Millmerran , known as Domville between 1 June 1889 and 16 November 1894, is a town and a locality in the

Toowoomba Region The Toowoomba Region is a Local government in Australia, local government area (LGA) on the border of Darling Downs and South East Queensland regions of Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, the LGA was preceded by several other local go ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

, Australia. In the , the locality of Millmerran had a population of 1,545 people.

Geography

The town is on the

Darling Downs The Darling Downs is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, Australia. The Downs are to the west of South East Queensland and are one of the major regions of Queensland. The name was generally ...

, west of the state capital,

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

. The

Gore Highway The Gore Highway is a highway running between Toowoomba and Goondiwindi in Queensland, Australia. Together with Goulburn Valley Highway and Newell Highway, it is a part of the National Highway's Melbourne to Brisbane link. It is signed as Nat ...

passes through the locality from the north-east ( Yandilla) to the west ( Captains Mountain). The Millmerran–Inglewood Road (State Route 82) runs to the south. State Route 82 enters Millmerran from the north-east concurrent with the Gore Highway. The Millmerran–Cecil Plains Road exits to the north.

History

Bigambul (also known as Bigambal, Bigumbil, Pikambul, Pikumbul) is an

Australian Aboriginal language The Indigenous languages of Australia number in the hundreds, the precise number being quite uncertain, although there is a range of estimates from a minimum of around 250 (using the technical definition of 'language' as non-mutually intellig ...

spoken by the Bigambul people. The Bigambul language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Goondiwindi Regional Council, including the towns of

Goondiwindi Goondiwindi () is a rural town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Goondiwindi Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. In the , the locality of Goondiwindi had a population of 6, ...

, Yelarbon and

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

extending north towards Moonie and Millmerran. The Giabal (also known as Paiamba, Gomaingguru) language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Toowoomba Regional Council, particularly

Toowoomba Toowoomba ( ), nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar', is a city on the border of South East Queensland and Darling Downs regions of Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane. The urban population of Toowoom ...

south to Allora and west to Millmerran. Millmerran is near a lookout commonly used by the local Jarowair Nation Aboriginal population prior to European settlement and the town's name is believed to be derived from two words – "meel" meaning "eye" and "merran" meaning "to look out". European settlement in the Millmerran area began in 1841 when the Gore brothers established the vast Yandilla station. Yandilla station covered an estimated and hosted its own school with 20 to 30 students, telegraph station and store. Closer settlement began after the passing of the Crown Lands Alienation Act in 1876, which allowed Edward Walpole to select a portion of Yandilla station. In 1881, Walpole established a general store on the site of what was known at the time as Back Creek. Yandilla Provisional School opened on 2 October 1882. In 1901, it was renamed after Millmerran and is now known as Millmerran State School. A postal receiving office was opened with that name on 8 July 1883. It was elevated to the status of a

post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letter (message), letters and parcel (package), parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post o ...

, and the name changed to Domville, on 1 June 1889. The name was again changed to Millmerran on 16 November 1894.Frew, Joan (1981) ''Queensland Post Offices 1842-1980 and Receiving Offices 1869-1927'', p. 346. Fortitude Valley, Queensland: published by the author, (Today, Domville is a rural locality south of Milmerran.) On Sunday 27 November 1904, St Francis de Sales Catholic Church was officially opened and blessed by Reverend Father Potter. The building was and was designed by architects Messrs Wallace and Gibson of

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined wit ...

. It was built in cypress pine by contractors Messrs Mabbit and Silver. The church was on a site, half of which was donated by Mr Walpole and the other purchased by the committee. The total cost of the cost was £255. On Sunday 7 November 1952,

Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

Joseph Roper blessed and laid the foundation stone for a new church building. On Sunday 6 July 2915, Roper returned to bless and officially open the new church building which was and capable of seating 300 people. Over 1,000 people attended the event. The architect was Frank Cullen and the builders were Messrs A.D. Morris and Sons. The new church cost £20,500. The 1904 church building was retained as a church hall. St Alban's Anglican Church was dedicated in 1907. Its closure on 12 June 2007 was approved by Assistant Bishop Nolan. In 1911, the Millmerran railway line reached the town, which is served by the Millmerran railway station (). On Saturday 4 March 1922, a

stump-capping ceremony Queenslander architecture is a modern term for a type of residential housing, widespread in Queensland, Australia. It is also found in the northern parts of the adjacent state of New South Wales, and shares many traits with architecture in oth ...

was held for a Presbyterian church. On Friday 9 June 1922, St Andrew's Presbyterian Church was dedicated by the Right Reverend James Gibson, the Moderator-General of the

Presbyterian Church of Australia The Presbyterian Church of Australia (PCA), founded in 1901, is the largest Presbyterian and Reformed denomination in Australia. The PCA is the largest conservative, evangelical and complementarian Christian denomination in Australia. The Presby ...

. The architect F. H. Pepper of

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

provided the design for free and much of the building work was undertaken by volunteers. St Joseph's School was opened on 16 February 1959 by the

Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the Josephites or Brown Joeys, are a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Mary MacKillop (1842–1909). Members of the congregation use the postnominal initials RSJ (Religious Sis ...

. The Millmerran Library opened in 1998 with a major refurbishment in 2017.

Demographics

In the , the locality of Millmerran had a population of 1,566 people. In the , the locality of Millmerran had a population of 1,563 people. In the , the locality of Millmerran had a population of 1,545 people.

Education

Millmerran State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep–10) school for boys and girls at 19 Simmons Street (). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 295 students with 28 teachers (25 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 323 students with 28 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 23 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent). St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 25 Walpole Street (). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 64 students with 8 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 59 students with 6 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). For secondary education to Year 12, the nearest school is in Pittsworth away.

Amenities

Millmerran also has a vibrant town centre with two large grocery outlets, two large hardware stores, a bakery, a 24-bed public hospital, medical centre, modern large equipped sports centre and Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a large community centre complete with ballroom. The Millmerran Library is operated by the Toowoomba Regional Council. It is located on Herbert Street and is open three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday). St Andrew's Presbyterian Church is at 48 Campbell Street (). For visitors, there are two caravan parks and an independent camping area for self-contained travelers. There are a number of parks in the locality: * Lions Park () * Mcgowan Park () * William Simmons Memorial Park ()

Events

The Bi-Annual Australian Camp Oven Festival is a nationally known event attracting visitors from all over Australia.

References

External links

* * {{authority control Towns in Queensland Towns in the Darling Downs Toowoomba Region 1881 establishments in Australia Populated places established in 1881 Localities in Queensland