Torbanlea

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = town

| name = Torbanlea

| state = qld

| image = Giant bamboo in carpark - panoramio.jpg

| caption = Giant bamboo, Torbanlea, 2014

| coordinates = {{coord|-25.3461|152.5958|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Torbanlea (town centre)}}

| pop = 841

| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}

| pop_footnotes =

| established =

| postcode = 4662

| area = 28.4

| timezone = AEST

| utc = +10:00

| dist1 = 5.1

| dir1 = SE

| location1 = Howard

| dist2 = 23.5

| dir2 = WSW

| location2 = Hervey Bay

| dist3 = 25.4

| dir3 = NNW

| location3 = Maryborough

| dist4 = 274

| dir4 = N

| location4 = Brisbane

| lga = Fraser Coast Region

| stategov = Maryborough

| fedgov = Hinkler

| elevation =

| maxtemp =

| mintemp =

| rainfall =

| near-n = Burrum Town

| near-ne = Burrum River

| near-e = Burgowan

| near-se = Burgowan

| near-s = Duckinwilla

| near-sw = Duckinwilla

| near-w = Howard

| near-nw = Howard

}}

Torbanlea is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|35008|Torbanlea|town in Fraser Coast Region|access-date=20 July 2021}}{{cite QPN|46683|Torbanlea|locality in Fraser Coast Region|access-date=20 July 2021}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Torbanlea had a population of 841 people.

Geography

The Burrum River forms the western and northern boundary of the locality. The town is located on the north-western edge of the locality.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses; Population centres |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=3 December 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 }} Torbanlea and Howard are on opposite sides of the Burrum River.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=2 December 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 }} The distance between the towns is 5.1 kilometres (3.2 miles).{{Cite Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Howard,+Queensland+4659/Torbanlea+QLD+4662/@-25.3328716,152.5510763,5733m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x6beb718fc965766f:0x400eef17f20edb0!2m2!1d152.5622697!2d-25.317417!1m5!1m1!1s0x6beb71d3dc7fb7af:0x400eef17f20ee40!2m2!1d152.5919753!2d-25.348623!3e0?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D|access-date=3 December 2024|title=Howard to Torbanlea}}

The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the south-east (Burgowan) to the north, passes through the town, and exits to the north (Howard). The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the south (Duckinwilla), bypasses the town centre to the south, and exits to the north (Howard).{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=3 December 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 }}

Apart from the town centre, the principal land use is farming mostly along the river and along the highway. The hillier parts of the locality in the south-east are undeveloped bushland.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=20 October 2021}}

History

File:Torbanlea Railway Station, Qld - very early 1900s.jpg

The name Torbanlea is believed to have been suggested by mining manager, James Robertson, after Torbane Hill in Scotland.

File:Plan of Torbanlea Mine.png

Coal was found in the area in the 1860s, but initial mining efforts were unsuccessful in locating a major seam. In August 1884, the Torbanlea Colliery Company began to mine a profitable deep coal seam.{{Cite web |title=Torbanlea |url=https://queenslandplaces.com.au/torbanlea |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Queensland Places}}

James Robertson purchased 700 acres of pastoral land in 1876, and named the property Torbanlea.{{cite news |date=5 September 1876 |title=Land Commissioner's Court. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148510919 |accessdate=24 September 2024 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=1882}}{{cite news |date=25 September 1882 |title=THE BURRUM. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146516190 |accessdate=24 September 2024 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=2,881}}

In 1883, the railway line from Maryborough to the Burrum River opened, and was known as the Burrum line, enabling coal from mines on the south side of the Burrum River to be transported to Maryborough.{{cite news |date=7 April 1883 |title=Roundabout. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83677090 |accessdate=19 September 2024 |newspaper=Queensland Figaro |location=Queensland, Australia |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=28 February 1883 |title=MARYBOROUGH. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174692894 |accessdate=24 September 2024 |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Queensland, Australia |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=3,238}} The former Torbanlea railway station was near the intersection of Burgowan Street and Dundabarra Street in the town centre ({{Coord|-25.3472|152.5980|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Torbanlea railway station (former)}}) in the town centre.{{Cite QPN|35009|Torbanlea|railway station in the Fraser Coast Region|access-date=20 October 2021}}{{Cite web |date=1970 |title=Town of Torbanlea |url=https://apps.information.qld.gov.au/data/v2/HistoricalMaps/StaticMap/cadastral/cad-map-town-torbanlea-1970/original |access-date=4 December 2024 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map}}

Torbanlea State School opened on 26 September 1887.{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}

Torbanlea Primitive Methodist Church opened on Sunday 22 March 1891 by Reverend John Prowse.{{cite news |date=31 March 1891 |title=TORBANLEA |page=3 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser |issue=5,513 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146868569 |via=National Library of Australia |access-date=20 October 2021 |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020212532/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146868569 |url-status=live}} Prior to this Reverend E. Knight held services in Torbanlea under a tree and in the Reading Room hall. Andrew Fisher was a Sunday School teacher in those early years.{{cite news |date=2 December 1943 |title=GOLDEN JUBILEE |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151541526 |accessdate=24 September 2024 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=22,380}} With the amalgamation of the Methodist denominations circa 1900, the church became the Torbanlea Methodist Church. With the amalgamation of the Methodist Church into the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, it became the Torbanlea Uniting Church.{{Cite web|title=Torbanlea Uniting Church - Former|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/925-torbanlea-uniting-church-former|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Churches Australia|language=en-AU|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020212517/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/925-torbanlea-uniting-church-former}} The church is now closed and the congregation amalgamated with the Howard Uniting Church. The church building was sold into private ownership in November 2015 for $80,000.{{Cite web|title=12 Gympie Street, Torbanlea Qld 4662|url=https://www.realestate.com.au/property/12-gympie-st-torbanlea-qld-4662|access-date=20 October 2021|website=Realestate.com.au|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020115845/https://www.realestate.com.au/property/12-gympie-st-torbanlea-qld-4662|url-status=live}} As at June 2024, the church building at 12 Gympie Street ({{Coord|-25.34642|152.59456|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Torbanlea Uniting Church (former)}}) is still extant.{{Cite Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-25.3462999,152.5943914,3a,29.5y,123.33h,83.99t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sOnn_JrRdn8JRSmO-Qu599Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D6.014580899791795%26panoid%3DOnn_JrRdn8JRSmO-Qu599Q%26yaw%3D123.3342849673735!7i16384!8i8192?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIwMS4xIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D|access-date=4 December 2024|title=Tobanlea Methodist/Uniting Church (former)|SV=yes|date=June 2024}}{{Cite web |title=12 Gympie Street, Torbanlea, QLD 4662 |url=https://www.realestate.com.au/property/12-gympie-st-torbanlea-qld-4662/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=Realestate.com.au |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023023035/https://www.realestate.com.au/property//12-gympie-st-torbanlea-qld-4662 |url-status=live }}

St Stephen's Anglican Church opened circa 1896. It closed circa 1988.{{Cite web|title=Closed Anglican Churches|url=https://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/churches/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403003329/https://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/churches/|archive-date=3 April 2019|access-date=29 June 2020|website=Anglican Church South Queensland}} It was at 10 Crawford Street ({{Coord|-25.3472|152.5957|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=St Stephen's Anglican Church (former)}}).{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-25.347016,152.5954998,3a,37.5y,314.79h,87.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stirEVF3oqAXWlRKYcuURPg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|access-date=20 October 2021|title=10 Crawford St}} It was sold into private ownership in September 1989 for $25,000. As at August 2020, the church building is still extant, but modified to become a private residence.{{Cite web|title=10 Crawford Street, Torbanlea Qld 4662|url=https://www.realestate.com.au/property/10-crawford-st-torbanlea-qld-4662?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp%3Aproperty-history-cta#timeline|access-date=20 October 2021|website=Realestate.com.au|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020121340/https://www.realestate.com.au/property/10-crawford-st-torbanlea-qld-4662?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#timeline|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=St Stephen's Anglican Church - Former|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/anglican/directory/926-st-stephenand#39;s-anglican-church-former|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Churches Australia|language=en|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020212534/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/anglican/directory/926-st-stephenand#39;s-anglican-church-former}}

An accident at a nearby colliery killed five workers in 1900.{{Cite web |title=TORBANLEA DISASTER. - STATUTORY INQUIRY. - Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947) - 4 Apr 1900 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147779683 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Trove |language=en}}

In May 1984, the Bruce Highway bypass was opened. Previously the highway had run through the town on Robertson Street. Howard was also bypassed as part of same project.{{Cite web|url=http://aumuseums.com/qld/burrum-and-district-museum|title=Burrum and District Museum|website=Australian Museums and Galleries|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113004117/http://aumuseums.com/qld/burrum-and-district-museum|archive-date=13 November 2018|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2018}}

Demographics

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of Torbanlea had a population of 871 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31659|name=Torbanlea (State Suburb)|accessdate=18 May 2014|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Torbanlea had a population of 791 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32887|name=Torbanlea (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Torbanlea had a population of 841 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32858|name=Torbanlea (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

Economy

The manufacture of more than 60 trains at a facility in Torbanlea is planned ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-20/qld-train-announcement-maryborough-olympics-2032/100553264 |title=Trains bound for Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games to be built in Maryborough |publisher=ABC News |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022015156/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-20/qld-train-announcement-maryborough-olympics-2032/100553264 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=13 August 2024 |title=Queensland Train Manufacturing Program |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/programs/queensland-train-manufacturing-program?f=4ced909b155040ba893fbc4ed6036dbf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918185014/https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/programs/queensland-train-manufacturing-program?f=4ced909b155040ba893fbc4ed6036dbf |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Department of Transport and Main Roads}} This represented the largest investment in train manufacturing in the State. The publicly owned facilities will cost an estimated $239 million to build.{{cite web |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/93565 |title=Palaszczuk Government to invest $7.1 billion to make Queensland a train building powerhouse |author1=Annastacia Palaszczuk |author2=Cameron Dick |author3=Mark Bailey |type=Media Statement |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=23 October 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816003753/https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/93565 |url-status=live }}

The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is valued at $9.5 billion.{{cite news |title=Qld drives rail expansion with $9.5B Train Manufacturing Program |url=https://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/qld-drives-rail-expansion-with-9-5b-train-manufacturing-program/ |access-date=13 April 2025 |publisher=Australian Manufacturing |date=15 January 2025}}

Education

Torbanlea State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Pialba Road ({{coord|-25.3479|152.5998|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Torbanlea 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|access-date=21 November 2018|publisher=Queensland Government|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}}{{cite web|title=Torbanlea State School|url=https://torbanleass.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2021|archive-date=14 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314021222/https://torbanleass.eq.edu.au/}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 305 students with 24 teachers (22 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (11 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|access-date=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}} It includes a special education program.{{cite web|title=Torbanlea SS - Special Education Program|url=https://www.torbanleass.eq.edu.au|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227151445/https://torbanleass.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live}}

There is no secondary school in Torbanlea. The nearest government secondary schools are Hervey Bay State High School in Pialba in Hervey Bay to the north-east and Aldridge State High School in Maryborough to the south.

Amenities

The Torbanlea Skate Park was opened in 2021.{{cite web |title=Torbanlea Skate Park |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTsZn5ONNSA |website=Youtube |publisher=George Seymour |access-date=20 April 2025}}

Howard/Torbanlea Uniting Church is in Coal Street, Howard ({{Coord|-25.3163|152.5581|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Howard Uniting Church}}).{{cite web|title=Find a Church|url=https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024234524/https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/|archive-date=24 October 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod}}{{Cite web|title=Howard/Torbanlea – Hervey Bay Uniting Church|url=https://hbuc.org.au/worship/howardtorbanlea/|access-date=2021-10-20|language=en-AU|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303180837/https://hbuc.org.au/worship/howardtorbanlea/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Howard Uniting Church|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/f-k-towns/directory/3483-howard-uniting-church|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Churches Australia|language=en-AU|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020212134/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/f-k-towns/directory/3483-howard-uniting-church}} It is part of the Mary Burnett Presbytery of the Uniting Church in Australia.{{Cite web|date=March 2019|title=Queensland congregations and faith communities|url=https://ucaqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Congregation-Fellowships-Index-Map.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=19 October 2021|website=Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020074400/https://ucaqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Congregation-Fellowships-Index-Map.pdf}}

References

External links

{{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/torbanlea|title=Torbanlea|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|website=Queensland Places}}
{{cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-torbanlea-1970.jpg|title=Town map of Torbanlea|date=1970|publisher=Queensland Government}}

Category:Fraser Coast Region

Category:Localities in Queensland