Canal Creek is a rural locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Canal Creek had a population of 8 people.[1]

Canal Creek Queensland
Canal Creek
Coordinates	22.945°S 150.3952°E / -22.945; 150.3952
Population	8 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	0.0149/km2 (0.0386/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4702
Area	537.3 km2 (207.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Livingstone Shire
State electorate(s)	Mirani Keppel
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Canal Creek: Kunwarara Shoalwater Byfield Kunwarara Canal Creek Maryvale Canoona Jardine Rossmoya Greenlake

Geography

The ridge of the Pointer Range forms the south-western boundary of the locality.[3] The terrain in the locality ranges from flatter land at approx 20 metres (66 ft) above sea level to numerous named peaks including (from west to east):[4]

• North Pointer 223 metres (732 ft)
• The Pointer 167 metres (548 ft)
• Mount Jardine 98 metres (322 ft)
• Pleasant Hill 46 metres (151 ft)
• Conical Mountain 200 metres (660 ft)
• Charley Peak 260 metres (850 ft)
• The Gate Mountain 112 metres (367 ft)

Three creeks enter through the locality from the north (Shoalwater) flowing south, Alligator Creek to Canoona/Jardine and Canal Creek (from which the locality presumably takes its name) and Werribee Creek to Rossmoya.[4] These creeks are ultimately tributaries to the Fitzroy River which enters the Coral Sea between Thompsons Point and Port Alma.[4]

There are a number of protected areas in the locality, including:[4]

• North Pointer Conservation Park in the south-west of the locality
• Alligator Creek State Forest in the north and centre of the locality
• Canal Creek State Forest in the centre of the locality
• Werribee State Forest in the north-east of the locality

The predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation, plantation forestry and a small amount of cropping.[4]

History

On 19 December 1943 a USA military aircraft crashed at Canal Creek Cattle Station and 31 people were killed. The C47 aircraft of 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron 374th Transport Group was flying from Townsville to Brisbane with a stop in Rockhampton. The port engine caught fire, which caused an explosion and the plane crashed and all 31 people on board were killed. The aircraft was carrying 20 USA military personnel, 8 Australian military personnel, and three civilians (one from the YMCA, one from the Salvation Army, and a war photographer). On 16 June 2002 a memorial to the crash was officially dedicated; it is at 22.97974°S 150.48141°E / -22.97974; 150.48141 (Canal Creek Air Crash monument) approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the crash site due to the boggy terrain at the site. The memorial was organised by Yeppoon resident John Millroy. It was the 2nd worst aircrash in Australia's history (Bakers Creek air crash in June 1943 killed 40 people).[5][6][7]

Education

There are no schools in Canal Creek. The nearest primary school is in Millman. The nearest secondary schools are in Yeppoon and Kawana, Rockhampton.[4]

References

External links

• "Crash of C-47 of 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron 374th Transport Group". Oz at War. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. — includes casualty list