Mount Alma, Queensland

"Mount Alma" redirects here. For the mountain in New Zealand, see Two Thumb Range.

Mount Alma is a rural locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Mount Alma had a population of 59 people.^[1]

Mount Alma Queensland
People in a four wheel carriage, Mount Alma Station, 1890s
Mount Alma
Coordinates	24.0905°S 150.8755°E / -24.0905; 150.8755 (Mount Alma (centre of locality))
Population	59 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.0725/km2 (0.1878/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4680
Area	813.5 km2 (314.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	42.7 km (27 mi) W of Calliope 55.4 km (34 mi) NW of Biloela 66.7 km (41 mi) S of Gladstone 123 km (76 mi) S of Rockhampton 549 km (341 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Gladstone Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal division(s)	Flynn
Suburbs around Mount Alma: Ulogie Raglan Bracewell East End Dumgree Mount Alma Wooderson Dumgree Tablelands Diglum

Geography

The locality is bounded by the Mount Alma Range to the north, the Calliope Range to the west and south-west, and the Boyne Range to the south-east.^[3]

The Calliope River rises in the north-west of the locality (23.96086°S 150.69654°E / -23.96086; 150.69654 (Calliope River (source))) flowing south-east towards the centre of the locality and then flows north-east to exit the locality to the east (Wooderson).^[3]

Upper Calliope is a neighbourhood within the north-east of the locality (24.0333°S 150.9666°E / -24.0333; 150.9666 (Upper Calliope (neighbourhood))).^[4]

Mount Alma has the following mountains:

• Cedric Mountain (23.9490°S 150.7133°E / -23.9490; 150.7133 (Cedric Mountain)) 699 metres (2,293 ft)^[5][6]
• Fig Tree Hill (24.0376°S 150.7182°E / -24.0376; 150.7182 (Fig Tree Hill)) 830 metres (2,720 ft)^[5][7]
• Mount Grim (24.0221°S 150.8209°E / -24.0221; 150.8209 (Mount Grim)) 229 metres (751 ft)^[5][8]
• Mount Harper (24.0085°S 150.8871°E / -24.0085; 150.8871 (Mount Harper)) 238 metres (781 ft)^[5][9]
• Mount Redshirt (24.0849°S 150.7316°E / -24.0849; 150.7316 (Mount Redshirt)) 597 metres (1,959 ft)^[5][10]
• Round Mountain (24.1227°S 150.7257°E / -24.1227; 150.7257 (Round Mountain)) 487 metres (1,598 ft)^[5][11]
• The Mole Hill (24.1221°S 150.7476°E / -24.1221; 150.7476 (The Mole Hill)) 207 metres (679 ft)^[5][12]

The Dawson Highway enters the locality from the east (Wooderson) and exits to the south-west (Dumgree).^[3]

The Moura railway line also enters the locality from the east (Wooderson) and exits to the south-west (Dumgree) with the locality being served by:

• Clarke railway station (24.0652°S 150.9127°E / -24.0652; 150.9127 (Clarke railway station))^[13]
• Fry railway station (24.0880°S 150.8216°E / -24.0880; 150.8216 (Fry railway station))^[13]

In the south of the locality are two protected areas:

• Maxwelton State Forest, 1,697 hectares (4,190 acres) at 24.2145°S 150.8600°E / -24.2145; 150.8600 (Maxwelton State Forest)
• northern section of Kroombit Tops National Park at 24.2467°S 150.9118°E / -24.2467; 150.9118 (Kroombit Tops National Park (northern section))

Apart from the protected areas, the predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation with a small area of production forestry in the south-west of the locality.^[3]

History

Calliope Station Provisional School opened in March 1912 as a half time school in conjunction with Mount Redshirt Provisional School (meaning they shared a teacher). In 1917 it became a full time provisional school. On 1 August 1922 it became Calliope Station State School. It closed on 8 July 1956.^[14] It was at 44 Galloway Plains Road (24.0306°S 150.9624°E / -24.0306; 150.9624 (Calliope Station State School (former))).^[15][3]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Mount Alma had a population of 47 people.^[16]

In the 2021 census, Mount Alma had a population of 59 people.^[1]

Economy

There are a number of homesteads in the locality:^[17]

• Bocoolima (24.1783°S 150.9156°E / -24.1783; 150.9156 (Bocoolima (homestead)))
• Colenso (24.0466°S 150.7684°E / -24.0466; 150.7684 (Colenso (homestead)))
• Galloway Plains (24.1204°S 150.9688°E / -24.1204; 150.9688 (Galloway Plains (homestead)))
• Mount Alma (24.0236°S 150.8712°E / -24.0236; 150.8712 (Mount Alma (homestead)))
• Rockfield (24.1162°S 150.8080°E / -24.1162; 150.8080 (Rockfield (homestead)))
• Upper Calliope (24.0251°S 150.9677°E / -24.0251; 150.9677 (Upper Calliope (homestead)))
• Wyalla (24.1229°S 150.7571°E / -24.1229; 150.7571 (Wyalla (homestead)))

Education

There are no schools in Mount Alma. The nearest government primary schools are Mount Larcom State School in Mount Larcom to the north, Calliope State School in Calliope to the east, and Mount Murchison State School in Mount Murchison to the south-west. The nearest government secondary schools are Calliope State High School in Calliope to the east, Gladstone State High School (to Year 12) in South Gladstone to the north-east, and Biloela State High School (to Year 12) in Biloela to the south-west. There are some parts of Mount Alma too distant from these schools; distance education or boarding school are the alternatives.^[3]