Kenilworth, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Kenilworth is a small town in the upper Mary Valley
area of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
, Australia. This is a rural area, about 50 km from the coast, with dairy farming
as the major industry. Local visitor attractions include a cheese
factory and art galleries as well as walking, camping and 4-wheel driving in the Kenilworth State Forest. At the 2006 census
, Kenilworth had a population of 238.
Kenilworth also has a delightful 'Living History' Museum with a theatrette which shows a history of the district to visitors, together with displays covering many areas of history past.
Origin of the Town:
Richard Smith tendered to set up the first cattle run on the east bank of the Mary River in 1850. At the time Mrs Smith was reading Sir Walter Scott's novel "Kenilworth" and she decided to name the property after the novel. The town was surveyed and split off Kenilworth Station in 1921 and took the name of the Station. During the second half of the 19th Century, the Smiths took up more land.
Also established was the Kenilworth Farmers' Co-operative Store in Eumundi. In 1912 a steam powered sawmill was built on Coolabine Creek. In 1921 Kenilworth Station was sold off and divided into dairy farms and allotments. By 1925 all the large estates in the district had been subdivided and sold. Today dairying is still a major part of farming in the area but there has been diversification into fruit and vegetables and pig farming.
Kenilworth Develops:
The first store was opened in Kenilworth in 1922 and the first butcher's shop appeared in 1924 as well as the new hall opening. The hall housed the first district school and in 1926 was equipped to show silent pictures. The site for a public recreation ground was purchased in 1927 and in 1933, the Public Hall was moved to this new location. The Church of England Mary Valley Parish was established in 1925.
Mary River (Queensland)
The Mary River is a river system in South East Queensland, Australia. The river rises at Booroobin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, west of Landsborough...
area of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
, Australia. This is a rural area, about 50 km from the coast, with dairy farming
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
as the major industry. Local visitor attractions include a cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
factory and art galleries as well as walking, camping and 4-wheel driving in the Kenilworth State Forest. 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,...
, Kenilworth had a population of 238.
Kenilworth also has a delightful 'Living History' Museum with a theatrette which shows a history of the district to visitors, together with displays covering many areas of history past.
Exploration
The Mary River was known to the Aboriginals as the Numabulla and the name for the Kenilworth area being Hinka Booma. In 1842 the first Europeans named the river as the Wide Bay River. In 1847 that Governor Fitzroy renamed the River after his wife Mary.Origin of the Town:
Richard Smith tendered to set up the first cattle run on the east bank of the Mary River in 1850. At the time Mrs Smith was reading Sir Walter Scott's novel "Kenilworth" and she decided to name the property after the novel. The town was surveyed and split off Kenilworth Station in 1921 and took the name of the Station. During the second half of the 19th Century, the Smiths took up more land.
Farmers Settle the Area
Other settlers arrived in 1891 originally intending to grow small crops. There was a ready market at the goldfields in Gympie but after the floods of 1893, 1895 and 1898 had wiped out their crops, most ventured into dairying and pig breeding. In 1901 the Kenilworth Farmers' Association was formed and in 1907 they built the Kenilworth Farmers Assembly Hall. This later housed a library and hosted dances. In 1905 the Association was responsible for establishing a co-operative butter factory which opened in Caboolture in 1907.Also established was the Kenilworth Farmers' Co-operative Store in Eumundi. In 1912 a steam powered sawmill was built on Coolabine Creek. In 1921 Kenilworth Station was sold off and divided into dairy farms and allotments. By 1925 all the large estates in the district had been subdivided and sold. Today dairying is still a major part of farming in the area but there has been diversification into fruit and vegetables and pig farming.
The Original Homestead
Kenilworth Homestead still exists, though the 10,000 hectare cattle station is now reduced to 50 hectares. Since 1875, the Homestead and out-buildings have continually been restored and extended, still keeping as much of its original structure as possible. It is now used as a camping and riding centre.Kenilworth Develops:
The first store was opened in Kenilworth in 1922 and the first butcher's shop appeared in 1924 as well as the new hall opening. The hall housed the first district school and in 1926 was equipped to show silent pictures. The site for a public recreation ground was purchased in 1927 and in 1933, the Public Hall was moved to this new location. The Church of England Mary Valley Parish was established in 1925.
External links
- Aerial and other video of Kenilworth and the Mary River Valley
- University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Kenilworth
- Kenilworth Town Website - Includes visitor and other information for the upper Mary Valley region.