Wikipedia

Coominya, Queensland

Coominya is a rural town and locality in the Somerset Region in South East Queensland, Australia.[3][4] The town is located 83 kilometres (52 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane and approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Wivenhoe Dam. In the 2021 census, the locality of Coominya had a population of 1,029 people.[1]

Coominya
Queensland
Cafe and post office at Coominya
Coominya is located in Queensland
Coominya
Coominya
Coordinates27°23′31″S 152°30′08″E / 27.3919°S 152.5022°E / -27.3919; 152.5022
Population1,029 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density8.971/km2 (23.235/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4311
Elevation80 m (262 ft)
Area114.7 km2 (44.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Somerset Region
CountyCavendish
ParishEsk[2]
State electorate(s)Nanango
Federal division(s)Blair
Localities around Coominya:
Mount Hallen Moombra Lake Wivenhoe
Buaraba Coominya Wivenhoe Hill
Atkinsons Dam Clarendon Patrick Estate

Coominya sits on the land of the Indigenous Jagera people.[5]

Geography

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Coominya is bounded by Logan Creek to the north and Buaraba Creek to the south. Although located closely between Atkinson Dam to the south-west and Lake Wivenhoe to the north-east, it does not bound either of these two reservoirs.[6]

The Brisbane Valley Highway approximately follows its north-east border. The Brisbane Valley railway line passes through Coominya from the north-west to the south-east with the Coominya railway station serving the town.[6] However, the railway line was closed in 1993.

History

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Coominya War Memorial, 2010

From 1886 to 1906, the area was known as Bellevue (the local pastoral property). The name Coominya is believed to be derived from the Yuggera language where kung means water and nya means to see referring to its lagoons.[3][4]

Coominya Post Office opened by December 1907 (a receiving office had been open from 1887, known earlier as Bellevue).[7]

Coominya State School opened on 17 September 1912.[8][9][10]

In 1920, the Coominya soldier settlement was established to provide opportunities for soldiers returning from World War I to establish themselves as farmers. There were 100 farms each of 30 acres (12 ha) intended for growing grapes and fruit. Like many soldier settlements in Australia, the scheme failed due to the poor quality of the land and lack of support for inexperienced farmers. The settlement closed in 1929 with only 2 farms were still operating.[11]

Coominya Presbyterian Church was officially opened on Thursday 4 March 1920 by Reverend J. B. Galloway, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. It was the first church to open in Coominya.[12]

 
St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2006

On Sunday 21 November 1920, Monsignor James Byrne laid the foundation stone for a Catholic church in Coominya. It had been planned that Archbishop James Duhig was to lay the foundation stone, but he was unable to come on the day. John Newman donated the land for the church and also £300 worth of timber.[13][14] On Sunday 6 March 1921, Duhig came to Cominya to bless and dedicate the new Catholic church.[15] The new church was 55 by 24 feet (16.8 by 7.3 m) including a 9-by-15-foot (2.7 by 4.6 m) sacristy. The builder was Mr C. J. Madden, assisted by Messrs J. and H. Madden.[16]

During World War II, an airfield was constructed west of Coominya to accommodate US air force squadrons.[17][18] Today, the airfield is being used by a flight training school.[19]

St. Martin's Anglican Church was dedicated on 24 June 1922 by Coadjutor Bishop Henry Le Fanu. It closed circa 2005.[20]

The Coominya War Memorial is located on Railway Street and was dedicated on 25 April 1997.[21]

Demographics

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In the 2006 census, the locality of Coominya had a population of 1,751.[22]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Coominya had a population of 1,174.[23]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Coominya had a population of 1,200 people.[24]

In the 2021 census, Coominya had a population of 1,029 people.[1]

Heritage listings

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Bellevue Homestead

Coominya has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Economy

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Coominya is known for its fresh produce.[26]

The major employer is an abattoir.[27] There is a steady increase in olive growing and Comvita have set up an olive leaf extract plant in the town.[28][29]

Education

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Coominya State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 7 Cornhill Street (27°23′32″S 152°30′03″E / 27.3922°S 152.5008°E / -27.3922; 152.5008 (Coominya State School)).[30][31] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 118 students with 7 teachers (6 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).[32][33]

There is no secondary school in Coominya; the nearest secondary schools are in Lowood and Toogoolawah.[6]

Amenities

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Facilities in Coominya include a post office,[34] a general store with newsagency,[35] a cafe[36] and a pub.[37]

A flight training school operates at Coominya Airfield, ICAO code YBCM.[19][38]

There are a number of churches in Coominya, including:

Attractions

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Town mural

Attractions in the Coominya area include the historic Bellevue Homestead, moved from Wivenhoe Dam to Coominya.[25]

Coominya is known for its scenery and wildlife including lorikeet parrots, koalas, kangaroos.[citation needed]

As part of Q150 (Queensland's 150th anniversary) the local heritage society commissioned a series of murals depicting early life at the town.[42]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coominya (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ "Esk Parish". Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Coominya (entry 8190)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Coominya (entry 44859)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  7. ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  9. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  10. ^ "Agency ID 5122, Coominya State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. ^ Threadingham, Tom. "Historians look back at Coominya soldiers' settlement". Gatton Star. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Coominya Presbyterian Church". Queensland Times. Vol. LXI, no. 10, 615. Queensland, Australia. 8 March 1920. p. 4 (DAILY.). Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "COOMINYA ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH". Queensland Times. Vol. LXII, no. 10, 834. Queensland, Australia. 20 November 1920. p. 6 (DAILY.). Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "COUNTRY NEWS". Daily Mail. No. 5718. Queensland, Australia. 23 November 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT COOMINYA". The Brisbane Courier. No. 19, 699. Queensland, Australia. 10 March 1921. p. 8. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "COOMINYA R.C. CHURCH". Queensland Times. Vol. LXII, no. 10, 924. Queensland, Australia. 7 March 1921. p. 4 (DAILY). Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Queensland WWII Historic Places". Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Oz at War". Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Coominya Flight Training". Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Closed Anglican Churches". Anglican Church South Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Coominya War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  22. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). (SSC) "Community Profile Series: {{{name}}}". 2006 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 10 February 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  23. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Coominya (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 August 2014.  
  24. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Coominya (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  25. ^ a b "Bellevue Homestead (entry 600492)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Coominya Property". Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Global Investors Continue to Flock to Queensland". australiatradecoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
  28. ^ "Comvita Acquires Queensland Olive Estate". New Zealand Exchange. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Synergy 12". Comvita Limited. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  30. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Coominya State School". Coominya State School. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  32. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Facilities". Coominya State School. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  34. ^ "Australia Post". Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Business and Community Directory". Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  36. ^ "White Pages". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Tripadvisor". Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Airportguide". Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  39. ^ "St Francis Xavier Church, Coominya". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  40. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Francis Xavier Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Presbyterian Churches within the Ipswich Region of Queensland". Presbyterian Church of Queensland. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  42. ^ Maeseele, Melanie (29 September 2009). "History on display in new mural". Queensland Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
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