Canal Creek is a rural

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localities (Australia), in which a locality is a geographic subdivi ...

in the

Livingstone Shire The Shire of Livingstone is a local government area located in the Capricornia region of Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia, to the immediate north and east of the regional city of Rockhampton. The shire, administered from the coastal ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. In the , Canal Creek had a population of 8 people.

Geography

The ridge of the Pointer Range forms the south-western boundary of the locality. The terrain in the locality ranges from flatter land at approx above sea level to numerous named peaks including (from west to east): * North Pointer * The Pointer * Mount Jardine * Pleasant Hill * Conical Mountain * Charley Peak * The Gate Mountain Three creeks enter through the locality from the north ( Shoalwater) flowing south, Alligator Creek to

Canoona Canoona is a rural locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the , Canoona had a population of 81 people. It was the site of the first North Australian gold rush. Geography The Fitzroy River forms the southern boundary of th ...

Jardine Jardine is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Al Jardine (born 1942), member of the Beach Boys * Alexander Jardine (Medal of Honor) (1874–1949), American Medal of Honor recipient * Antonio Jardine (born 1988), NCAA college ba ...

and Canal Creek (from which the locality presumably takes its name) and Werribee Creek to

Rossmoya Rossmoya is a rural locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. These creeks are ultimately tributaries to the

Fitzroy River Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) **Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beauf ...

which enters the

Coral Sea The Coral Sea () is a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends down the Australian northeast coast. Most of it is protected by the Fren ...

between Thompsons Point and Port Alma. There are a number of protected areas in the locality, including: * North Pointer Conservation Park in the south-west of the locality * Alligator Creek State Forest in the north and centre of the locality * Canal Creek State Forest in the centre of the locality * Werribee State Forest in the north-east of the locality The predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation, plantation forestry and a small amount of cropping.

History

On 19 December 1943 a USA military aircraft crashed at Canal Creek Cattle Station and 31 people were killed. The C47 aircraft of 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron 374th Transport Group was flying from

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 30 ...

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

with a stop in

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of ...

. The port engine caught fire, which caused an explosion and the plane crashed and all 31 people on board were killed. The aircraft was carrying 20 USA military personnel, 8 Australian military personnel, and three civilians (one from the

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...

, one from the

Salvation Army Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its ...

, and a war photographer). On 16 June 2002 a memorial to the crash was officially dedicated; it is at approximately from the crash site due to the boggy terrain at the site. The memorial was organised by

Yeppoon Yeppoon is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Livingstone, Queensland, Australia. Yeppoon is renowned for its beaches, tropical climate, and the islands out on the bay. Located from the city of Rockhampton, Yeppoon is the seat of the ...

resident John Millroy. It was the 2nd worst aircrash in Australia's history (

Bakers Creek air crash The Bakers Creek air crash was an aviation disaster that occurred on 14 June 1943, when a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft crashed at Bakers Creek, Queensland, Australia. The aircraft took off from Mackay ...

in June 1943 killed 40 people).

Education

There are no schools in Canal Creek. The nearest primary school is in Millman. The nearest secondary schools are in

and Kawana,

References

External links

* — includes casualty list Shire of Livingstone Localities in Queensland {{CentralQueensland-geo-stub