Gilbert River, Queensland


Gilbert River is an outback rural locality in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. In the, Gilbert River had a population of 32 people.

Geography

The locality is roughly bounded to the south by the Gregory Range which extends into neighbouring Croydon, Esmeralda and Northhead and beyond.
Gilbert River has the following mountains:
The Gilbert River from which the locality derives its name enters the locality from the east and exits to the north, ultimately flowing into the Gulf of Carpentaria to the north.
The Gulf Developmental Road enters the locality from the east, crosses the Gilbert River on A. J. Bond Bridge, and exits to the west. The Richmond–Croydon Road enters the locality from the south-west and exits to the west.
The western part of the locality is a protected area being within the Littleton National Park and the Littleton Resources Reserve. The remainder of the land is used for grazing on native vegetation with a small amount of pasture around the Gilbert River.

History

Jangga, also known as Yangga, is a language of Central Queensland. The Jangga language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Etheridge Shire Council.
The locality takes its name from the Gilbert River which flows through the locality.
Gilbert River Provisional School opened on 8 May 1899. On 1 January 1909 it became Gilbert River State School. It closed in 1923. It reopened in 1954 and then closed in 1961.

Demographics

In the, Gilbert River had a population of 38 people.
In the, Gilbert River had a population of 32 people.

Economy

There are a number of homesteads in the locality, including:

Education

There are no schools in Gilbert River. The nearest government secondary school is Croydon State School in neighbouring Croydon to the west, but it would be too distant for a daily commute for students living in the eastern parts of Gilbert River. Also, there are no secondary schools nearby. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.

Transport

Littleton Airstrip is an airstrip just inside the national park and immediately south of the Inorunie homestead.