Miriam Vale

Miriam Vale is a rural town and a locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Miriam Vale had a population of 512 people.[1]

Miriam Vale Queensland
Blomfield Street (main street looking south-east), 2016
Miriam Vale
Coordinates	24.3272°S 151.5586°E / -24.3272; 151.5586
Population	512 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	10.644/km^2 (27.57/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4677
Area	48.1 km^2 (18.6 sq mi)
Location	464 km (288 mi) from Brisbane 119 km (74 mi) from Bundaberg 68 km (42 mi) from Gladstone 170 km (106 mi) from Rockhampton
LGA(s)	Gladstone Region
State electorate(s)	Burnett
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Localities around Miriam Vale: Bororen Bororen Mount Tom Bororen Miriam Vale Mount Tom Colosseum Colosseum Mount Tom

Geography

The town is situated on the Bruce Highway, 464 kilometres (288 mi) north of Brisbane, the state capital, and 170 kilometres (110 mi) south of Rockhampton.[4]

Economy

Miriam Vale is renowned as a traditional cattle growing area, and also supports timber, beef and dairy cattle. Tourism is an emerging industry within the shire and the town is a gateway to the tourist resorts of Agnes Water and the Town of 1770.

In the 1970s signs at the entry to town proudly proclaimed "Welcome to Miriam Vale – Cattle, Tobacco, Timber and Dairy". The tobacco industry faded in the late 1970s followed by the dairy industry in the 1990s.

History

Pupils and teacher outside the Miriam Vale State School, 1918

Gureng Gureng (also known as Gooreng Gooreng, Goreng Goreng, Goeng, Gurang, Goorang Goorang, Korenggoreng) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Gureng Gureng people. The Gooreng Gooreng language region includes the towns of Bundaberg, Gin Gin and Miriam Vale extending south towards Childers, inland to Monto and Mt Perry.[5]

Miriam Vale Post Office opened on 1 April 1877.[6]

Miriam Vale Provisional School opened in March 1897 and became Miram Vale State School on 14 July 1897.[7][8]

Timber industry

The timber industry has roots in the late 19th century, with early timber cutters working along the Bobby Range cutting hoop pine. In these early days hoop pine was cut and two timer chutes allowed logs to be shot to the foot of the range where bullock wagons were waiting. Evidence of these old chutes can still be found at the back of Boreelum on the sides of the range. The southern chute was on tram rails and consisted of two carriages. As the log was lowered down the mountain the other empty carriage was drawn to the top. This was achieved by a small overtaking siding in the middle. The other chute to the west was smaller and built out of logs. The timber was in most cases ferried to rail at Lowmead.

There were also many timber mills in the district but many of these closed in the late part of the century. Perhaps the closest mill to town was located on the flat at House Creek.

Dairy industry

The dairy industry has the most claim to fame with a massive fig tree near the railway station being the drop off point of "cream cans" full of milk. This depot (being no more than a wooden stage) was the district dairy focal point. Locals would deliver the fresh milk to the depot where it was then loaded onto Claude's Truck for the trip to the Port Curtis Dairy (PCD).[9] Fresh milk wasn't always the delivery and in the 1950s cream was separated on farms and delivered to town. Cream in those days was sold on "degrees of Rancid" (fresh, ripe, stale) as there was no refrigeration. The cream even then was going to the PCD in Gladstone.[10]

Racing

Car rally in the Main Street of Miriam Vale, 1924

A car rally passed through Miriam Vale in 1924; the stretch of road between Miriam Vale and Gin Gin was said to the roughest of the rally.[11]

Across House Creek there is also evidence of an old speed way ground (circa 1970s) and if you look around the district you can find history in old horse race tracks.

Population

In the 2006 census, Miriam Vale had a population of 361 people.[12]

In the 2011 census, Miriam Vale had a population of 422 people.[13]

Heritage listings

Miriam Vale has a number of heritage-listed sites, including

Miriam Vale War Memorial, 1995

• Blomfield Street: Miriam Vale War Memorial[14]

Big Fig Tree

• Station Street: Big Fig[9]

Attractions

Miriam Vale has a nine-hole golf course with small greens and mature gum trees.[15] At times in its history the course was stretched to twelve holes but the members and district could not sustain the extra work needed to keep these holes open. Miriam vale is the gateway to the Coral Coast of Agnes Waters and 1770. The Main street of Miriam Vale, is home to the historical Miriam Vale Cafe. The main street boasts a child and dog friendly park.

Amenities

The Miriam Vale Library is at 41 Blomfield Street; it is operated by the Gladstone Regional Council.[16]

There is a Gladstone Regional Council administration centre at 36 Roe Street.[17]

The Miriam Vale branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall at Blomfield Street.[18]

Education

Miriam Vale State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 15 Roe Street (24.3297°S 151.5616°E / -24.3297; 151.5616 (Miriam Vale State School)).[19][20] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 135 students with 17 teachers (14 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[21]

For secondary schooling beyond Year 10, students go to Tannum Sands State High School.[4]

Transport

Miram Vale is on the North Coast railway line and is serviced by the Miriam Vale railway station.

Long Distance services
Inbound	Service			Outbound
Bundaberg	The Sunlander			Gladstone
Bundaberg	Electric Tilt Train			Gladstone
Bundaberg	Spirit of the Outback			Gladstone

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Miriam Vale (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
2. "Miriam Vale - town in Gladstone Region (entry 22258)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
3. "Miriam Vale - locality in Gladstone Region (entry 46612)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
5. "Gureng Gureng". State Library of Queensland. 21 January 2020.
6. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
7. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
8. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
9. "Big Fig (entry 602323)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
10. "Port Curtis Co-operative Dairy Association Ltd Factory (former) (entry 601334)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
11. "IN POURING RAIN". The Brisbane Courier. 29 September 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Miriam Vale". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Miriam Vale". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
14. "Miriam Vale War Memorial (entry 600725)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
15. "Miriam Vale Golf Club". iSeekGolf.com. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
16. "Contact us". Gladstone Regional Libraries. Gladstone Regional Council. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
17. "Contact us". Gladstone Regional Council. Gladstone Regional Council. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
18. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
19. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
20. "Miriam Vale State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
21. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.

Further reading

• Miriam Vale State School. Centenary Committee (1997), Miriam Vale State School Centenary : 25th March 1897-1997, Miriam Vale State School

External links

Media related to Miriam Vale, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Miriam Vale and Miriam Vale Shire