Lawrence|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/photos-a-foodie-date-with-matt-golinski-in-st-lawr/4276658|url-access=subscription|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614072548/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/photos-a-foodie-date-with-matt-golinski-in-st-lawr/4276658/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Rae|date=23 March 2019|title=Popular TV presenter gives a green thumbs up to Isaac|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/popular-tv-presenter-gives-a-green-thumbs-up-to-is/3679432|url-access=subscription|work=Daily Mercury|location=|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614072535/https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/popular-tv-presenter-gives-a-green-thumbs-up-to-is/3679432/|url-status=live}} Isaac Regional Council credited the 2019 event for adding $121,000 to the local economy.
Gallery
File:Stlawrenceriverlowtide.JPG|St Lawrence River - low tide
File:Stlawrenceriverlowtide2.jpg|St Lawrence River - across the park
File:Stlawrence_birdwatching.jpg|St Lawrence - Bird watching
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|St Lawrence, Queensland}}
- {{cite web|title=St Lawrence|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/st-lawrence|website=Queensland Places|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland}}
- {{cite web|date=1980|title=Town map of St Lawrence|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-st-lawrence-1980.jpg|publisher=Queensland Government}}
- [http://reg.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_033065.shtml BOM : Summary statistics : St Lawrence Post Office]
{{Isaac Region}}
{{Central Queensland}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Lawrence, Queensland}}