Goondi is a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2]
Goondi Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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![]() Goondi Sugar Mill, 1930 | |||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() Goondi | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 17°30′15″S 146°00′19″E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 28 (SAL 2021)[1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4860 | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Cassowary Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Hill | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Goondi is riverside land wrapped around the southern side of an elbow-shaped bend in the Johnstone River. It is very flat land, being 0 to 10 metres above sea level, and is predominantly used for growing sugar cane and bananas. Reid Creek flows from the north-east of the locality from neighbouring Sundown though to the Johnstone River in the north of the locality. There is very little residential development in Goondi.[3]
The Bruce Highway passes from south to north through the south-western edge of Goondi crossing the Johnstone River at the Sir Joseph McAvoy Bridge, while the North Coast railway line travels from south to north along Goondi's north-eastern border and crosses the Johnstone River. There is a private cane train tramway in the west of the locality, used to transport harvested sugar cane to the local sugar mill.[3]
The name "Goondi' is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning "elbow", referring to the bend in the river.[2]
The Goondi Sugar Mill opened in 1883, between the end of Goondi Mill Road and Knox Avenue near the Johnstone River (17.5062°S 146.0036°E / -17.5062; 146.0036 (Goondi Sugar Mill (former))).[4] It closed in 1987 after being taken over by Bundaberg Sugar.[5]
Goondi Provisional School opened on 17 February 1898. On 1 January 1909, it became Goondi State School.[6] It was originally located on the south side of Goondi Mill Road (approx 17.5099°S 146.0040°E / -17.5099; 146.0040 (Goondi State School (original site))),[7][8] but, by 1974, had relocated to the school's present location in Goondi Bend.[9][10]
In the 2016 census, Goondi had a population of 56 people.[11]
There are no schools in Goondi. The nearest government primary school is Goondi State School in neighbouring Goondi Bend to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in Innisfail Estate to the east.[3]
Media related to Goondi, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons