Georgetown, Queensland

Georgetown is a town and locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the 2016 census, Georgetown had a population of 348 people.[1]

Georgetown
Queensland
Entry into Georgetown
Georgetown
Coordinates18°18′S 143°33′E
Population348 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4871
Elevation292 m (958 ft)[2]
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Etheridge
State electorate(s)Traeger
Federal Division(s)Kennedy
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
32.6 °C
91 °F		 18.4 °C
65 °F		 817.7 mm
32.2 in
Localities around Georgetown:
Strathmore Abingdon Downs Talaroo
Gilbert River Georgetown Einasleigh
Gilbert River Northhead Forsayth

Geography

Georgetown is on the Etheridge River in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Gulf Developmental Road passes through the town, linking Cairns - 380 kilometres (240 mi) to the east - and Normanton - 301 kilometres (187 mi) to the west. Georgetown is the administrative headquarters of the Shire of Etheridge, a local government area encompassing the nearby settlements of Mount Surprise, Forsayth and Einasleigh.

History

Georgetown area may have been part of North America 1.7 billion years ago based on the characteristics of rocks found in Georgetown matching those of northern Canada rather than the rest of Australia. Researchers at Curtin University have postulated that 100 million years later, this landmass collided with what is now northern Australia, at the Mount Isa region, forming the Nuna supercontinent.[5]

Georgetown was on the northern border of Ewamin lands. The Etheridge River was the site of a gold rush in the 1870s; the town of Georgetown was established on the site of the diggings. Originally known by the name Etheridge, the town's name was changed in 1871 to honour an early gold commissioner, Howard St George.[6] Georgetown Post Office opened on 15 January 1872.[7] Georgetown State School opened on 14 September 1874.[8]

By 1900 grazing had replaced gold mining as the region's primary source of income.

The Georgetown Public Library opened in 2003.[9]

At the 2006 census, Georgetown had a population of 254.[10]

In the 2011 census, Georgetown had a population of 243 people.[11]

Heritage listings

Georgetown has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Facilities
Georgetown Terrestrial Information Centre

Georgetown has a racecourse, swimming pool and a tourist information centre and camping/caravan park.[14]

The Etheridge Shire Council operates a public library at Low Street, Georgetown.[15]

The Georgetown branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms on the Gulf Developmental Road.[16]

The Terrestrial Information Centre contains the Ted Elliot Mineral Collection, comprising over 4500 local and international mineral specimens.[17]

In 2014, Georgetown State School had an enrolment of 57 students with 3 teachers.[18]

Climate
Climate data for Georgetown
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 43.5
(110.3)		 41.0
(105.8)		 39.2
(102.6)		 38.3
(100.9)		 36.8
(98.2)		 34.8
(94.6)		 35.4
(95.7)		 37.0
(98.6)		 39.5
(103.1)		 42.6
(108.7)		 43.3
(109.9)		 43.5
(110.3)		 43.5
(110.3)
Average high °C (°F) 34.4
(93.9)		 33.5
(92.3)		 33.4
(92.1)		 32.5
(90.5)		 30.4
(86.7)		 28.2
(82.8)		 28.2
(82.8)		 30.0
(86.0)		 33.0
(91.4)		 35.8
(96.4)		 36.6
(97.9)		 36.1
(97.0)		 32.7
(90.9)
Average low °C (°F) 22.9
(73.2)		 22.7
(72.9)		 21.5
(70.7)		 19.4
(66.9)		 16.1
(61.0)		 13.1
(55.6)		 12.0
(53.6)		 13.1
(55.6)		 16.2
(61.2)		 19.7
(67.5)		 21.7
(71.1)		 22.8
(73.0)		 18.4
(65.1)
Record low °C (°F) 10.6
(51.1)		 15.1
(59.2)		 11.1
(52.0)		 5.0
(41.0)		 2.2
(36.0)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 2.2
(36.0)		 6.7
(44.1)		 8.9
(48.0)		 11.1
(52.0)		 −3.0
(26.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 224.9
(8.85)		 212.9
(8.38)		 123.1
(4.85)		 28.8
(1.13)		 9.3
(0.37)		 10.4
(0.41)		 6.7
(0.26)		 4.3
(0.17)		 6.4
(0.25)		 16.7
(0.66)		 50.7
(2.00)		 127.8
(5.03)		 822
(32.36)
Average precipitation days 13.7 12.9 8.3 2.7 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.4 0.7 2.0 5.3 9.5 58.7
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[19]

Georgetown is one of the real locations mentioned several times in the novel A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Georgetown (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. Bureau of Meteorology
  3. "Georgetown - town (entry 13605)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  4. "Georgetown - locality (entry 47872)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  5. "Curtin researchers discover a piece of America in northern Australia". Curtin University. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. "Georgetown (entry 13605)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  7. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  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. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 12. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Georgetown (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
  11. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Georgetown (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  12. "Aspasia Mine and Battery (entry 602245)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  13. "Antbed House (entry 601628)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  14. "Georgetown". Centre for the Government of Queensland. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  15. "Georgetown Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  16. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  17. Etheridge. "Terrestrial Information Centre - Etheridge". www.etheridge.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  18. "2014 School Annual Report". Georgetown State School. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  19. "Climate statistics for Georgetown". Bureau of Meteorology.
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