Whetstone, Queensland

Whetstone is a rural locality in the Goondiwindi Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Whetstone had a population of 70 people.^[1]

Whetstone Queensland
Whetstone
Coordinates	28.4211°S 150.8486°E / -28.4211; 150.8486 (Whetstone (centre of locality))
Population	70 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.126/km2 (0.327/sq mi)
Established	1877
Postcode(s)	4387
Area	555.1 km2 (214.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	21.2 km (13 mi) WSW of Inglewood 84.4 km (52 mi) W of Goondiwindi 130 km (81 mi) WSW of Warwick 285 km (177 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Goondiwindi Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Suburbs around Whetstone: Wondalli Bybera Bybera Yelarbon Whetstone Inglewood Yelarbon Yelarbon Glenarbon

Geography

The South Western railway line enters the locality from the east (Inglewood) and exits to south-west (Yelarbon) with the locality served by Whetstone railway station (28.4967°S 150.9322°E / -28.4967; 150.9322 (Whetstone railway station)).^[3][4]

The Cunningham Highway also enters the locality from the east (Inglewood) and exits to the south-west (Yelarbon).^[4]

History

Whetstone was opened for selection on 17 April 1877; 59 square miles (150 km²) were available.^[5]

Whetstone Provisional School opened on 19 July 1904 and became Whetstone State School on 1 January 1909. In 1910, it was renamed Inglewood West State School. It suffered from low student numbers and consequently closed and re-opened a number of times, closing finally in 1928.^[6] It was on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) site on the northern side of the Cunningham Highway in Inglewood (28.42613°S 151.02393°E / -28.42613; 151.02393 (Inglewood West State School (former))).^[7][8]

Whetstone Provisional School opened 9 July 1917. In 1926, it became Whetstone State School. It closed on 4 June 1958.^[6][9] It was on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) site on the eastern side of the Cunningham Highway (28.49834°S 150.93459°E / -28.49834; 150.93459 (Whetstone State School (former))).^[10][11][8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Whetstone had a population of 65 people.^[12]

In the 2021 census, Whetstone had a population of 70 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Whetstone. The nearest government primary schools are Yelarbon State School in neighbouring Yelarbon to the south-west and Inglewood State School in neighbouring Inglewood to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Inglewood State School (to Year 10). There are no nearby schools offering education to Year 12. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.^[13]