Alpha, Queensland
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Alpha is a rural town and a locality in the
Barcaldine Region The Barcaldine Region is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas which had existed for over a century. It has an estimated operating budget of ...
,
Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, Australia. In the , the locality of Alpha had a population of 559 people.


Geography

Alpha is in Central West Queensland. It lies on Alpha Creek. The
Capricorn Highway The Capricorn Highway is located in Central Queensland, Australia, and links the city of Rockhampton with western Queensland. The highway is long, and joins the Landsborough Highway at Barcaldine. Formerly National Route 66, Queensland began ...
runs through from east to west, and the Clermont-Alpha Road enters from the north-east. The Central Western railway line passes through the town, which is served by Alpha railway station. The town is a service centre for the surrounding pastoral properties and travellers on the highway.


History

The town of Alpha is situated approximately 400 kilometres to the west of Rockhampton, with the name being derived from Alpha Pastoral Station, established in 1863. This was a very large station, dominating the area and growing to more than 1,600 square kilometres by the 1890s. The area was originally visited and partly explored by the New South Wales Surveyor-General, Thomas Mitchell in 1846 and it was his reports that were to encourage settlement, particularly from the 1860s. Early European settlers to move into the region included Robert Donaldson and Agnes Adelaide Donaldson. Alpha was initially established as a temporary terminus during construction of the Central Western railway line (then known as the Great Northern line, a name that would be subsequently assigned to the subsequent more northern line west of
Townsville The City of Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 201,313 as of 2024, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland and Northern Australia (specifically, the parts of Australia north of ...
to
Mount Isa Mount Isa ( ) is a city in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia. It came into existence because of the vast mineral deposits found in the area. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) is one of the most productive mines in world history, based on co ...
), which was being built westwards from
Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite. The Scottish- ...
. The major coastal centre was keen to take full advantage of the inland pastoral wealth being generated and pushed for a central railway line. Construction commenced in 1867, reaching
Emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr., and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991). ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York ...
in 1879 and was opened to Alpha on 22 September 1884. The construction camp continued moving west, but a township remained at the former terminus. Until June 1990,
Queensland Rail Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Queensland Rail is owned by the Queensland Government, and operates both Commuter rail, suburban and Regional rail, interurban rail services in South East Queensland, as well ...
maintained a locomotive depot in the town. Alpha Provisional School opened on 30 August 1886. It became Alpha State School on 7 September 1894. A preschool centre was added in 1987. Churches followed, with the Catholic Church opening in 1890 and the United Protestant Church in 1894. The
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the Josephites or Brown Joeys, are a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Mary MacKillop (1842–1909). Members of the congregation use the postnominal initials RSJ (Religious Sis ...
opened a Catholic primary school in 1902 and a convent school was established in 1904. Originally Three Sisters of St Joseph stepped off the train in Alpha on Thursday 15 May 1902. They moved Into a rented and furnished cottage in Byron Street, where six months of provisions filled the larder. Fifty years later, one of the first pupils recalled that every town child was out to see the Sisters'. The St Joseph Order, which was established in Australia, also founded Convents in other nearby diccesan towns. Sister M Gonzaga, who was in charge, with Sisters M Gervase and M Lourdes, was soon very busy teaching, as four months later, pupils presented a successful concert for a large crowd. The church became the temporary school until a two storey Convent was bullt by 1906 and the school occupied the lower floor. Boys and girls from neighbouring districts boarded at the Convent to attend school until the 1930s. St Joseph's Convent School gained its own building in 1918. It was erected at a cost of £820, the maionty of which was raised in the local community. when the convent became dangerously riddled with white ants in 1922, it was replaced by a single storey building. In November 1950, Alpha was inundated with flood water and the Sisters were forced to leave their convent and shelter in the top floor of the school. To reach it they carried provisions and a primus stove in buckets on their heads and waded through waist deep water. The Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1952 with musical items and a three-act operetta, as well as a visit from Rev. Mother Pierre, head of St Joseph Order of Nuns in Queensland. The older school building was replaced by another two-storey building 12 years later. The new school of St. Joseph's of Alpha, was opened by Francis Rush, Bishop of Rockhampton on June 12, 1963. It was constructed by local builders. Brownjohn and Johnson and supervised by Fr. W Collins at a cost of about 10,000 pounds and is now a private residence. Before the Sisters left Alpha for the last time in December 1977, their 75 years of service in the community was celebrated. Many nuns had spent time in Alpha and were remembered by past pupils with respect and affection. A roll call of past pupils was answered by representatives of each decade including three names from the 1902–10 period. St Joseph's convent continued for two years under instruction from lay teachers, Michael & Irene Watkins; but by the end of 1979, only about 25 students remained and it closed altogether. The Sisters of St Joseph were central to the development of a musical culture in Alpha. The basis was their teaching of practice and theory in pianoforte and violin, as well as singing. Pupils sat yearly for examinations from the London College of Music, Trinity College, London or the Australian Music Examination Board, many passing with honours. Children travelled many miles to receive regular music instruction from the Nuns. Seven decades of music instruction provided the foundation for many concerts. The Golden Jubilee concert featured a choir, singing by individuals. duets, trios and groups, recitations, dance and comedy. Adults as well as the children performed. Another impact of the music classes were years of dance music played by local people at debutante balls, shows, rodeos and fancy-dress balls, which continued long after St Joseph's School closed. Jericho Shire, which included the town, was incorporated in 1917, with the main shire offices and council facilities located in the town of
Jericho Jericho ( ; , ) is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, and the capital of the Jericho Governorate. Jericho is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It had a population of 20,907 in 2017. F ...
. Killarney Park Provisional School opened in late 1918 as a half time provisional school in conjunction with Glenleigh Provisional School (meaning there was one teacher shared between the two schools). Both schools closed in late 1919 or early 1920 due to low student numbers. On 8 April 1941, two people were killed when a goods train from
Emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr., and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991). ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York ...
plunged through a section of the wooden rail bridge over Alpha Creek on approach to the Alpha railway station. On 22 November 2019, the
Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a Parliament, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, ...
decided to amalgamate the localities in the Barcaldine Region, resulting in five expanded localities based on the larger towns: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine,
Jericho Jericho ( ; , ) is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, and the capital of the Jericho Governorate. Jericho is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It had a population of 20,907 in 2017. F ...
and
Muttaburra Muttaburra is an outback town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia. Muttaburra was the discovery site of the ''Muttaburrasaurus'', one of Australia's most famous dinosaurs. In the , t ...
. Alpha was expanded to incorporate Beaufort, Drummondslope, Dunrobin (south-eastern corner), Hobartville (north-eastern part), Pine Hill,
Port Wine Port wine (, ; ), or simply port, is a Portuguese wine, Portuguese fortified wine produced in the Douro, Douro Valley of Norte, Portugal, northern Portugal. It is typically a sweetness of wine, sweet red wine, often served with dessert wine, ...
, Sedgeford, and
Surbiton Surbiton is a suburban neighbourhood in South West London, within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (RBK). It is next to the River Thames, southwest of Charing Cross. Surbiton was in the Historic counties of England, historic county of ...
.


Demographics

In the , the town of Alpha had a population of 402 people. In the , the locality of Alpha had a population of 571 people. In the , the locality of Alpha had a population of 335 people., In the , the locality of Alpha had a population of 559 people.


Mining

On 29 May 2012 the first mine proposed to be developed in the Galilee Basin, known as the Alpha Coal Project, which is a joint development of Indian conglomerate GVK and Hancock Coal, was approved by the
Government of Queensland The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the state Legislative Assembly, with the governo ...
. Waratah Coal is planning to develop a new mine close to the town called the China First Coal Project. This mine is to be built on the Bimblebox nature refuge which is home to the endangered black-throated finch. A counter-view is that Bimblebox is a privately owned former grazing property, now unmanaged and run wild, growing and spreading various noxious weeds. Waratah Coal's China First Project 2011 Environmental Impact Statement admits that there would be a range of both positive and negative effects on Alpha, and that they would "cause irreversible change to the physical landscape and the social fabric of towns." But it concludes that the development of mines in the vicinity of Alpha presents a unique opportunity for the town and surrounding communities to benefit from sustainable and socially acceptable development. Bimblebox, a feature-length documentary directed by Michael C O'Connell (''
Mountaintop Removal Mountaintop removal mining (MTR), also known as mountaintop mining (MTM), is a form of surface mining at the summit or summit ridge of a mountain. Coal seams are extracted from a mountain by removing the land, or overburden, above the seams. T ...
''), explores the "China First" mega mine project being developed by Waratah Coal close to the town of Alpha in the Galilee basin. The film also examines opposition to the China First mine from the owners of the Bimblebox nature refuge which stands in the path of the proposed project. In a 20 March 2012 press conference Waratah coal CEO
Clive Palmer Clive Frederick Palmer (born 26 March 1954) is an Australian billionaire businessman and politician. He has iron ore, nickel, and coal holdings. Palmer owns many businesses such as Mineralogy, Waratah Coal, Queensland Nickel at Townsville, t ...
accused environmental groups and the film's producers of being funded by the
Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...
.


Education

Alpha State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep–10) school for boys and girls at 11 Milton Street (). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 40 students with 8 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 39 students with 10 teachers and 11 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent). The nearest secondary schools to Year 12 are in Barcaldine to the west and
Emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr., and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991). ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York ...
to the east. Alternatively, there is
distance education Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance; today, it usually involves online ...
and
boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
s. Alpha State School provides support to students studying Years 11 and 12 by distance education.


Amenities

Alpha has a tourism information centre, golf course, art gallery, showground, parks, swimming pool, tennis courts, museum, hardware store, newsagents, bank, pub, grocery store, butcher, baker, post office, BP, Caltex, craft shop, hairdresser, pharmacy, hospital, police station and fire station. Barcaldine Regional Council operates a library at the Alpha town hall on Tennyson Street. Alpha Uniting Church is at 25 Milton Street (). The Alpha branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Uniting Church Hall at 4724 Milton Street.


References


External links

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Queensland places - Alpha, State Library of Queensland blog article
{{authority control Barcaldine Region Localities in Queensland Towns in Queensland