Widgee is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Widgee had a population of 794 people.[1]
Widgee Queensland | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Memorial hall | |||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() Widgee | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 26.2163°S 152.4199°E / -26.2163; 152.4199 | ||||||||||||||
Population | 794 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 4.014/km2 (10.397/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4570 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 197.8 km2 (76.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Gympie Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Gympie | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
|
The name is believed to have originated from the Aboriginal words Witchee Witchee meaning listen or hark.[3]
In 1887, 43,000 acres (17,000 ha) of land were resumed from the Widgee Widgee pastoral run. The land was offered for selection for the establishment of small farms on 17 April 1887.[4]
Widgee Provisional School opened on 11 July 1892. It became Widgee State School on 1 January 1909.[5]
On 10 August 1912 at the Lands Office at Gympie, the Queensland Government offered for selection 48 agricultural lots in the Widgee Repurchased Estate. The lots ranged in size from 160 to 758 acres (65 to 307 ha), in total 20,266 acres (8,201 ha). 17 blocks were situated around Waroonga Creek to the north-west of Widgee Mountain (26.2428°S 152.3731°E / -26.2428; 152.3731 (Widgee Mountain)) while 31 blocks were situated to south around Widgee Creek and Little Widgee Creek. The blocks were described as suitable for dairying and general farming with an average annual rainfall of 40 inches (1,000 mm).[6][7]
At the 2011 census, Widgee had a population of 788.[8]
Widgee has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Widgee State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 2156 Gympie-Woolooga Road (26.2038°S 152.4431°E / -26.2038; 152.4431 (Widgee State School)).[10][11] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 52 students with 4 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[12]
There are no secondary schools in Widgee; the nearest one is James Nash State High School in Gympie.[13]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Widgee, Queensland. |
Towns and localities in the Gympie Region, Queensland | |
---|---|
| |
Main Article: Local government areas of Queensland |