Mount Morgan is a rural town and locality in the

Rockhampton Region The Rockhampton Region is a local government area (LGA) in Central Queensland, Australia, located on the Tropic of Capricorn about north of Brisbane. Rockhampton is the region's major city; the region also includes the Fitzroy River, Mount Ar ...

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 , established_ ...

, Australia. In the the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 1,963 people. The town was the administrative centre of the Mount Morgan Shire until March 2008, when it was amalgamated with neighbouring local government areas to form the Rockhampton Region.

Geography

The town of Mount Morgan is situated on the Dee River, south of the city of

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of ...

, and is north of the state capital,

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

. The Burnett Highway passes through the town. There are a number of neighbourhoods within the locality: * Gordon Vale () * Kenbula (), located around the former Kenbula railway station * Talban (), located around the former Talban railway station The names ''Kenbula'' and ''Talban'' were both assigned by the

Queensland Railway Department Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and rela ...

on 18 November 1911. Both are Aboriginal names, ''Kenbula'' meaning '' ironbark tree'' and ''Talban'' meaning '' stone curlew''.

History

StateLibQld 2 237174 View of the town of Mount Morgan and the mine beyond

Prior to European migrants settling in the area, the area was part of the Kangulu peoples traditional lands. Mount Morgan was founded as a gold mining town in 1882. The town takes its name from the family who took out the original gold mining leases in the area: Frederick Augustus Morgan and his brothers Thomas Squire Morgan and Edwin Francis Morgan. Over the years, the Mount Morgan Mine has produced gold, silver and copper. Among those making a fortune from this mine was William Knox D'Arcy. D'Arcy used his fortune to finance oil exploration in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...

, which led to the formation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (now BP). Mining of clay in a nearby hill for the production of furnace bricks commenced soon after that time, continuing until the early 1900s, The resulting man-made caves came to be known as the

Fireclay Caverns Fireclay Caverns are located in the heritage-listed Mount Morgan Mine site in Queensland, Australia. The Fireclay Caverns were excavated by the Mount Morgan Mine to provide clay for its brickworks resulting in very large openings that measure bet ...

, which contained large openings that measure between 4–12 metres in height from the cave floor.

Dinosaur footprints A fossil track or ichnite ( Greek "''ιχνιον''" (''ichnion'') – a track, trace or footstep) is a fossilized footprint. This is a type of trace fossil. A fossil trackway is a sequence of fossil tracks left by a single organism. Over the y ...

(preserved as infills) were later found in nine different sections of the

, lining the ceiling dated to the

Early Jurassic The Early Jurassic Epoch (in chronostratigraphy corresponding to the Lower Jurassic Series) is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic Period. The Early Jurassic starts immediately after the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event, 201.3 Ma ...

(

Sinemurian In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic Epoch or Series. It spans the time between 199.3 ± 2 Ma and 190.8 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago). The Sinemurian is preceded by the Hettangian an ...

). Mount Morgan Post Office opened on 18 May 1885 (a receiving office had been open from 1884).

Mount Morgan Central State School Central State School is a heritage-listed state school at 44 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1887 to 1997. It is also known as Boys School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Re ...

opened in 1887 and grew so rapidly that it was separated into two schools on different sites the following year, forming Mount Morgan Boys State School and Mount Morgan Girls and Infants State School. The word 'Central' was added to the name of these two schools from 1911. They were amalgamated back into one school in 1929. Circa 1888-1889 an Anglican church opened in Mount Morgan. The town of Mount Morgan grew in a haphazard fashion around the entrance to the mining lease near the Dee River from the early 1880s. By 1889 a number of the major religions had established congregations and erected churches including the Primitive Methodists (1885), the Catholics (1887) and the Anglicans (1889). That year the town's name was formally changed from 'South Calliungal' to 'Mount Morgan', and by 1891 the Queensland census recorded a population of 3514. arhs mount morgan

Until the arrival of the railway in 1898, everything was transported by horse teams. The Mount Morgan Mining Company had a depot in Quay Street, where the wagoners would load up. Initially, there were two routes to Rockhampton, one via Crocodile (now Bouldercombe) and the other via Kabra, Boongarry and Moonmera. In 1885, a road was built over the Razorback Range. The

railway line Rail terminology is a form of technical terminology. The difference between the American term ''railroad'' and the international term ''railway'' (used by the International Union of Railways and English-speaking countries outside the United Sta ...

between Mount Morgan and Rockhampton opened on 26 November 1898, with two railway stations serving the locality: * Mount Morgan railway station, now abandoned () * Walterhall railway station, now abandoned () Like many Australian towns, in 1899 to 1900, the

Siege of Mafeking The siege of Mafeking was a 217-day siege battle for the town of Mafeking (now called Mafikeng) in South Africa during the Second Boer War from October 1899 to May 1900. The siege received considerable attention as Lord Edward Cecil, the son of ...

was avidly followed in the news in Mount Morgan. With every confidence in a British victory, in March 1900, the town's people decided to prepare to celebrate the relief of Mafeking as soon as it was announced. The town band was to assemble immediately on the corner of East and Morgan Streets and other entertainments were arranged, such as a

bonfire A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Etymology The earliest recorded uses of the word date back to the late 15th century, with the Cath ...

and a greasy pig. On 20 May 1900, on hearing the news of the relief of Mafeking, bonfires were lit on the hills around the town, the bands were playing, and patriotic speeches were made. The celebrations did not end there, as by November 1900, a "Mafeking" bell had been installed in a tower beside the town hall. The bell had been cast at the Mount Morgan Mine and weighed 7 cwt (360 kg). The sound of the bell was described as "blood curdling" and led to arguments as to whether the bell was cracked. By 1955, the wooden tower had rotted and the bell was taken down to be relocated to the verandah of the town hall. In 1969 the bell was relocated to the scout hall in Dee Street as the army leader at Mafekin was Lord Baden-Powell who established the

Scouting movement Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth Social movement, movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hik ...

in 1907. In February 2018, the bell was returned to the main street of Mount Morgan as part of a streetscape redevelopment project. There is a popular story that the schoolchildren of Mount Isa funded the bell by donating pennies (either to pay for it or to be melted down to construct it), but the earliest sources so far identified for this story are from 1955, 55 years after the bell was cast, and the commemorative plaque which also presents this story was not created until 1962. Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School opened in 1891 and closed in 1997. StateLibQld 1 290411 Red Hill State School, Mt

StateLibQld 1 290411 Red Hill State School, Mt

Red Hill State School opened on 1900 and closed circa 1931. It was in the Red Hill neighbourhood of Mount Morgan, and presumably is the origin of the name of School Street (approx ). Mt morgan2005

In 1902, a Baptist church opened in Mount Morgan. Prior to the opening of the church, Baptist services had been held in the Forester's Hall. In April 1902 the Port Curtis Road Methodist Church building was purchased for removal and erected on the corner of East and Dee Streets in Mount Morgan. The stump-capping ceremony was held on Saturday 12 May 1902. The official opening of the church was on Sunday 22 June 1902.

Mount Morgan State High School Mount Morgan State High School is a heritage-listed state high school and technical college at 4 Central Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1908. It was formerly known as Mount Morgan Technical C ...

opened on 22 January 1912. It was the first school of its kind to open in Queensland. Maranu State School opened on 24 May 1915. It closed on 1 April 1927. Upper Dee Provisional School opened in 1919. On 11 June 1923, it became Upper Dee State School. It closed circa 1929. The Mount Morgan Mine finally closed in November 1990, having produced 250 tonnes of gold and 360,000 tonnes of copper during its lifetime, leaving 134 million tonnes of waste rock and

tailings In mining, tailings are the materials left over after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction ( gangue) of an ore. Tailings are different to overburden, which is the waste rock or other material that overl ...

. During the mining operation, most of the mountain was mined away, and the town now lies adjacent to a 43 m deep acid-water filled pit. The

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended f ...

have begun a rehabilitation project of the minesite. The Mount Morgan Public Library opened in 1993. At the , the town of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,447. In the , the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,115 people. In the , the locality of Mount Morgan had a population of 1,963 people. In December 2020, a 24 kilometre mountain bike trail network was completed around No. 7 Dam, creating a new sporting facility for the area, as part of the Advancing Mount Morgan strategy with an aim to help boost tourism to the town. In 2021, the town's water supply was so low,

drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ...

had to be delivered on daily basis.

Heritage listings

Mount Morgan has a number of

heritage-listed This list is of heritage registers, inventories of cultural properties, natural and man-made, tangible and intangible, movable and immovable, that are deemed to be of sufficient heritage value to be separately identified and recorded. In many i ...

sites, including: * Burnett Highway: Mount Morgan Mine * 4 Central Street:

* 39 Central Street: Grand Hotel * East Street: Mount Morgan Cemetery * 2 Gordon Street (): Mount Morgan Masonic Temple * 11 Gordon Street: St Mary's Anglican Church * 28 Hall Street: Court House and Police Station * Morgan Street:

Coronation Lamp War Memorial Coronation Lamp is a heritage-listed war memorial at Morgan Street, Mount Morgan, Queensland, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Arthur Jenks (clerk of works), Arthur Jenks and built from 1902 to 1947. I ...

* 28 Morgan Street:

Queensland National Hotel Queensland National Hotel is a heritage-listed former hotel at 28 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John William Wilson and built in 1890. It is also known as Wesleyan Mission Hall. It w ...

* 31 Morgan Street:

Mount Morgan School of Arts Mount Morgan School of Arts is a heritage-listed mechanics' institutes in Australia, school of arts at 31 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan, Queensland, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1924. It was added to th ...

