37-771: Download coordinates as: Home Hill is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin , Queensland , Australia. In the 2021 census , the locality of Home Hill had a population of 2,876 people. At the delta of the Burdekin River , it is a sugarcane growing area with underground water supplies to irrigate crops. Badilla is a neighbourhood in the south of the locality ( 19°40′54″S 147°25′24″E / 19.6817°S 147.4233°E / -19.6817; 147.4233 ( Badilla (neighbourhood) ) ). Home Hill lies approximately 98 kilometres (61 mi) south of Townsville and 1,269 kilometres (789 mi) north of
74-456: A large hall seating (seating up to 700 people), a small hall seating up to 120 people and a meeting room for up to 25 people. It also contains the Home Hill public library ( 19°39′44″S 147°24′54″E / 19.6622°S 147.4151°E / -19.6622; 147.4151 ( Home Hill public library ) ). Suburbs and localities (Australia) Suburbs and localities are
111-580: A larger city. The Australian usage is closer to the American or British use of "district" or "neighbourhood", and can be used to refer to any portion of a city. Unlike the use in British or American English, this term can include inner-city, outer-metropolitan and industrial areas. Localities existed in the past as informal units, but in 1996 the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping and
148-533: A primary and secondary (Prep-12) special education program. The Burdekin campus of TAFE Queensland provides technical training at Seventeenth Avenue ( 19°39′27″S 147°24′19″E / 19.6575°S 147.4054°E / -19.6575; 147.4054 ( Burdekin campus of TAFE Queensland ) ). Home Hill Police Station is at 138–140 Eighth Avenue ( 19°39′42″S 147°24′44″E / 19.6616°S 147.4122°E / -19.6616; 147.4122 ( Home Hill Police Station ) ); it
185-657: A signwriter painting the name at the railway station . A newspaper report in September 1912 calls the proposed town Holme Hill but also makes the connection with the Battle of Inkerman. There are also numerous early references to the town as Holm Hill . Certainly the Hill part of the name does not relate to the local geography which is quite flat with the nearest hill is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away. Home Hill Post Office opened by 1913 (a receiving office had been open from 1912). In
222-563: Is sugarcane . Other crops include mango and various vegetables. The Inkerman Sugar Mill is in the north of the locality at Mill Lane ( 19°38′35″S 147°24′03″E / 19.6431°S 147.4007°E / -19.6431; 147.4007 ( Inkerman Sugar Mill ) ). Home Hill State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 113 Fourteenth Avenue ( 19°39′12″S 147°25′01″E / 19.6533°S 147.4170°E / -19.6533; 147.4170 ( Home Hill State School ) ). In 2018,
259-655: Is a 14-bed public hospital at 72–82 Tenth Street, predominantly providing aged care services ( 19°39′42″S 147°25′00″E / 19.6617°S 147.4167°E / -19.6617; 147.4167 ( public hospital ) ). Home Hill Fire Station ( 19°39′39″S 147°24′59″E / 19.6607°S 147.4165°E / -19.6607; 147.4165 ( Home Hill Fire Station ) ) and Home Hill Ambulance Station ( 19°39′40″S 147°24′57″E / 19.6610°S 147.4159°E / -19.6610; 147.4159 ( Home Hill Ambulance Station ) ) both operate from 83 Tenth Avenue, adjacent to
296-402: Is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at First Street ( 19°40′04″S 147°25′24″E / 19.6677°S 147.4233°E / -19.6677; 147.4233 ( Home Hill State High School ) ). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 241 students with 32 teachers (30 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent). The school operates
333-485: Is a sewage treatment plant at 60 Bojack Road ( 19°41′03″S 147°25′49″E / 19.6841°S 147.4302°E / -19.6841; 147.4302 ( sewage treatment plant ) ). Burdekin Memorial Hall is a community centre at 77–79 Ninth Avenue ( 19°39′44″S 147°24′55″E / 19.6622°S 147.4154°E / -19.6622; 147.4154 ( Burdekin Memorial Hall ) ). It has
370-498: Is adjacent to the Old Home Hill Court House ( 19°39′41″S 147°24′44″E / 19.6615°S 147.4121°E / -19.6615; 147.4121 ( Home Hill Court House ) ). Home Hill SES Facility is at 84 Eleventh Avenue ( 19°39′39″S 147°25′00″E / 19.6608°S 147.4166°E / -19.6608; 147.4166 ( Home Hill SES Facility ) ). Home Hill Health Service
407-494: Is split between the City of Newcastle and City of Lake Macquarie LGAs; and Woodville , which is split between the City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council LGAs. In unincorporated areas , localities are declared by the relevant state authority. Inkerman Bridge The Inkerman Bridge was a railway bridge over the Burdekin River between McDesme and Home Hill , both in the Shire of Burdekin , Queensland , Australia. It
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#1732855986322444-799: The Burdekin Bridge (also known as the Silver Link) in April 1947 but it was not operational until 27 March 1957. The new bridge was 100 metres (330 ft) upstream of the Inkerman Bridge. The Burdekin Bridge officially opened on 15 June 1957. At 1,097 metres (3,599 ft), the Burdekin Bridge is one of the longest multi-span bridges in Australia and the only one in Australia without a firm footing. Some pylons of
481-987: The Committee for Geographical Names in Australasia (CGNA) decided to name and establish official boundaries for all localities and suburbs. There has subsequently been a process to formally define their boundaries and to gazette them, which is almost complete. In March 2006, only South Australia and the Northern Territory had not completed this process. The CGNA's Gazetteer of Australia recognises two types of locality: bounded and unbounded. Bounded localities include towns, villages, populated places, local government towns and unpopulated town sites, while unbounded localities include place names, road corners and bends, corners, meteorological stations, ocean place names and surfing spots. Sometimes, both localities and suburbs are referred to collectively as "address localities". In
