Kilcoy, Queensland

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Kilcoy | state = qld | image = William Butler Memorial Clock, Main Street, Kilcoy, Somerset, Queensland.JPG | caption = Main Street, Kilcoy | coordinates = {{coord|-26.9430|152.5652|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Kilcoy (town centre)}} | local_map = yes | zoom = 12 | pop = 1996 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name=Census2021/> | established = | postcode = 4515 | area = 3.3 | timezone = AEST | utc = +10:00 | dist1 = 49.2 <!-- road distances as per template instructions --> | dir1 = WNW | location1 = Caboolture | dist2 = 51.6 | dir2 = NE | location2 = Esk | dist3 = 97.4 | dir3 = NW | location3 = Brisbane CBD | lga = Somerset Region | stategov = Nanango | fedgov = Blair | near-n = Sheep Station Creek<br/>Winya | near-ne = Winya | near-e = Winya | near-se = Winya | near-s = Woolmar | near-sw = Woolmar | near-w = Woolmar | near-nw = Sheep Station Creek }} {{GeoGroup}} '''Kilcoy''' is a rural town and locality in the Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>{{cite QPN|18096|Kilcoy|town in Somerset Region|access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=qpnl>{{cite QPN|47780|Kilcoy|locality in Somerset Region|access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,996 people.<ref name=Census2021/>

== Geography == The township is on the D'Aguilar Highway, {{convert|94|km}} north west of the state capital, Brisbane, and just to the north of Lake Somerset.

=== Climate === Rainfall in January 2013, another year of floods was {{convert|364.4|mm|in}}.<ref>[http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=139&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=040110 Monthly rainfall: Kilcoy Post Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924045323/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=139&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=040110 |date=24 September 2015 }}. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 July 2015.</ref>

== History ==

=== Aboriginal history === The Aboriginal people of the Brisbane River Valley and Kilcoy region are the Jinibara People, traditionally a nation of five clans: the Dungidau centred in the Kilcoy region and the junction of the Stanley and Brisbane Rivers; the Dala or Dallumbara clan inhabiting the Conondale Range west to the Brisbane River; the Gurumngar around the southern end of the D’Aguilar Range; the Nalbo along the Maleny-Mapleton escarpment and the Dungibara on the Upper Brisbane River.<ref>Langevad, G. (ed.) (1983). Some Original Views around Kilcoy. Book I. The Aboriginal Perspectives; Book II: Queensland Ethnohistorical Transcripts Vol. 1, Brisbane: Gerry Langevad.</ref><ref>Winterbotham, L. P., 1957. The Gaiarbau Story: Some native customs and beliefs of the Jinibara tribe as well as those of some of their neighbours in south-east Queensland, Brisbane: Archaeology Branch, Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement.</ref>

''Duungidjawu (''also known as ''Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi)'' is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Duungidjawu country. The Duungidjawu language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Somerset Region and City of Moreton Bay, particularly the towns of Caboolture, Kilcoy, Woodford and Moore''.''<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/8|title=Duungidjawu|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>

Kilcoy was the heartland of the Jinibara People and the name comes from a patch of lawyer cane (jini) on Mount Kilcoy;<ref>Steele, J. G., 1984. Aboriginal Pathways in Southeast Queensland and the Richmond River, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.</ref> 'bara' means' people' or 'folk'; thus Jinibara are the 'People of the Lawyer cane'. Kilcoy was known as Bumgur, meaning the 'blue cod'.<ref>Gaiarbau cited in Winterbotham 1957</ref>

The Kilcoy region is a rich Aboriginal cultural landscape. Mount Archer was known as Buruja, and also the name of a wetland near Villeneuve that was one of the main camps of the Dungidau clan. Bora rings existed at 'Wellcourt' on Somerset Dam and at Sandy Creek east of Kilcoy, Oaky Creek and Waraba Creek.<ref>Turnstone Archaeology, (2009). Southeast Queensland Archaeological and Cultural Site Location Data base, Sandstone Point: Turnstone Archaeology.</ref>

The junction of the Brisbane and Stanley Rivers was known as Gunundjin, meaning a 'hollow place', and a sacred place, called Gairnbee Rock, recalled a dreaming story of a girl who went swimming there and was turned by her father, a gundir (clever man) by magic into a rock to save her from a dangerous evil spirit.<ref name="Winterbotham, 1957">Winterbotham, 1957</ref> The Stanley River was also called Gairnbee, meaning the water gum.<ref>Steele 1984</ref>

=== British colonisation === thumb|left|Kilcoy Post Office, 2015 thumb|upright|Sir Evan Mackenzie In 1841, brothers Evan<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |last= Gibbney |first= H. J. |year= 1974 |volume= 5 |id2 = mackenzie-sir-evan-4108/text6567 |title= Mackenzie, Sir Evan (1816–1883) |access-date= 1 April 2016 }}</ref> and Colin Mackenzie, of Kilcoy Castle, Newtown Scotland, took up land west of Durundur (in the Stanley River valley) and began grazing sheep soon after land was opened to free settlement.<ref name="ReferenceA">Pioneers of the Kilcoy District Volume 1 Published 2002 by KDHS</ref> They named it after their home town.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36799500|title=NOMENCLATURE OF QUEENSLAND.— 164|publisher=The Courier-Mail|page=14|date=8 April 1936|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222010624/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36799500|url-status=live}}</ref> They sold the property to Charles A. Atherton in 1849.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230391789 |title=TRANSFERS OF RUNS. |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=111 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 August 1849 |accessdate=21 December 2021 |page=1164 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> Atherton in turn sold it to Captain Louis Hope and John Ramsay in 1854.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229760904 |title=Government Gazette Notices |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=122 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 September 1854 |accessdate=21 December 2021 |page=2082 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222010742/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229760904 |url-status=live }}</ref> The partnership broke up ten years later, and Hope became sole owner and built the Kilcoy Station homestead of bricks, made on the property, and red cedar. Station managers for Captain Hope were Bryant about 1860, Captain Talbot, 1864 and William Butler from 1871 until the sale, where he purchased the homestead block.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Hopetoun Post Office opened on 1 December 1892 (a Kilcoy receiving office had been open from 1889) and was renamed Kilcoy in 1907.<ref name="Post Office">{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&country= | access-date = 10 May 2014 | archive-date = 15 May 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140515223132/http://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD& | url-status = live }}</ref>

==== Massacre of Aboriginal people ==== {{see also|Mass poisonings of Aboriginal Australians}}

In 1842 on the outskirts of Kilcoy Station owned by MacKenzie, 30–60 aborigines of the Gubbi Gubbi tribe, two Djindubari and some men from the Dalla tribe<ref>{{Cite book | title = Old Moreton Bay tribes; their languages | last = Meston | first = Archibald | author-link = Archibald Meston | date = 20 October 1923 | publisher = Brisbane Courier | pages = 18 | url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20641705 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023555/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20641705 | archive-date = 16 March 2018 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> died from eating flour that settlers had laced with strychnine or arsenic.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drake |first=Jack |title=Queensland's frontier wars |publisher=Boolarong Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-1925877922 |pages=37–39}}</ref><ref name="Evans 2007">{{Cite book|title=A History of Queensland|last=Evans|first=Raymond|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2007|page=54|isbn=978-0-521-87692-6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Leichhardt and the Aboriginal War {{!}} Leichhardt: A Scientist in a Strange Land|url = http://www.leichhardt.qm.qld.gov.au/The+Exhibition/Sydney+to+Moreton+Bay/Leichhardt+and+the+Aboriginal+War#.VZNRjhuqqko|website = www.leichhardt.qm.qld.gov.au|access-date = 1 July 2015|archive-date = 27 February 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150227182956/http://www.leichhardt.qm.qld.gov.au/The%20Exhibition/Sydney%20to%20Moreton%20Bay/Leichhardt%20and%20the%20Aboriginal%20War#.VZNRjhuqqko|url-status = live}}</ref> News of this massacre was shared among Aboriginal people attending the Bunya Festival nearby.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=Raymond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G60Cgsnzc7AC&pg=PA54 |title=A History of Queensland |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-521-87692-6}} pp. 54-55</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reserve Bank of Australia |title=Collection Spotlight {{!}} Blood Money {{!}} Reserve Bank of Australia Museum |url=https://museum.rba.gov.au/exhibitions/collection-spotlight/blood-money.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=museum.rba.gov.au |language=en-au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kerkhove |first=Raymond Constant |date=2014 |title=Aboriginal 'resistance war' tactics – 'The Black War' of southern Queensland |url=https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/4218 |journal=Cosmopolitan Civil Societies |language=en |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=38–62 |doi=10.5130/ccs.v6i3.4218 |issn=1837-5391}}</ref> In his memoirs, Thomas Petrie recalled being told of the massacre by Aboriginal people at "''one of the "bon-yi" feasts he attended."''<ref>{{cite news |last=Meston |first=A. |date=6 October 1923 |title=The Bunya Feast. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20633974 |accessdate=7 June 2025 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=20,501}}</ref> Inter-tribal meetings were held and Old Moppy was instrumental in forging an alliance among the groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spearim |first=Boe |date=2022-06-07 |title=The Unknown Warriors of the Frontier Wars |url=https://www.commonground.org.au/article/the-unknown-warriors-of-the-frontier-wars |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=Common Ground |language=en}}</ref>

