Dysart is a town and a

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localities (Australia), in which a locality is a geographic subdivis ...

in the

Isaac Region The Isaac Region is a local government area located in Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007. History Yagalingu is an Austra ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, Australia. It is a service centre for mines and grazing properties in the district. At the , the locality had a population of 2,918. Most residents are employed by the coal mines.

Geography

Railways

The locality is served by the Goonyella railway network which connects the

Bowen Basin coalfields The Bowen Basin Coalfields contains the largest coal reserves in Australia. This major coal-producing region contains one of the world's largest deposits of bituminous coal. The Basin contains much of the known Permian coal resources in Queen ...

with the coal wharves at

Hay Point Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticated ...

on the coast. The locality is served by numerous railway stations (from north to south): * Winchester railway station () * Harrow railway station () * Saraji Junction railway station () * Saraji railway station () * Lake Vermont railway station () * Dysart railway station () * Stephens railway station () * Norwich Park Junction railway station () * Norwich Park railway station ()

Mountains

The terrain is mountainous, with the following named peaks (from north to south): * Walkers Peak () * Mount Phillips () * Mount Walker () * Campbell Peak () * Lords Table Mountain () * Gilberts Dome () * Browns Peak () * Charleys Peak () * Eastern Peak () * Mount Dalrymple () * Expedition Peak ()

History

Prussian explorer

Ludwig Leichhardt Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (), known as Ludwig Leichhardt, (23 October 1813 – c. 1848) was a German explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia.Ken Eastwood,'Cold case: Leichhardt's dis ...

explored the region in 1845 being the first European to do so. This included climbing to the summit of nearby Campbells Peak and allegedly building a stone cairn there. The town of Dysart was established in 1973 to support the

Saraji coal mine The Saraji Coal Mine is a coal mine located near Dysart in the Central Queensland region of Australia. The mine has coal reserves amounting to 648 million tonnes of coking coal, one of the largest coal reserves in Asia and the world. The m ...

with the Post Office opening on 8 October 1973. The name ''Dysart'' comes from the name of a pastoral run and a parish in the area; it means a ''retreat for monks'' and hence ''solitude'' in Irish Gaelic. Dysart State School opened on 21 May 1973. A secondary department was added in 1979, which operated until Dysart State High School opened on 20 September 1980. The Dysart Library opened in 1982. At the , the town of Dysart had a population of 3,003 people. At the 2016 census, the locality had a population of 2,991 people.

Economy

Norwich Park coal mine The Norwich Park Coal Mine was an open cut coal mine located south-east of Dysart, in Central Queensland, Australia. In 2012, the mine closed for economic reasons not because it was exhausted. In 2003, the mine had coal reserves amounting to ...

was located south of the town. It closed on 11 April 2012, after 32 years of operation. Following its closure, its miners were relocated to the Saraji Mine, which is located north of the town, and has one of the largest coal reserves in Asia and the world. In 2020, the Norwich Park mine reopened under the new name Saraji South.

Housing

According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland in 2011, Dysart had a median rent of $1,200 a week for a house, making it the most expensive in Queensland. In 2012, the median house price in the town was $475,000. The closure of the Norwich Park Mine was expected to bring property prices down. In August 2015, rental price for a three-bedroom home in Dysart started at $130 a week.

Education

Dysart State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Garnham Drive (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 347 students with 25 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent). Dysart State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at Edgerley Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 162 students with 17 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).

Sport

Rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

is a popular sport in Dysart. Dysart junior team is named 'Dysart Bulls' with team colours of red, black and white. The senior team is also called 'Dysart Bulls' and has about six home games a year. The Bulls were the junior home team of

Matt Sing Matthew Charles Sing (born 13 March 1975) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and Queensland representative, Sing played his club football for the Penrith Panthers, Sydn ...

, who played 24

State of Origin A State of Origin competition is a type of sporting event between players representing their state or territory. State of Origin began in Australian rules football on 8 October 1977 between Western Australia (WA) and Victoria, at Subiaco Ov ...

Games for Queensland. Dysart also has a very popular soccer team, the Dysart Devils.

Amenities

The Isaac Regional Council operates a public library located in Shannon Crescent, Dysart.

Events

Dysart is home to Norwich Park Mines Day, held to increase the public's knowledge of the mining industry.

Attractions

A monument to the coal and rail industry consisting of a large truck and coal wagon is located at the northern entrance to the town.

References

External links

University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Dysart
{{authority control Mining towns in Queensland Towns in Queensland Central Queensland Populated places established in 1973 1973 establishments in Australia Isaac Region Localities in Queensland