Moranbah, Queensland

Moranbah is a coal mining town and locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 9,425.

In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a large fly-in fly-out population working in Moranbah's mines: in excess of 1,500.

Geography

The Peak Downs Highway between Mackay and Clermont passes through the south of the locality; the town is north of the highway via the Moranbah Access Road.

Moranbah Airport is also on the Moranbah Access Road, by road of the town ().

Climate

Moranbah experiences a subtropical semi-arid climate ( Köppen: BSh) with hot, relatively wet summers and very mild, dry winters with cool nights.

History

The first European to explore the region was Ludwig Leichhardt in January 1845, and the area was first settled by pastoralists in the 1850s.

Moranbah was established in 1969. The town was rapidly expanded in the late 1970s by the Utah Development Company to house mine workers. It has been featured twice (once in 1977 and again in 2012) on Four Corners, an investigative news program, exploring the effects of Australia's various mining booms on local rural communities.

Moranbah State School opened on 1 January 1971 with a secondary department, which became Moranbah State High School on 25 January 1976. Moranbah East State School opened on 27 January 1981.

Moranbah Post Office opened on 1 March 1971.

In 2011, the Queensland Government's Office of Economic and Statistical Research reported Moranbah as the most expensive place to live in the state of Queensland. The study compared the cost of goods and services such as rent, electricity and household fuels in regional areas, to those in Brisbane and found Moranbah in first place with a housing index at 65 per cent higher than that of Brisbane. Since then, housing prices and accommodation rentals have returned to much more affordable levels. For example, the median house price in Moranbah between September 20203 and August 2024 was $350,000.

In 2021, the town celebrated its 50th anniversary with four days of jubilee celebrations, held across the Labour Day long weekend from 30 April 2021 to 3 May 2021. The event had been earlier postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Demographics

In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 8,965.

In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 8,735.

In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 9,425.

Economy

Moranbah services the Peak Downs Mine, Goonyella Riverside Mine, Broadmeadow Mine, Grosvenor Mine, Olive Downs mine, Moranbah North coal mine, North Goonyella coal mine and several other smaller mines in the region. Although one of the newest towns in the region, its central location and large population has made it the seat of the Isaac Regional Council.

Approximately 100,000 workers have been employed in coal mining over Moranbah's 50-year history.

Education

Moranbah State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Belyando Avenue (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 567 students with 42 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 31 non-teaching staff (19 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Moranbah East State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 4 Williams Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 605 students with 35 teachers (34 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (18 full-time equivalent).

Moranbah State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at Mills Avenue (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 654 students with 56 teachers (55 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Amenities

For a small regional town it offers a diverse range of sports and entertainment facilities including a skate park, library, public swimming pool, soccer, rugby league, golf course, AFL, hockey, tennis, off-road racing, motocross and a BMX club.

Isaac Regional Council operates a public library located at Grosvenor Complex, Batchelor Parade, Town Square.

The Moranbah branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Meeting Room at Town Square.

Churches in the town include:
* Assembly of God ("Oasis Life")
* Uniting Church
* Catholic Church
* Anglican Church
* Christian Fellowship Church

Sport

Sporting facilities in the town include:
*Rugby Union – Moranbah Bulls who compete in the Mackay Rugby Union competition.
* Australian rules football – Moranbah Bulldogs. Established in 1976, the Senior Club boasts 5 Premierships. In 1977, 1978 and 2014 in the Mackay AFL, and in 1985 and 1986 in the now defunct Central Highlands AFL. The Bulldogs currently participate in the AFL Mackay competition in a 7 club competition and are the most recent Premiers.
*Rugby league – the club competes as the Moranbah Miners in the Mackay & District Rugby League competition, fielding teams in three adult grades as well as a number of junior teams in the Mackay Junior League competition. Previously the club competed as the Sharks in the Central Highlands competition against teams from Dysart, Blackwater, Middlemount, Tieri, Emerald, Clermont and Bluff.
*Soccer – Moranbah Hawks
*Netball
*Indoor Volleyball
*Squash
*Cricket (during summer season)
*Social water polo
*Touch Football league
*Gymnastics
*Gun Club
*BMX
*Athletics Club
*Golf
*Crossfit

Notable residents

The following people were born in, or have lived in, Moranbah:
* Clint Boge – musician
* Josh Hannay (born 1980) – professional rugby league player; born in Moranbah
* Kaylee Kimber (born 2003) – Australian rules footballer
* Shane Marteene (born 1977) – professional rugby league player; born in Moranbah
* Larrissa Miller (born 1992) – gymnast, Australian Olympian in 2012 and 2016; born in Moranbah
* Travis Norton (born 1976) – professional rugby league player
* Clinton Schifcofske (born 1975) – professional rugby league & rugby union player; born in Moranbah
* Dennis Scott (born 1976) – professional rugby league player; born in Moranbah

References

External links

Moranbah

Isaac Regional Council

University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Moranbah

Queensland Small Towns Documentary Project 2013: Dalby and Moranbah
State Library of Queensland

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Mining towns in Queensland
Towns in Queensland
Central Queensland
Isaac Region
1969 establishments in Australia
Populated places established in 1969
Localities in Queensland