Population 559 (2011 census) State electorate(s) Nicklin Local time Sunday 12:22 PM Federal division Division of Fairfax | Postcode(s) 4574 Postal code 4574 Lga Sunshine Coast Region | |
 | ||
Location 30 km (19 mi) W of Nambour
130 km (81 mi) N of Brisbane Weather 31°C, Wind NE at 10 km/h, 50% Humidity Points of interest Booloumba Creek Day Use Area, Booloumba Falls, Kenilworth Forest Reserve, Mount Allan | ||
Kenilworth is a small town and locality in the upper Mary Valley area of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. This is a rural area, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the coast, with dairy farming as the major industry. Local visitor attractions include a cheese factory and art galleries as well as walking, camping and 4-wheel driving in the Kenilworth State Forest. In the 2011 census, Kenilworth had a population of 559 people.
Contents
Map of Kenilworth QLD 4574, Australia
History
The Mary River was known to the Aboriginals as the Numabulla and the name for the Kenilworth area being Hinka Booma. In 1842 Andrew Petrie named the river as the Wide Bay River. In 1847 that Governor Fitzroy renamed the river after his wife Mary.
Richard Joseph Smith tendered to set up the first cattle run on the east bank of the Mary River in 1850. At the time Mrs Smith was reading Sir Walter Scott's novel "Kenilworth" and she decided to name the property after the novel. The town was surveyed and split off Kenilworth Station in 1921 and took the name of the Station. During the second half of the 19th Century, the Smiths took up more land.
Other settlers arrived in 1891 originally intending to grow small crops. There was a ready market at the goldfields in Gympie but after the floods of 1893, 1895 and 1898 had wiped out their crops, most ventured into dairying and pig breeding. In 1901 the Kenilworth Farmers' Association was formed and in 1907 they built the Kenilworth Farmers Assembly Hall. This later housed a library and hosted dances. In 1905 the Association was responsible for establishing a co-operative butter factory which opened in Caboolture in 1907.
Also established was the Kenilworth Farmers' Co-operative Store in Eumundi. In 1912 a steam-powered sawmill was built on Coolabine Creek. In 1921 Kenilworth Station was sold off and divided into dairy farms and allotments. By 1925 all the large estates in the district had been subdivided and sold. Today dairying is still a major part of farming in the area but there has been diversification into fruit and vegetables and pig farming.
Kenilworth Post Office opened by 1926 (a receiving office had been open from 1896).
The first store was opened in Kenilworth on 2 January 1924 as well as the new hall opening and the first butcher's shop appeared in 1925. Kenilworth Provisional School built by the community opened on 22 January 1900. This school became a State School on 1 January 1909. (This school was in the locality now known as Gheerulla).
Kenilworth Township was opened in the Kenilworth Hall on 21 October 1924. The hall, in 1926, was equipped to show silent pictures. The site for a public recreation ground was purchased in 1927 and in 1933, the Public Hall was moved to this new location. The Church of England Mary Valley Parish was established in 1925.
At the 2006 census, Kenilworth had a population of 238.
Attractions
Kenilworth has a 'Living History' Museum with a theatrette which shows a history of the district to visitors, together with displays covering many areas of history past.
Kenilworth Homestead still exists, though the 10,000 hectare cattle station is now reduced to 50 hectares. Since 1875, the Homestead and out-buildings have continually been restored and extended, still keeping as much of its original structure as possible. It is now used as a camping and riding centre.
Heritage listings
Kenilworth has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: