Elphinstone, Queensland (Isaac Region)

Not to be confused with Elphinstone, Queensland (Toowoomba Region).

Elphinstone is a rural locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Elphinstone had a population of 9 people.^[1]

Elphinstone Queensland
Elphinstone
Coordinates	21.4797°S 148.1849°E / -21.4797; 148.1849 (Elphinstone (centre of locality))
Population	9 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.0431/km2 (0.112/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4742
Area	208.8 km2 (80.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Isaac Region
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Elphinstone: Glenden Glenden Hail Creek Burton Elphinstone Kemmis Burton Burton Kemmis

Geography

The Suttor Developmental Road enters the locality from the east (Kemmis) and exits to the west (Burton).^[3]

Isaac River rises in the north of the locality and flows south-west, exiting to the west (Burton).^[4] Anna Creek rises in he centre of the locality and flows south into Lake Elphinstone (21.5317°S 148.2344°E / -21.5317; 148.2344 (Lake Elphinstone)),^[5][6][4] which supplied the water for the now-abandoned town of Elphinstone (21.5137°S 148.2457°E / -21.5137; 148.2457 (Elphinstone (former town))).^[7][8][9]

Elphinstone has the following mountains and valleys (from north to south):

• Mount Ewan in the north of the locality (21.4435°S 148.1730°E / -21.4435; 148.1730 (Mount Ewan)), rising to 468 metres (1,535 ft) above sea level^[10][11]
• Plum Duff in the north of the locality (21.4619°S 148.1964°E / -21.4619; 148.1964 (Plum Duff)), 365 metres (1,198 ft)^[10][12]
• Leichhardt Gorge in the north-west of the locality (21.4945°S 148.1706°E / -21.4945; 148.1706 (Leichhardt Gorge))^[10]

The land use is grazing on native vegetation.^[13]

History

The locality was named after explorer George Elphinstone Dalrymple, the leader of the 1859 and 1860 overland settlement expeditions to Port Denison from Rockhampton.^[2]

In 1859, Philip Sellheim reported finding Lake Elphinstone, which he called Lake Emilia after his sister. It was also called Lake Barton by W.H. Gaden, but it was ultimately named Lake Elphinstone after the explorer.^[14]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Elphinstone had a population of 6 people.^[15]

In the 2021 census, Elphinstone had a population of 9 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Elphinstone. The nearest government primary and secondary school is Glenden State School (Prep–12) in neighbouring Glenden to the north.^[16]