- Source: Mulgildie
Mulgildie (formerly Mulgeldie) is a rural town and locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mulgildie had a population of 147 people.
Geography
The town is located 463 kilometres (288 mi) by road from the state capital, Brisbane. The town is situated within the north of the locality. The Burnett Highway enters the locality from the south-east (Tellebang), passes through the town along Wattle Street and Monal Street, and exits to the north (Three Moon).
Mulgildie railway station is an abandoned railway station on the abandoned Mungar Junction to Monto railway line (24.9627°S 151.1326°E / -24.9627; 151.1326 (Mulgildie railway station (former))).
The land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation with some crop growing.
History
The town was named Mulgeldie in 1925, and is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal name bulgeldee referring to a deep waterhole on Three Moon Creek. The spelling was changed to Mulgildie on 15 March 1945.
A postal receiving office opened in 1902 and closed in 1905. Mulgildie Post Office opened on 6 January 1925, was renamed Mulgeldie in September of that year, reverted to Mulgildie in 1945 and closed in 1991.
The railway line from Mungar Junction to Monto opened to Mulgeldie in 1927. In order to build the extension to Monto, the workers' camp was relocated to Mulgeldie, including the tent school for the children of the workers, becoming Mulgildie Provisional School on 26 September 1927. In 1928, it was decided to establish a permanent school. Land was reserved for the school and a 21-by-18-foot (6.4 by 5.5 m) school building was erected to accommodate 40 students at a cost of £645. The new school building opened on 7 October 1929. On 1 January 1930, it became Mulgeldie State School.
Euruga State School opened on 7 June 1932, but was renamed on 13 June 1932 to Aberfeldie State School. It closed on 26 September 1937. The school building was relocated to Glen Leigh.
Splinter Creek Bridge State School opened on 3 April 1934. It closed on 6 October 1958.
The Mulgildie Hall (also known as the School of Arts) opened on 30 April 1938.
Mulgildie Presbyterian Church was built in 1950. It was at 6 Monal St (24.9636°S 151.1329°E / -24.9636; 151.1329 (Mulgildie Presbyterian Church (former))). It is now closed and used as a house.
St Mark's Anglican Church was dedicated on 10 May 1959 by Venerable Harold John Richards. The timber church was designed by Helmut Breckwoldt, who designed a similar church at Eidsvold. It was noted for its war memorial. Its closure circa 5 September 2009 was approved by Archbishop Phillip Aspinall. It was at 7 Brigalow Street (24.9639°S 151.1341°E / -24.9639; 151.1341 (St Mark's Anglican Church (former))).
Demographics
In the 2006 census, the locality of Mulgildie had a population of 114 people.
In the 2016 census, the locality of Mulgildie had a population of 174 people.
In the 2021 census, the locality of Mulgildie had a population of 147 people.
Heritage listings
Mulgildie has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
69 Abercorn Road: Mulgildie Homestead Cemetery
29952 Burnett Highway: Mulgildie Cemetery
Palm Street: Mulgildie Hall and Park
Education
Mulgildie State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Brigalow Street (24.9634°S 151.1340°E / -24.9634; 151.1340 (Mulgildie State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 25 students with 4 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 19 students with 2 teachers and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).
There is no secondary school in Mulgildie. The nearest secondary school is Monto State High School in Monto to the north.
Amenities
The Mulgildie branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Rooms at 14 Pine Street (24.9645°S 151.1325°E / -24.9645; 151.1325 (CWA Hall)).
Mulgildie Cemetery is at 29952 Burnett Highway (24.9689°S 151.1356°E / -24.9689; 151.1356 (Mulgildie Cemetery)).
The Mulgildie Hall is used for movies, dances, functions and meetings. It is at 13 Palm Street (24.9656°S 151.1315°E / -24.9656; 151.1315 (Mulgildie Hall)).
Attractions
The sculpture of the Mulgildie Bunyip is on the roadside in Wattle Street (opposite Palm Street, 24.96495°S 151.13109°E / -24.96495; 151.13109 (Bunyip statue)). Tourists are encouraged to visit the Bunyip's watering hole approximately 10 minutes drive from Mulgildie, a place renowned for strange bubbling and churning waters and the subsequent disappearance of livestock.
References
Further reading
Mulgildie State School. Jubilee Booklet Committee (1977), The golden jubilee of Mulgildie State School 1927-1977 — includes Alberfeldie State School and Splinter Creek Bridge School
External links
Media related to Mulgildie at Wikimedia Commons
"Mulgildie". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
"Town map of Mulgildie". Queensland Government. 1982.