Goondi Hill is a semi-urban

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

Cassowary Coast Region The Cassowary Coast Region is a local government area in the Far North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, south of Cairns and centred on the towns of Innisfail, Cardwell and Tully. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire ...

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. In the , Goondi Hill had a population of 510 people.

Geography

Goondi Hill is bounded by Bamboo Creek and North Bamboo Creek to the south and south-west. The land is flat, mostly below above sea level. Immediately west of Innisfail, it has some residential overflow from Innisfail including a

retirement village A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves; however, assistance from home care agencies is allowed in some communities, and activities and socializ ...

in the north of the locality. In the south of the locality the land use is predominantly agricultural, mostly growing sugarcane. Most of the locality contains various civic amenities, such as the race course, the golf course and the showground. The

Bruce Highway The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast on its way to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is part of the Australian Nat ...

enters the locality from the east (along Edith Street, Innisfail) and exits to the west (along Palmerston Drive, Goondi Bend). The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the south ( Mighell) and exits the locality to the north-west (Goondi Bend / Cullinane) with

Innisfail railway station Innisfail railway station is located on the North Coast railway line, Queensland, North Coast line in Queensland, Australia. It serves the town of Innisfail, Queensland, Innisfail. The station has one platform. Services Innisfail is served by ...

within the locality ().

History

The name ''Goondi'' is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning ''

elbow The elbow is the region between the arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa (also called the chelidon, or the elbow pit), and the lateral and the me ...

,'' referring to the bend in the

South Johnstone River The Johnstone River, comprising the North Johnstone River and the South Johnstone River, is a river system located in Far North and North Queensland, Australia. The headwaters of the river system rise in the Atherton Tablelands. The north ...

''.'' In June 1912 there was a meeting that resulted in the creation of the Johnstone River Agricultural Association with the intention to hold their first

agricultural show An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock is exhibit ...

that same year. The first show was held on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 October 1912 in recreation ground (now Callender Park) with exhibits in the Shire Hall and the Oddfellows Hall. In 1935 the show needed more space and the present showgrounds were established with purpose-built buildings and a show ring. The show was held annually apart from 1942 and 1942 when, due to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the army was using the showground. In 1986 many of the showgound's buildings were badly damaged by Cyclone Winifred with further damage sustained during

Cyclone Larry Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry was a tropical cyclone that made landfall in Australia during the 2005–06 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season. Larry originated as a low pressure system over the eastern Coral Sea on 16 March 2006, and wa ...

in 2006. In 2002 the show introduced a banana packing competition which was very popular. In the , Goondi Hill had a population of 510 people.

Education

There are no schools in Goondi Hill. The nearest primary schools are Goondi State School in neighbouring Goondi Bend to the west and Innisfail State School in neighbouring Innisfail to the east. The nearest government secondary school is

Innisfail State College Innisfail State College is a government secondary school and technical college in Innisfail Estate, a suburb of Innisfail, Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It is a combined secondary school and TAFE facility which opened in 2010 ...

in Innisfail Estate to the east. Catholic primary and secondary schooling is available in Innisfail.

Amenities

All accessible from the Bruce Highway are the following amenities: * Innisfail Showground () * Innisfail Racecourse () * Innisfail Golf Course ()

References

{{Cassowary Coast Region Cassowary Coast Region Localities in Queensland