Hampden, Queensland
Hampden is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the, Hampden had a population of 598 people.
Geography
The locality is bounded by Constant Creek to the north.The land is mountainous to the south with the mountain Miltons Lookout at above sea level. There is a small section of Mount Martin National Park in the south-west of the locality extending into the neighbouring locality of Devereux Creek. The land then falls towards Constant Creek in the north at an elevation of above sea level.
The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the east, passes through the lower flatter land in the north of the locality then and exits to the north-west. The North Coast railway line also enters the locality from the east and exits to the north-west with Aminungo railway station serving the locality. There are also two abandoned railway stations on the line:
- Mulei railway station
- Parapi railway station
There is also a network of cane tramways through the locality to transport the harvested sugarcane to the sugar mills.
The lower flatter land to the north is used for crops, predominantly growing sugarcane. The higher elevations are used for grazing on native vegetation, while the highest areas are unused.
The Marian–Hampden Road commences at the Bruce Highway in the north of the locality and travels south exiting the locality in the south. In the south of the locality the road passes through is a flat area which is a rural residential area. The cane tramway also travels this route towards the Marian sugar mill.
History
A postal receiving office opened at Hampden on 21 August 1884, became a post office in August 1904 and closed on 14 October 1924.Hampden Provisional School opened on 9 May 1887. On 1 January 1909 it became Hampden State School.
The name Parapi as chosen by the Queensland Railways Department on 18 September 1923. It is an Aboriginal word meaning creek. It was originally called Mount Jukes from 12 January 1917.
The name Mulei was chosen by the Queensland Railways Department on 1 February 1926. It is an Aboriginal word meaning hill.
Demographics
In the, Hampden had a population of 566 people.In the, Hampden had a population of 598 people.
Education
Hampden State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at 2880 Bruce Highway. In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 76 students with 6 teachers and 11 non-teaching staff.There are no secondary schools in Hampden. The nearest government secondary schools are Mirani State High School in Mirani to the south-west and Mackay State High School in South Mackay to the south-east.