Bakers Creek, Queensland
| Bakers Creek Queensland | |
|---|---|
  Bakers Creek | |
| Coordinates | 21°13′26″S 149°08′48″E / 21.22389°S 149.14667°ECoordinates: 21°13′26″S 149°08′48″E / 21.22389°S 149.14667°E |
| Population | 770 (2006 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 4740 |
| Location | 8 km (5 mi) S of Mackay |
| LGA(s) | Mackay Region |
| State electorate(s) | Mirani |
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia |
Bakers Creek is a locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2]
Geography
Bakers Creek is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Mackay on the Bruce Highway. The Bakers Creek watercourse runs through the township.
At the 2006 census, Bakers Creek had a population of 770.[1]
Economy
The main industry is a large meat processing plant operated by Thomas Borthwick & Sons (Aust) Pty Ltd.
History
The locality was named after the creek, which in turn was named after John T. Baker, a customs officer in Mackay in 1863.[2][3]
Dundula State School opened on 28 August 1922 with 37 children enrolled on the first day, with 45 enrolled by the end of 1922. The first headmaster was Courtney Hoffman.[4][5]
Bakers Creek Post Office opened on 1 July 1927 (a receiving office had been open since 1909) and closed in 1979.[6]
In 1943, a USAAF aircraft crashed in the locality, killing 40 of the 41 people on board. The Bakers Creek air crash is Australia's worst aviation disaster by death toll. A memorial to the disaster was built in 1981 and is located in the grounds of the Bakers Creek Community Hall.[7]
References
- 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Bakers Creek (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- 1 2 "Bakers Creek (entry 46756)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- ↑ "THE GAZETTE.". The Brisbane Courier (National Library of Australia). 23 March 1868. p. 4. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- ↑ "D-F". Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- ↑ "History". Dundula State School.
- ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ↑ "Bakers Creek Air Crash Memorial". December 2003. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-14.