Murgon


Murgon is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. It is situated on the Bunya Highway north-west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2016 Australian Census, the town recorded a population of 2,378.

Geography

Murgon is in the region of Queensland known as the South Burnett, the southern part of the Burnett River catchment. Attractions of Murgon include winemaking, fishing on the nearby Bjelke-Petersen Dam and gem-fossicking. Industries include peanuts, dairy farming, beef and cattle production and wine. The Indigenous Australian settlement of Cherbourg is just south of Murgon.

History

is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken in the Burnett River catchment. The Wakka Wakka language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the North and South Burnett Regional Council, particularly the towns of Cherbourg, Murgon, Kingaroy, Gayndah, Eidsvold and Mundubbera.
In July 1906, 32 allotments were advertised for selection by the Department of Public Lands Office. The map advertising the land selection states the allotments are portions in the Parishes of Murgon, Goomeribong and Barambah. The portions were left over from April 5.
Murgon Post Office opened by June 1908.The foundation stone of the Murgon War Memorial was laid on 25 April 1920 by Lieutenant Colonel Wilder Neligan. On 11 November 1921, the digger memorial was dedicated by RSL chairman, Major General Spencer Browne.
In the early 20th century the Nanango railway line reached the town. The town was the administrative centre for the former Shire of Murgon which existed from 1914 until 2008.
St Joseph's School opened on 27 February 1937.

Heritage listings

Murgon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Murgon is also close to a famous fossil site. The Murgon fossil site is the only such site in Australia with a diverse vertebrate fauna dating to the early Eocene epoch, around 55 million years ago, only 10 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Amenities

The South Burnett Regional Council operates a public library in Murgon at 42 Stephens Street, Murgon.
The current Murgon Library facility opened in 2010. Public Wi-Fi available at this facility.

Education

Murgon State School opened on 24 February 1908.
There was also a Murgon Special School that closed on 31 December 1980.
St Joseph's Catholic School opened 27 February 1937.
Murgon State High School opened on 27 January 1959.

Notable residents

Notable residents of Murgon include: