Woondum is a rural

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality, a historical named location or place in Canada * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localitie ...

in the

Gympie Region The Gympie Region is a Local government in Australia, 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, Queensland, Sunshine Coast and ...

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 , Woondum had a population of 66 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. Located in the Greater Sunshine Coast, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River ( ...

. 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 and Kin Kin. 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 (). 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 Natio ...

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

History

''Woondum'' is believed to be a

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

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 or panana in ...

'' 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.

Demographics

In the , Woondum had a population of 80 people. In the , Woondum had a population of 66 people.

Education

There are no schools in Woondum. The nearest government primary school is Monkland State School in Monkland to the north-east. The nearest government secondary school is

Gympie State High School Gympie State High School is a coeducational public secondary school located in Gympie in the Wide Bay–Burnett region in Queensland, Australia. The school has a total enrolment of more than 900 students per year, with an official count of 922 s ...

to the north-east. There are also a number of non-government schools in Gympie and its surburbs, including one in neighbouring

Kybong Kybong is a rural Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Kybong had a population of 363 people. Geography Kybong is south-east of Gympie, Gympie's central business district along the ...

to the south-west.

Geography

History

Demographics

Education

References

Further reading