Gilbert River is a rural locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census Gilbert River had a population of 38 people.[1]

Gilbert River Queensland
Gilbert River
Coordinates	18.2559°S 142.7530°E / -18.2559; 142.7530 (Gilbert River (centre of locality))
Population	38 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	0.01593/km2 (0.0413/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	2,385.4 km2 (921.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Shire of Etheridge
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Gilbert River: Croydon Strathmore Strathmore Croydon Gilbert River Georgetown Esmeralda Northhead Georgetown

Geography

The locality is roughly bounded to the south by the Gregory Range (18.4876°S 142.6433°E / -18.4876; 142.6433 (Gregory Range)) which extends into neighbouring Croydon, Esmeralda and Northhead and beyond.[3]

Gilbert River has the following mountains:

• Brennans Knob in the south-west of the locality (18.4330°S 142.5956°E / -18.4330; 142.5956 (Brennans Knob)) at 302 metres (991 ft) above sea level[3][4][5]
• Mount Little in the centre of the locality (18.3257°S 142.7475°E / -18.3257; 142.7475 (Mount Little)) at 220 metres (720 ft) above sea level[3][4]

The western part of the locality is a protected area being within the Littleton National Park and the Littleton Resources Reserve.[6] The remainder of the land is used for grazing on native vegetation with a small amount of pasture around the Gilbert River.[3]

Road infrastructure

The Richmond–Croydon Road runs through the south-western corner. [7]

History

Jangga, also known as Yangga, is a language of Central Queensland. The Jangga language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Etheridge Shire Council.[8]

The locality takes its name from the Gilbert River which flows through the locality.[9]

Gilbert River Provisional School opened on 8 May 1899. On 1 January 1909 it became Gilbert River State School. It closed in 1923. It reopened in 1954 and then closed in 1961.[10]

In the 2016 census Gilbert River had a population of 38 people.[1]

Economy

There are a number of homesteads in the locality, including:[11]

• Chadshunt (18.1335°S 142.8518°E / -18.1335; 142.8518 (Chadshunt (homestead)))
• Inorunie (18.2090°S 142.6575°E / -18.2090; 142.6575 (Inorunie (homestead)))
• Lake Calo (18.1143°S 142.7916°E / -18.1143; 142.7916 (Lake Calo (homestead)))
• Rockfields (18.1906°S 142.8744°E / -18.1906; 142.8744 (Rockfields (homestead)))

Transport

Littleton Airstrip (also known as Inorunie) is an airstrip just inside the national park and immediately south of the Inorunie homestead (18.2137°S 142.6554°E / -18.2137; 142.6554 (Littleton Airstrip)).[12]

References