Welcome Creek
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = suburb
| name = Welcome Creek
| city =
| state = qld
| image =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|-24.7722|152.2613|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Welcome Creek (centre of locality)}}
| pop = 421
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| postcode = 4670
| area = 46.6
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 12.7
| dir1 = NNW
| location1 = Bundaberg CBD
| dist2 = 371
| dir2 = N
| location2 = Brisbane
| dist3 =
| dir3 =
| location3 =
| dist4 =
| dir4 =
| location4 =
| lga = Bundaberg Region
| stategov = Burnett
| fedgov = Flynn
| near-n = Moore Park Beach
| near-ne = Moore Park Beach
| near-e = Fairymead
| near-se = Gooburrum
| near-s = Meadowvale
| near-sw = Meadowvale
| near-w = Moorland
| near-nw = Moorland
}}
Welcome Creek is a rural locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|44809|Welcome Creek|locality in Bundaberg Region|access-date=26 December 2020}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Welcome Creek had a population of 421 people.
Geography
The locality takes its name from the watercourse ({{coord|-24.7666|152.3|type:river_region:AU-QLD|name=Welcome Creek}}).{{cite QPN|36929|Welcome Creek|watercourse in Bundaberg Regional|access-date=6 March 2022}}
North Gooburrum is a neighbourhood in the north-west of the locality ({{coord|-24.7653|152.2510|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=North Gooburrum (neighbourhood)}}).{{cite QPN|40678|North Gooburrum|locality unbounded in Bundaberg Regional|access-date=6 March 2022}}
The land use is agricultural, predominantly irrigated horticulture with some sugarcane plantations in the east of the locality and some grazing on native vegetation in the north of the locality.
History
Welcome Creek State School opened on 21 May 1931 and closed on 31 December 2003.{{Cite web |date=20 August 2013 |title=Queensland state school - centre closures |url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2013/5413T3241.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320144902/https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2013/5413T3241.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2022 |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=Queensland Government}} After closure, the students were transferred to Moore Park State School in neighbouring Moore Park Beach.{{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}} The school was located at 669 Moore Park Road ({{Coord|-24.7697|152.2792|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Welcome Creek State School (former)}}).{{Cite web |date=1943 |title=Bundaberg |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-1mile-military-line-colour-bundaberg-1943.jpg |access-date=23 April 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930075749/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-1mile-military-line-colour-bundaberg-1943.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=1987 |title=9348-24 Bundaberg |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-25000-line-bandw-9348-24-bundaberg-prov-ed-1987.jpg |access-date=23 April 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423130613/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-25000-line-bandw-9348-24-bundaberg-prov-ed-1987.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Queensland Globe|access-date=23 April 2022}}
Agnew School opened on 3 February 2003 in Boundary Street, South Bundaberg, one of several Agnew Schools operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (sometimes called the Exclusive Brethren) in Queensland. By 2006 the school needed more space and in mid-2006 the church purchased the former Welcome School State School from the Queensland Government and relocated the Agnew School to that site ({{Coord|-24.7699|152.2792|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Agnew School (former Bundaberg campus)}}).{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=9348-24 Bundaberg |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-25000-line-colour-9348-24-bundaberg-ed-1-2009.jpg |access-date=23 April 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423130707/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/topo_scans/topo-map-25000-line-colour-9348-24-bundaberg-ed-1-2009.jpg |url-status=live }} However, in 2014 with student numbers at 30-40 students, it was decided to close the school and transport the students by wifi-equipped bus each day to the Agnew School in Maryborough.{{Cite web |date=27 February 2014 |title=Exclusive Brethren school closes at Welcome Creek |url=https://www.news-mail.com.au/news/exclusive-brethren-school-closes-welcome-creek/2183121/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128060130/https://www.news-mail.com.au/news/exclusive-brethren-school-closes-welcome-creek/2183121/ |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date=2021-01-28 |website=Bundaberg News Mail |language=en-AU |author1=Eprain }} On 24 December 2020, the site was sold for $925,000.{{Cite web |title=669 Moore Park Road, Welcome Creek QLD 4670 |url=https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/669-moore-park-road-welcome-creek-qld-4670-2016550016 |access-date=23 April 2022 |website=Commercial Real Estate |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423130651/https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/669-moore-park-road-welcome-creek-qld-4670-2016550016 |url-status=live }}
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Welcome Creek had a population of 445 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC33053|name=Welcome Creek (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Welcome Creek had a population of 421 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL33023|name=Welcome Creek (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}
Education
There are no schools in Welcome Creek. The nearest government primary schools are Moore Park State School in neighbouring Moore Park Beach to the north and Gooburrum State School in neighbouring Gooburrum to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Bundaberg North State High School in Bundaberg North to the south-east.