Nicholson, Queensland

Nicholson is a coastal outback locality in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia. It is on the border with the Northern Territory. In the, Nicholson had a population of 32 people.

Geography

The Gulf of Carpentaria forms northern and north-eastern boundaries of the locality, separated by the coastal locality of Gangalidda. The Nicholson River enters from the south-west and then forms parts of the southern boundary before re-entering the locality to discharge into the Gulf.
National Highway 1 enters the locality from the south before turning north-west to run through the locality, exiting to the Northern Territory. This section of the highway is also part of the Savannah Way, a tourist route.
There is a small part of the Boodjamulla National Park in the south-west of the locality. Apart from this protected area, the land use is grazing on native vegetation. The land close to the close of the Gulf of Carpentaria is marshland, mostly mangrove swamps.

Hells Gate Roadhouse is a tourist stop on the Savannah Way, 80 km from Doomadgee and 50 km from the Northern Territory border on the Cliffdale cattle station. It opened on 5 April 1986. The name refers to a gap in the nearby escarpment where the road passes through.

In the, Nicholson had "no people or a very low population".
In the, Nicholson had a population of 32 people.

Nicholson has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

There are no schools in Nicholson. The nearest government schools are Burketown State School in neighbouring Burketown to the east and Doomadgee State School in neighbouring Doomadgee to the south. However, these schools are too distant from many parts of Nicholson for a daily commute. Nor are there any schools nearby providing education to Year 12. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.

The Hells Gate Roadhouse provides fuel, meals, and a range of accommodation from camp sites to motel rooms. Scenic helicopter flights are available.

Hells Gate airstrip has one runway of length. It is across the road form the Hells Gate roadhouse.