518-521: The ''Home Hill Observer'' commenced in 1923 under proprietor and editor Thomas (Tom) Jackson, relocating offices a number of times over the years. In June 2014, the newspaper ceased publication; the then editor was David Jackson, grandson of Tom. The Home Hill Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society held its first show on 20 November 1926. In 1935 the society established its own grounds and erected pavilions. The shows were held annually (apart from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II ) until 2001 when
555-561: The 1990s there were rumours that the post office would be closed. However, eventually the decision was made to privatise it in 1997. A tent school was opened in the district on 23 March 1913 but was replaced by the Inkerman State School on 25 October 1913 which was renamed Home Hill State School on 19 January 1914. The Inkerman Bridge across the Burdekin River to McDesme officially opened on 8 September 1913. The bridge carried
592-403: The Burdekin River frequently flooded. As a result, the bridge was frequently closed due to water over the bridge or because the bridge was damaged by floods leading to months of closure while it was repaired. On 8 March 1945 a goods train was swept off the bridge in a sudden surge of flood water. Two people drowned, while four others survived by freeing the cattle on board and then "rode" down
629-473: The Inkerman Bridge are still visible. The farming allocations were taken up to grow sugar cane and the town developed quite quickly after the establishment of the Inkerman sugar mill in 1914. The earliest recorded burials in Home Hill cemetery were in 1917. In 2007 a lawn cemetery section was added. In 1922, a power station was built enabling electricity to be supplied for the first time in Home Hill. In 1923,
666-613: The Inkerman estate was resumed by the Queensland Government under the Closer Settlement Act. It was subdivided into farming allotments. Although the town of Ayr was very close by, there was no bridge across the Burdekin River and hence it was necessary to establish a separate town to support the new farming community. The first blocks of town land were offered for sale in December 1912 under the name of Home Hill. The origin of
703-520: The North Coast railway line. As the nearest road bridge across the river was 37 miles (60 km) upstream, a low-level road bridge was built across the river ( 19°37′42″S 147°24′16″E / 19.6283°S 147.4044°E / -19.6283; 147.4044 ( Former road bridge ) ) in 1929 and was completed in January 1930 and within two weeks was 3 feet (0.91 m) under water due to
740-537: The Queensland Rice Marketing Board experienced financial difficulties bringing this crop to an end in the Home Hill area. However, other crops have been introduced to the area and found their niche in the economy; they include mangoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, chillies, sorghum, maize, cotton and cassava. Town water via a water tower was supplied in Home Hill from 27 March 1968. Prior to this many used windmills and electric pumps to extract water from beneath
777-405: The first courthouse in Home Hill opened, operating from a timber building that had formerly been used as Jensen's Boot Palace. The building was relocated to the present courthouse site, where it was replaced by the extant brick structure in 1937. The court house closed in 1991 after which it was occupied by a tourist information centre and then local radio station Sweet FM. Home Hill's own newspaper
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#1732855986322814-438: The first instance, decisions about the names and boundaries of suburbs and localities are made by the local council in which they are located based on criteria such as community recognition. Local council decisions are, however, subject to approval by the state's geographical names board. The boundaries of some suburbs and localities overlap two or more local government areas (LGAs). Examples of this are Adamstown Heights , which
851-415: The ground. Sewerage was installed from 1976 to 1979 with most household using septic tanks before then. In the mid-1980s, the economics of sugarcane farming worsened with rising costs and falling prices. Mechanisation was needed to reduce labour costs but the cost of purchasing the equipment was high. Small farms became increasingly less viable leading to the slogan "Get big or get out" which saw many leave
888-468: The hospital. Home Hill Aged Hostel is a nursing home at 127–143 Tenth Avenue ( 19°39′22″S 147°24′49″E / 19.6562°S 147.4137°E / -19.6562; 147.4137 ( Home Hill Aged Hostel ) ). Home Hill Cemetery is at 63–85 Fourth Street ( 19°39′49″S 147°25′34″E / 19.6637°S 147.4261°E / -19.6637; 147.4261 ( Home Hill Cemetery ) ). Home Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant
925-487: The industry allowing those who remained to create larger more viable farms. Home Hill library opened in 1984 and in 2017 underwent a major refurbishment. In August 2016, two British backpackers were killed in a stabbing attack at the Home Hill Backpackers hostel , leaving others injured, by a French national shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the killings and during his arrest and who had allegedly used cannabis on