* 38 Morgan Street: Commonwealth Bank Building * 44 Morgan Street:

* Railway Parade: Mount Morgan railway station * Westwood/ Oakey Creek:

Adolphus William Copper Smelter Adolphus William Copper Smelter is a heritage-listed former copper Smelting, smelter and associated mining camp at Westwood, Queensland, Westwood and Oakey Creek, Queensland, Oakey Creek in Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was buil ...

Economy

Mining companies still prospect today in the area, and plans to extract further gold from tailings at the mine site are under development.

Education

Central State School, from S to eastern end of southern elevation (2001)

is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 44 Morgan Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 209 students with 15 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).

Mount Morgan State High School - former Technical College Building, from E (2015)

is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 4 Central Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 183 students with 21 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent).

Amenities

The Rockhampton Regional Council operates the Mount Morgan Library at 31 Morgan Street (). The Mount Morgan branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall at 127 East Street (). Mount Morgan Mountain Bike Trails are managed by Rockhampton Regional Council. Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club conducts social rides there and also has plans to commence racing at the new trail park in 2021. There are a number of churches in Mount Morgan, including: * St Mary's Anglican Church, 11 Gordon Street () *Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 35A Hall Street (facing Gordon Street, ) *Mount Morgan Uniting Church, 86 East Street (corner Gordon Street, ) *St Enoch's Presbyterian Church, 78 East Street () *Peace Christian Church (of the Peace Apostolic Ministries), 80 East Street (); the building was formerly the Mount Morgan Baptist Church

Events

Mount Morgan is known to hold the Golden Mount Festival in the main street at the end of April or the start of May as part of the Labour Day holiday. The festival usually starts on a Friday and finishes the next Monday. The Morgan Street is closed to vehicles during Saturday of the Festival for the day for markets and activities such as floats and "Running the Cutter" races.

Attractions

Tourism plays a large part in the economy of the town today, with a visitor centre located at the old railway centre and recreation area at Dam No.7. The area was host to one of the few

rack railway A rack railway (also rack-and-pinion railway, cog railway, or cogwheel railway) is a steep grade railway with a toothed rack and pinion, rack rail, usually between the running Track (rail transport)#Rail, rails. The trains are fitted with one or ...

s (as part of the line from Mount Morgan to Rockhampton) to operate in Australia. The rack portion of the line was replaced by a conventional adhesion railway in the 1950s, with a small portion of track retained at the town centre. In turn, the replacement line was closed in 1987, and the town no longer has a rail connection. The Mount Morgan railway station is still standing and now operates as a Museum and Tourist Information Centre. There is a regular bus service between Rockhampton, Gracemere and Mount Morgan provided by Young's Bus Service.

Notable people

Jens Hansen Lundager Jens Hansen Lundager (4 May 1853 – 7 March 1930) was a Danish-born Australian photographer, newspaper editor and politician. Early life Lundager was born, along with a twin sister, in Vejlby, Denmark on 4 May 1853 to Hans Jensen Hansen and ...

, mayor of Mount Morgan, editor of the ''Mount Morgan Argus'', photographer * Alma Moodie, German-based concert violinist and teacher * Stephen Moore (rugby union), captain of the Wallabies, lived in Mount Morgan when his family first came to Queensland *

Mervyn Henry Stevenson Mervyn Henry Stevenson (1926-2001) served as a Queensland police officer from 1947 until 1982. He started as a bush cop and ended up as the superintendent in charge of the Townsville Police District, though his retirement years were tainted wit ...

, superintendent of the Townsville police district and inductee of the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame"Fitting farewell for bush policeman", ''Townsville Bulletin'', 22 December 2001.

Gallery

File:Mafeking Bell, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, The Mafeking Bell in the main street of Mount Morgan, Queensland. File:Mafeking Bell plaque, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, The Mafeking Bell Plaque File:Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland. It is a heritage-listed state school. File:Murals at Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Murals at Mount Morgan Central State School, Mount Morgan, Queensland File:Mount Morgan School of Arts, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Mount Morgan School of Arts is heritage-listed File:Information sign - Mount Morgan School of Arts, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Mount Morgan School of Arts information sign File:Fire Station, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Fire Station, Mount Morgan, Queensland, Australia File:Mount Morgan State High School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Mount Morgan State High School is a heritage-listed state high school File:Murals at Mount Morgan State High School, Mount Morgan, Queensland.jpg, Murals at Mount Morgan State High School

References

External links

University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Mount MorganMount Morgan State High SchoolRockhampton Regional Council
* *
Town map of Mount Morgan (north), 1972

Town map of Mount Morgan (south), 1973
{{authority control Towns in Queensland Mining towns in Queensland 1882 establishments in Australia Populated places established in 1882 Localities in Queensland