Moranbah, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Moranbah is a town in Queensland
, Australia
, located on the Peak Downs Highway
between Mackay
and Clermont
, in the Isaac region
. It is a coal mining
town and at the 2006 census
had a population of 7,133. and was established in 1969. In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a large itinerant
population in excess of 1500. Moranbah services the Peak Downs Mine
, Goonyella Riverside Mine
, Broadmeadow Mine, Moranbah North Mine and several other smaller mines in the region.
in January 1845 and settled by pastoralists
in the 1850s.
Peak Range National Park
is located to the west of the town.
, Clinton Schifcofske
, Travis Norton
and Shane Marteene
.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located on the Peak Downs Highway
Peak Downs Highway
The Peak Downs Highway links the towns of Mackay and Clermont in the Australian state of Queensland. It represents the main link between Queensland's Whitsunday Coast and the Central West region of the state. The highway runs for a total length of 273 km, before becoming the Gregory Highway ...
between Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
and Clermont
Clermont, Queensland
Clermont is an agricultural town in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 274 km south-west of Mackay on the junction of the Gregory and Peak Downs highways...
, in the Isaac region
Isaac Regional Council
Isaac Region is a Local Government Area in Queensland, Australia. The Local Government Area was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007...
. It is a coal mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
town and at the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
had a population of 7,133. and was established in 1969. In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a large itinerant
Itinerant
An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner ....
population in excess of 1500. Moranbah services the Peak Downs Mine
Peak Downs Mine
Peak Downs is a large open cut coking coal mine in Queensland located 31 km SSE of Moranbah. Peak Downs is one of seven mines in Bowen Basin owned by BMA, Australia’s largest coal miner and exporter. Production at Peak Downs started in 1972....
, Goonyella Riverside Mine
Goonyella Riverside Mine
Goonyella Riverside is a large open cut coking coal mine in Queensland located 30 km North of Moranbah.The area is mainly used for coal mining. The coal is well known for its great coking characteristics....
, Broadmeadow Mine, Moranbah North Mine and several other smaller mines in the region.
History
The region was first explored by Ludwig LeichhardtLudwig Leichhardt
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, known as Ludwig Leichhardt, was a Prussian explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia.-Early life:...
in January 1845 and settled by pastoralists
Pastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
in the 1850s.
Recreation
Moranbah is a growing community. For a small regional town it offers a diverse range of sports and entertainment facilities including a skate park, library, public swimming pool, rugby league, AFL, hockey, tennis, off road racing, motocross and a BMX club.Peak Range National Park
Peak Range National Park
Peak Range is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 760 km northwest of Brisbane.-See also:* Protected areas of Queensland* Protected areas of Australia* National parks...
is located to the west of the town.
Notable people
Notable people from the town include singers (Clint Boge), to professional Rugby League players such as Josh HannayJosh Hannay
Josh Hannay is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He is a former Queensland state representative and the current record holder with the greatest points scored in the history of the North Queensland Cowboys club.-Club career:Hannay was named to make his debut at the age of 16...
, Clinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14...
, Travis Norton
Travis Norton
Travis Norton is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
and Shane Marteene
Shane Marteene
Shane Marteene is a former rugby league player. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs and St. George Illawarra Dragons as a wing and centre....
.
Churches
- Oasis Life
- Uniting Church
- Catholic Church
- Anglican Church
- Christian Fellowship Church
Sports
- Australian rules footballAustralian rules footballAustralian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
- Moranbah Bulldogs. Established in 1976, the Senior Club boasts 4 Premierships. In 1977 and 1978 in the Mackay AFL, and in 1985 and 1986 in the now defunct Central Highlands AFL. The Bulldogs currently participate in the AFL Mackay competition in a 7 club competition.