The Gemfields Explained

Type:suburb
The Gemfields
State:qld
Coordinates:-23.5425°N 147.8108°W
Pop:1449
Postcode:4702
Area:1077.8
Timezone:AEST
Utc:+10:00
Gazetted:13 August 2010
Dist1:60.8
Dir1:WNW
Location1:Emerald
Dist2:331
Dir2:W
Location2:Rockhampton
Dist3:892
Dir3:NW
Location3:Brisbane
Lga:Central Highlands Region
Stategov:Gregory
Fedgov:Flynn
Near-N:Fork Lagoons
Near-Ne:Fork Lagoons
Near-E:Emerald
Near-Se:Gindie
Near-S:Lochington
Near-Sw:Lochington
Near-W:Willows
Near-Nw:Argyll

The Gemfields is a former locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia.[1] In the, The Gemfields had a population of 1,449 people.

On 17 April 2020, the Queensland Government re-drew the boundaries of localities within the Central Highlands Region by removing the locality of The Gemfields in order to create three new localities of Rubyvale, Sapphire Central and Anakie Siding (around the towns of Rubyvale, Sapphire, and Anakie respectively).[2] [3] [4]

Geography

The locality contained three small towns: Anakie, Rubyvale, and Sapphire.

The nearest major town was Emerald.

The Western railway line passed through the locality from east (Emerald) to west (Willows). There was a railway station at Anakie and a railway siding at Taroborah .[5] [6]

As the name suggested, the main industry in The Gemfields was sapphire mining, supported by tourism.

History

Anakie Provisional School opened on 27 July 1885. It became Anakie State School on 1 January 1909. Due to low attendances it opened and closed at times, but continues to operate to the present day.

Taraborah Provisional School (also written as Taroborah) opened in 1900. On 1 July 1909 it became Taraborah State School. It closed on 1911.

On 17 April 2020, the Queensland Government re-drew the boundaries of localities within the Central Highlands Region by discontinuing the locality of The Gemfields in order to create three new localities of Rubyvale, Sapphire Central and Anakie Siding (around the towns of Rubyvale, Sapphire, and Anakie respectively).:

Demographics

In the, The Gemfields had a population of 1,630.

In the, The Gemfields had a population of 1,449 people.

Amenities

The Central Highlands Regional Council operated a public library at 7 Burridge Road, Rubyvale.[7]

Education

Anakie State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Cook Street (-23.554°N 147.7458°W).[8] [9] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 83 students with 7 teachers (6 full-time equivalent) and 7 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).[10] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 77 students with 7 teachers (6 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).[11]

There were no secondary schools in The Gemfields. The nearest government secondary school was Emerald State High School in Emerald to the east.

Events

GemFest was an annual festival in the region, attracting large numbers of visitors.[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. 23 April 2019.
  2. Web site: 17 April 2020. Recent place name decisions: Job number 18-115: The Gemfields. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717022359/https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/place-names/proposals-decisions/decisions#18-115. 17 July 2020. 17 July 2020. Queensland Government.
  3. Web site: 2019. Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717023517/https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1457327/18115-qpn1401-proposed.pdf. 17 July 2020. 17 July 2020. Queensland Government.
  4. Web site: 17 April 2020. Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717024018/https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1478741/18115-qpn1401-decision.pdf. 17 July 2020. 17 July 2020. Queensland Government.
  5. 28 November 2019.
  6. 28 November 2019.
  7. Web site: Locations. Central Highlands Regional Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20180131041006/http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/libraries/locations/. 31 January 2018. live. 31 January 2018.
  8. Web site: 9 July 2018 . State and non-state school details . live . . 21 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 . 21 November 2018.
  9. Web site: Anakie State School . 21 November 2018 . 1 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200401223351/https://anakiess.eq.edu.au/ . live .
  10. Web site: ACARA School Profile 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181122010027/http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0 . 22 November 2018 . 22 November 2018.
  11. Web site: ACARA School Profile 2018 . . 28 January 2020 . 27 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx . live .
  12. Web site: Gemfest. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200304082034/http://gemfest.com.au/. 4 March 2020. 2020-04-13.