Woondum is a rural

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

Gympie Region The Gympie Region is a local government area in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is between the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay and centred on the town of Gympie. It was creat ...

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 Woondum had a population of 80 people.

Geography

Woondum lies to the south-west of

Gympie Gympie ( ) is a city and a Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River (Queen ...

. The western part of locality is relatively undeveloped land and is mountainous (rising to 150 metres about sea level); most of this land is part of the Woondum State Forest. The eastern part of the locality is flatter land (approx 60–70 metres above sea level) and developed as farmland. There are a number of creeks running through the locality which is part of the Mary River drainage basin. Despite its name, the Woondum National Park is not in Woondum but is further east straddling

Mothar Mountain Mothar Mountain is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Mothar Mountain had a population of 534 people. Geography The southern and eastern parts of the locality constitute the western half of Woondum National Par ...

and

Kin Kin Kin Kin is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Kin Kin had a population of 764 people. In the 2021 census the population had risen to 844. Geography Kin Kin lies between Pomona to ...

. The North Coast railway line travels from south to north roughly separating the developed and undeveloped parts; the locality is served by the

Woondum railway station Woondum is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Woondum had a population of 80 people. Geography Woondum lies to the south-west of Gympie. The western part of locality is relatively undeveloped land and is moun ...

. 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 Na ...

forms a short section of the locality's north-western boundary.

History

''Woondum'' is believed to be a

Kabi language Kabi Kabi, also spelt Gabi-Gabi/Gubbi Gubbi, is a language of Queensland in Australia, formerly spoken by the Kabi Kabi people of South-east Queensland. The main dialect, Kabi Kabi, is extinct, but there are still 24 people with knowledge of th ...

word, with ''wun'' meaning ''

blue tongue lizard Blue-tongued skinks comprise the Australasian genus ''Tiliqua'', which contains some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia. As suggeste ...

'' and ''dan'' meaning ''place''. Land in Woondum was offered for selection on 5 January 1890 and by February 1891, ten farms had been established with a further two selected. Further areas were opened by for selection over the following years. Woondum was one of 29 Village Settlements consisting of a centralised region allocated for housing surrounded by larger allotments for farming. Woondum Provisional school opened about July 1899 and became Woondum State School on 1 January 1909. In 1913 it was renamed Ardonye State School. It closed and reopened in the early 1920s due to low students numbers, finally closing in January 1924. A rifle club and rifle range were established in Woondum in 1912. Although rifle clubs were not part of the military, the military would often assist rifle clubs with training, supplying equipment and organising competitions, believing that it was beneficial for Australia's defence if local men become skilful at shooting. In 1915, the Woondum railway station was upgraded to have a permanent staff of a station master and a night officer. In 1929 it was decided to establish the Woondum State Forest rather than open up the area for banana farms. However in 1933, continued pressure resulted in some of the forest being offered up for banana farming. In the Woondum had a population of 80 people.

Geography

History

References

Further reading