Dysart, Queensland

Geography

Railways

The locality is served by the Goonyella railway network which connects the Bowen Basin coalfields with the coal wharves at Hay Point on the coast. The locality is served by numerous railway stations (from north to south):

• Winchester railway station ()
• Harrow railway station ()
• Saraji Junction railway station ()
• Saraji railway station ()
• Lake Vermont railway station ()
• Dysart railway station ()
• Stephens railway station ()
• Norwich Park Junction railway station ()
• Norwich Park railway station ()

Mountains

The terrain is mountainous, with the following named peaks (from north to south):

• Walkers Peak () 438 m
• Mount Phillips () 681 m
• Mount Walker () 390 m
• Campbell Peak () 430 m
• Lords Table Mountain ()
• Gilberts Dome () 742 m
• Browns Peak () 807 m
• Charleys Peak () 610 m
• Eastern Peak () 610 m
• Mount Dalrymple () 472 m
• Expedition Peak () 430 m

History

Prussian explorer Ludwig Leichhardt explored the region in 1845 being the first European to do so. This included climbing to the summit of nearby Campbell Peak and allegedly building a stone cairn there.

The town of Dysart was established in 1973 to support the Saraji coal mine with the Post Office opening on 8 October 1973. The name Dysart comes from the name of a pastoral run and a parish in the area; it means a retreat for monks and hence solitude in Irish Gaelic.

Dysart State School opened on 21 May 1973. A secondary department was added in 1979, which operated until Dysart State High School opened on 20 September 1980.

The Dysart Library opened in 1982.

According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland in 2011, Dysart had a median rent of $1,200 a week for a house, making it the most expensive in Queensland. In 2012, the median house price in the town was $475,000. The closure of the Norwich Park Mine was expected to bring property prices down. In August 2015, the rental price for a three-bedroom home in Dysart started at $130 a week.

Demographics

In the , the town of Dysart had a population of 3,003 people.

In the , the locality of Dysart had a population of 2,991 people.

In the , the locality of Dysart had a population of 2,918 people.

Economy

Norwich Park coal mine was located 15 km south of the town. It closed on 11 April 2012, after 32 years of operation. Following its closure, its miners were relocated to the Saraji Mine, which is located 26 km north of the town, and has one of the largest coal reserves in Asia and the world. In 2020, the Norwich Park mine reopened under the new name Saraji South.

Education

Dysart State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 4 Garnham Drive (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 347 students with 25 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).

Dysart State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at Edgerley Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 162 students with 17 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).

Sport

Rugby league is a popular sport in Dysart. Dysart junior team is named 'Dysart Bulls' with team colours of red, black, and white. The senior team is also called 'Dysart Bulls' and has about six home games a year. The Bulls were the junior home team of Matt Sing, who played 24 State of Origin Games for Queensland.

Dysart also has a very popular soccer team, the Dysart Devils.

Amenities

The Isaac Regional Council operates a public library located in Shannon Crescent, Dysart.

Facilities

Dysart has the following emergency services:

• Dysart Police Station ()
• Dysart Ambulance Station ()
• Saraji Mine Ambulance Station ()
• Dysart Fire Station ()
• Dysart SES Facility ()
• Dysart Mine Rescue Station ()

Dysart Cemetery is on the eastern edge of the town at 163 Dysart Bypass Road (). It offers lawn burial and a columbarium wall for ashes.

Events

Dysart is home to Norwich Park Mines Day, held to increase the public's knowledge of the mining industry.

Attractions

A monument to the coal and rail industry consisting of a large truck and coal wagon is located at the northern entrance to the town.

References

References

1. {{cite QPN. 10988. Dysart. town in Isaac Region
2. {{cite QPN. 49385. Dysart. locality in Isaac Region
3. (2 October 2020). "Railway stations and sidings – Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
4. {{cite QPN. 36241. Walkers Peak. mountain in Isaac Region
5. {{cite QPN. 26569. Mount Phillips. mountain in Isaac Region
6. {{cite QPN. 36224. Mount Walker. mountain in Isaac Region
7. {{cite QPN. 5980. Campbell Peak. mountain in Isaac Region
8. {{cite QPN. 20085. Lords Table Mountain. mountain in Isaac Region
9. {{cite QPN. 13743. Gilberts Dome. mountain in Isaac Region
10. (12 November 2020). "Mountain peaks and capes – Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
11. {{cite QPN. 4773. Browns Peak. mountain in Isaac Region
12. {{cite QPN. 6915. Charleys Peak. mountain in Isaac Region
13. {{cite QPN. 11114. Eastern Peak. mountain in Isaac Region
14. {{cite QPN. 9250. Mount Dalrymple. mountain in Isaac Region
15. {{cite QPN. 12088. Expedition Peak. mountain in Isaac Region
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22. John McCarthy. (18 April 2011). "Miners pay $90,000 in rent in Queensland towns". News Limited.
23. Kate Bastable. (24 February 2012). "Cashing in and getting out". The Satellite.
24. "Results for properties for rent in Dysart, QLD 4745". [[REA Group]].
25. {{Census 2011 AUS
26. {{Census 2016 AUS
27. {{Census 2021 AUS
28. Larry Schlesinger. (19 April 2012). "Mine closure expected to bring down rents and prices in Dysart, Queensland: Agents". Private Media.
29. Kim Honan. (11 May 2012). "Big Queensland coal mine shuts down". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
30. (2012). "Bowen Basin coal mines". bowenbasin.com.
31. "Saraji East Mining Lease Project Environmental Impact Statement".
32. (9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
33. (2020-02-26). "Dysart State School".
34. "ACARA School Profile 2018". [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].
35. (2022-12-09). "Dysart State High School".
36. "Dysart Library".
37. (18 November 2020). "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
38. (12 November 2020). "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
39. "Dysart Cemetery". Isaac Regional Council.
40. "Dysart". Isaac Regional Council.