Athol, Queensland

Athol is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Athol had a population of 139 people.^[1]

Athol Toowoomba Region, Queensland
Fields along Biddeston Southbrook Road, 2014
Athol
Coordinates	27.6194°S 151.7702°E / -27.6194; 151.7702
Population	139 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	5.245/km2 (13.59/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4350
Area	26.5 km2 (10.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	16.5 km (10 mi) SW of Harristown 19.6 km (12 mi) NE of Pittsworth 20.5 km (13 mi) WSW of Toowoomba CBD 155 km (96 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Condamine
Federal division(s)	Groom
Suburbs around Athol: Biddeston Biddeston Westbrook Biddeston Athol Westbrook Southbrook Umbiram Wyreema

Geography

The Gore Highway passes through Athol, with an intersection of the following road segments in the locality. To the north-east the Gore Highway is now part of the Toowoomba Bypass, while to the east is the former Gore Highway alignment, now known as the Toowoomba Athol Road (A139). To the south-west is the unchanged portion of the Gore Highway.^[3]

History

Westbrook Provisional School opened on 25 July 1887. In 1903, it was renamed Athol Provisional School and became Athol State School on 1 October 1910. It closed on 20 July 1962.^[4][5] It was located on the north-east corner of Athol School Road and Berghofer Road (27.6043°S 151.7504°E / -27.6043; 151.7504 (Athol State School (former))).^[6][7]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Athol had a population of 277 people.^[8]

In the 2016 census, Athol had a population of 134 people.^[9]

In the 2021 census, Athol had a population of 139 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Athol. The nearest government primary schools are Biddeston State School in neighbouring Biddeston to the north-west, Westbrook State School in neighbouring Westbrook to the east, and Wyreema State School in neighbouring Wyreema to the south-east. The nearest government secondary schools are Pittsworth State High School in Pittsworth to the south-west and Harristown State High School in Harristown to the north-east.^[10]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Athol (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Athol – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 47885)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
3. Queensland Treasury and Trade (28 January 2014). "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing - Project Fact Sheet" (PDF). Projects Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
4. "Agency ID 6098, Athol State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
5. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
6. "Parish of Westbrook sheet 1" (Map). Queensland Government. 1932. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
7. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Athol". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Athol (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
10. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2024.

Further reading

• Newton, Harold (1998), Accent on Athol, Harold Newton, retrieved 21 May 2014
• Shaw, Richard; Shaw, Elizabeth; Bunker's Hill State School Centenary Committee (1999), Bunkers Hill State School Centenary 1899-1999 : incorporating histories of Athol State School 1887-1962, Westbrook State School 1910-1969, Couper Memorial School 1946-1948, Westbrook Training Centre 1900-1994, Bunker's Hill State School Centenary Committee, ISBN 978-0-646-37037-8