Gladstone Central, Queensland

Gladstone Central
Gladstone, Queensland

Looking up Goondoon Street, 2014
Population 1,529 (2011)[1]
Postcode(s) 4680
LGA(s) Gladstone Region
State electorate(s) Gladstone
Federal Division(s) Flynn
Suburbs around Gladstone Central:
Callemondah Callemondah Gladstone Harbour
Callemondah Gladstone Central Barney Point
Callemondah West Gladstone South Gladstone

Gladstone Central is a suburb in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] It is the historic centre and central business district of the city of Gladstone and the seat of the Gladstone Regional Council. In the 2011 census, Gladstone Central had a population of 1,529 people.[1]

Geography

Gladstone Central is bounded by Auckland Inlet on the north, Auckland Creek and Side Street on the west, the railway line on the east and a combination of Scenery Street and Tank Street on the south. The main business and shopping street is Goondoon Street which runs over a hill, its apex being at the intersection with Roseberry Street.

History

The Gladstone Post Office opened on 1 July 1854.[3]

Gladstone State School opened on 1 April 1861 and was later renamed Gladstone Central State School.[4][5][6]

Amenities

Entrance to Gladstone City Library, 2014

The Gladstone City Library is at 39 Goondoon Street; it is operated by the Gladstone Regional Council.[7]

Gladstone Entertainment & Convention Centre, 2014

The Gladstone Entertainment & Convention Centre is at 58 Goondoon Street; it is operated by the Gladstone Regional Council. It features an auditorium seating 674 people, a flat floor space which can accommodate 1,500 people standing, an outdoor 600 square metres (6,500 sq ft) marquee on a hard stand, and a number of meeting rooms.[8]

Gladstone Regional Council offices, 2014

There is a Gladstone Regional Council administration centre at 101 Goondoon Street.[9]

Churches

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 149 Goondoon Street, Gladstone Central, 2014
Foundation stone of original St Andrew's Presbyterian Church laid 1867

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church is located at 149 Goondoon Street on the corner of Bramston Street.[10] This is the second church built on this site.

A Presbyterian minister, Alexander Proudfoot, arrived in Gladstone in September 1865; he was the first religious leader in Gladstone.[11] However, for two years, there were not sufficient funds to build a church until a generous donation of £200 was received from a local settler. The church was designed by Mr Ramsay, the town surveyor in Maryborough. The foundation stone of the first church was laid on 30 October 1867 by Mrs Proudfoot, wife of Rev. Proudfoot. The brick Gothic church to accommodate 250 worshippers were built by local contractors, Smith, Hay and Day, at a cost of £457; it could accommodate 250 worshippers.[12] In April 1870 W. S. Robertson donated a marble font which he designed and executed using marble from his own quarry on the Calliope River.[13] This was the first church to be built in Gladstone.

Still the only religious leader in Gladstone, Alexander Proudfoot died on 11 April 1873 aged 42 years in Rockhampton (where he had been taken for medical treatment as Gladstone had no doctor).[11][14] His widow established a ladies' school in Rockhampton 4 months later.[15] The Rev. A. A. Laing took charge of the parish from 8 February 1874.[16] Rev. Laing was replaced by Rev. J. Blaine in June 1875.[17]

The church was destroyed by a cyclone on 2 March 1949.[18] On 11 September 1955, the Governor of Queensland, Sir John Lavarack laid the foundation stone for the new St Andrew's church. The original foundation stone, font and pulpit were recovered from the demolished church and were incorporated into the new church.[19]

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 2014

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic church is located on the south-west corner of Goondoon and Herbert Streets. It has an adjoining school.[20] It is the third Catholic church to be built in Gladstone.

The first Catholic church in Gladstone was St Mary's Church in Auckland Street. It was opened on 1 March 1874 by the Rev. Dean Murlay,[21] but did not have a resident priest until 1885. However, in 1902, the land was resumed to build a new railway line between Gladstone and Rockhampton.[20][22]

A site of 2 acres (0.81 ha) bounded by Goondoon Street, Herbert Street and Glenlyon Road was purchased with a plan to build a precinct to eventually comprise a church, a school, a convent and a monastery. The monastery would serve as both a presbytery and a sanitorium for missionaries working in the Pacific islands. The architects for the new church and school were Eaton and Bates; the builders were Robinson & Freeman.[23] The new church was opened on 19 January 1902 by the Bishop of Rockhampton, Joseph Higgins.[24]

A larger church was required to meet the growing parish, leaving to the current church being built in 1924 at a cost of £2700. The foundation stone was laid on 13 April 1924 by the Bishop of Rockhampton, Rev. Joseph Sheil. It was officially opened on 16 November 1924. The second church continued to be used as part of the school.[20][25]

In the cyclone of 2 March 1949, the convent and school were destroyed but the church survived.[20][26]

Education

Gladstone Central State School is a government co-educational primary (P-7) school located at 74 Auckland Street. In 2013, the school had 226 students and 13 teachers (12 equivalent full-time).[27]

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Gladstone Central (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. "Gladstone Central (entry 46724)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  3. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  5. "Agency ID5241, Gladstone Central State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  6. "EDUCATION.". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 12 March 1861. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  7. "Contact us". Gladstone Regional Libraries. Gladstone Regional Council. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  8. "About the centre". Gladstone Entertainment & Convention Centre. Gladstone Entertainment & Convention Centre. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  9. "Contact us". Gladstone Regional Council. Gladstone Regional Council. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  10. "Gladstone, St Andrew's Presbyterian Church". Find A Presbyterian Church in Australia. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  11. 1 2 "No title.". Rockhampton Bulletin. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 12 April 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  12. "RELIGIOUS.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 19 November 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  13. "GLADSTONE.". The Queenslander. National Library of Australia. 2 April 1870. p. 10. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  14. "Family Notices.". Rockhampton Bulletin. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 3 May 1873. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  15. "SYDNEY.". Rockhampton Bulletin. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 22 August 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  16. "Telegraphic.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 16 February 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  17. "GLADSTONE.". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  18. "Cyclone moves west fast.". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 4 March 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  19. "Gladstone News.". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 15 September 1955. p. 25. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School (entry 600521)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  21. "WEEKLY SUMMARY.". Rockhampton Bulletin. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 14 March 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  22. "THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT GLADSTONE.". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 22 June 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  23. "GLADSTONE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 30 September 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  24. "NEW CHURCH AT GLADSTONE.". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 20 January 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  25. "IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 21 November 1924. p. 11. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  26. "£150,000 DAMAGE AT GLADSTONE.". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 3 March 1949. p. 24. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  27. "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Gladstone Central State School. Gladstone Central State School. Retrieved 1 July 2014.

Further reading

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