962-474: The land in the locality is very flat. Yuru (also known as Juru, Euronbba, Juru, Mal Mal, Malmal ) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuru country. The Yuru language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Burdekin , including the town of Home Hill. Home Hill was originally part of the Inkerman Downs Cattle Station. In August 1910,
999-536: The main street. One hundred people were made homeless. The first Home Hill Harvest Festival was held in 1963. It continues to be held annually in November to celebrate the end of the sugar cane crushing season. Home Hill State High School opened on 28 January 1964. Some farmers began to experiment with rice in the 1960s with a local rice mill opening in 1968. However, the rice industry collapsed in Queensland in 1994 when
1036-634: The name Home Hill is much disputed. The Queensland Government claims it was named after Home Hill , a hilltop defended by the British Army in the Battle of Inkerman in the Crimean War . However it has also been claimed that it was named after Colonel Home who lived in the district and had fought in the Crimea. Another claim is that the name was originally Holme Hill which was corrupted into Home Hill , possibly by
1073-509: The names of geographic subdivisions in Australia , used mainly for address purposes. The term locality is used in rural areas, while the term suburb is used in urban areas. Australian postcodes closely align with the boundaries of localities and suburbs. This Australian usage of the term "suburb" differs from common American and British usage, where it typically means a smaller, frequently separate residential community outside, but close to,
1110-480: The night of the attack. In the 2006 census , the town of Home Hill had a population of 2,907 people. In the 2011 census , the locality of Home Hill had a population of 3,027 people. In the 2016 census , the locality of Home Hill had a population of 2,954 people. In the 2021 census , the locality of Home Hill had a population of 2,876 people. Home Hill has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: The town relies on its primary industries. The major crop
1147-427: The north-west crossing the river via the Burdekin Bridge to McDesme en route to Ayr . The North Coast railway line runs immediately parallel and west of the highway, also entering from the south-east (Fredericksfield / Inkerman) and exiting to the north-west (McDesme) via the Burdekin Bridge . There are three railway stations within the locality: To the west of the town is Gardiner's Lagoon. Despite its name,
Home Hill, Queensland - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-506: The river flooding. Due to the frequent flooding of the river, the rail and road bridges were often closed or damaged, leading to the decision to build a single higher-level road-and-rail bridge. Due to the lack of rock in the sandy soil to use as foundations, for many years it was not believed possible to build a high-level bridge across the Burdekin River. However, by copying construction techniques used in India for sand-footing bridges, work began on
1221-432: The river holding onto the steers until they were rescued downstream at various locations as far as Rita Island . The bridge went at least 11 feet (3.4 m) under water in that flood. The disaster renewed demands that a higher-level bridge be built. In 1947 a project commenced to build a high-level road-and-rail bridge to replace the Inkerman Bridge, but owing to the sandy soil without any rock to provide foundations for
1258-560: The school had an enrolment of 266 students with 20 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 18 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent). St Colman's School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Eleventh Avenue ( 19°39′33″S 147°24′57″E / 19.6593°S 147.4157°E / -19.6593; 147.4157 ( St Colman's School ) ). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 50 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). Home Hill State High School
1295-730: The shows were no longer economically viable. For two years beginning September 1943, the Royal Australian Air Force operated a radar station at Charlies Hill south of the town, staffed by approximately two dozen servicemen and women. St Colman's Catholic School opened on 7 April 1927. It was operated by the Sisters of Mercy until 1967 when it came under the control of the Townsville Catholic Education Office . On 16 February 1959, Cyclone Connie struck Home Hill. No building escaped damage with every window broken in
1332-654: The state capital Brisbane on the Bruce Highway . It is a part of the Shire of Burdekin which includes the town of Ayr to the north. Both towns are governed by the Burdekin Shire Council . The Burdekin River forms the locality's north-western boundary. The town is situated centrally within the locality surrounded by crop farming. The Bruce Highway passes through the town from the south-east ( Fredericksfield / Inkerman ) to
1369-460: Was in operation between 1913 and 1957 after which it was replaced by the Burdekin Bridge (also known as the Silver Link). The Inkerman Bridge was built as part of the North Coast railway line along the Queensland coast that ultimately linked Brisbane to Cairns by rail. Construction commenced in 1912 and the bridge officially opened on Monday 8 September 1913. The bridge was low-lying and
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