Homestead, Queensland

Homestead is a rural town and locality in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Homestead had a population of 38 people.^[1]

Homestead Queensland
Homestead State School, 2025
Homestead
Coordinates	20.3616°S 145.6580°E / -20.3616; 145.6580 (Homestead (town centre))
Population	38 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.0288/km2 (0.0745/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4816
Area	1,321.7 km2 (510.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Charters Towers Region
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Homestead: Basalt Basalt Basalt Pentland Homestead Campaspe Pentland Pentland Campaspe

Geography

The Flinders Highway traverses from east to south-west through the locality, passing through the town which is located in the east of the locality. The Great Northern railway line follows a similar route parallel and immediately south of the highway with the Homestead railway station servicing the town.^[4][5]

History

Homestead State School, circa 1925

In 1883, gold was discovered to the north of the town but it was not regarded as an important discovery and it was mined sporadically over the next 50 years.^[6][7]

The town of Homestead was surveyed by C.A.S Andrews on 23 December 1905. It takes its name from the Homestead Station pastoral run owned by pastoralist W.D. Stewart; it was later known as Allandale Station.^[2]

Homestead Provisional School opened on 31 October 1893 or 6 November 1893 under headmaster Ambrose J. George with nine boys and elevan girls. It became Homestead State School on 1 January 1909.^[8][9][10]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Homestead had a population of 48 people.^[11]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Homestead had a population of 38 people.^[1]

Education

Homestead State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls on 6 Home Street (also known as the Flinders Highway, 20.3607°S 145.6573°E / -20.3607; 145.6573 (Homestead State School)).^[12][13] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 8 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).^[14] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 8 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).^[15] In 2024, the school had an enrolment of 2 students.^[15]