News of the massacre at Kilcoy reached Sydney in December 1842, when an extract of a German missionary's journal describing an expedition to the Bunya Country was published in ''The Colonial Observer''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=W. |date=1842-12-03 |title=GERMAN MISSION TO THE ABORIGINES AT MORETON BAY. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226361391 |work=The Colonial Observer |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=W. |date=1842-12-07 |title=GERMAN MISSION TO THE ABORIGINES AT MORETON BAY. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226360360 |work=The Colonial Observer |pages=662}}</ref> During the expedition the missionaries and the Aboriginal people accompanying them discovered that ''"a large number of natives, (about 50 or 60) having been poisoned at one of the squatter's stations."''<ref>{{Cite news |date=1842-12-05 |title=Something that must be enquired into. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12426931 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Saunders |first=John |date=1842-12-07 |title=Original Correspondence: "Something that must be enquired into." |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28651129 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |pages=2}}</ref><ref>Ford, R. (2007). God’s harvest: a social and agricultural history of the German mission to the aboriginal people of Moreton Bay [University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland]. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.25907/00404</nowiki></ref>

Dr Stephen Simpson was appointed Commissioner for Crown Lands at Moreton Bay in May 1842. Allegations of the massacre on the Mackenzie Brothers' Kilcoy station were brought to his attention soon after his appointment. He attempted to investigate these allegations during a northern expedition in March - April 1843 which included interviewing some Aboriginal people.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gaiarbau |title=Some original views around Kilcoy. Book 1, Aboriginal perspective. |last2=Langevad |first2=G. |last3=Winterbotham |first3=Lindsey Page |publisher=Archaeology Branch, Queensland |year=1982 |isbn=0724210121 |location=Brisbane |pages=21–107}}</ref>

In May 1861, evidence about the massacre was presented during the hearings of the ''Select Committee on the Native Police Force.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Queensland. Parliament. Legislative Assembly. Select Committee on Native Police Force and the Condition of the Aborigines Generally. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52862431 |title=Report from the Select Committee on the Native Police Force and the Condition of the Aborigines Generally together with the proceedings of the Committee and minutes of evidence |publisher=Fairfax and Belbridge |year=1861}}</ref>

=== Establishment of township === In 1877, {{Convert|2240|acres||abbr=}} were resumed from the Kilcoy pastoral run and offered for selection on 19 April 1877.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1361846|title=Proclamations under the New Land Acts.|date=2 March 1877|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|access-date=19 February 2020|location=Queensland, Australia|page=3|via=Trove|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827084837/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1361846|url-status=live}}</ref>thumb|Bullock team hauling timber in the Kilcoy district, ca. 1912 Timber milling operations were established as early as 1877, with Frank Nicholson building at Villeneuve, followed by James Green (1888), Hancock Brothers (1897), George Seeney and William and Stan Kropp in the same vicinity.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The turn of the century saw a huge increase in activity as Hancock & Gore timber mill began operation.<ref name="auto"/>

The site of the 'Town of Kilcoy' was surveyed by W. E. Hill by April 1888, and the first land sale was on 6 November that year.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The township quickly developed at the junction of Sheep Station and Kilcoy Creeks to service these settlers and their families.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

By the 1890s, the only original lease country left was in the Mt Kilcoy and Sandy Creek districts, part of Durundur Station. This country was not opened for settlement until 1902.<ref name="ReferenceC">Kilcoy District Historical Society records</ref>

Kilcoy's first Provisional School was opened in 1884 at Sheep Station Creek, some five to six miles north of Kilcoy Homestead, the name changing to Sheep Station Creek Provisional School in 1892 when the Kilcoy School opened its doors in Hope Street in Kilcoy.<ref name="ReferenceC" /><ref>{{Cite QldSchool|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> At that time there were still no subdivisions north of William Street as that was part of Kilcoy Station which was sold up in 1907.<ref name="auto">Pioneers of the Kilcoy District Volume 2 Published 2002 by KDHS</ref>

St Mary's Anglican Church was built in 1887. The timber church could seat 120 people.<ref name="QRPD-36712">{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Thom |title=St Mary's Anglican Church |url=https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=3671 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Queensland Religious Places |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430074037/https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=3671 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A postal receiving office was established in 1889. On 1 December 1892, the Hopetoun Post Office was opened at Kilcoy in rented premises in Royston Street. It was named after Louis Hope (the uncle of the first Governor General of Australia, Lord Hopetoun, who was a visitor to Kilcoy Station).<ref name="ReferenceB">''Pioneers of the Kilcoy District volume 2. 1900 to 1920''. Published 2002 by KDHS</ref> The township was referred to unofficially as Hopetoun.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

Kilcoy Township Provisional School opened on 15 August 1892. In 1893, it was renamed Kilcoy Provisional School. In 1898, it was renamed Hopetoun Provisional School. In 1907, it became Hopetoun State School. In 1914, it was renamed Kilcoy State School.<ref name="qfhs">{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}</ref>

Brighton Hills Provisional School opened circa November 1904 and closed circa July 1918. It was described as "via Kilcoy".<ref name="qfhs" />

=== 20th century === Kilcoy Methodist Church was built from timber by Mr C. Festers.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 1905 |title=HOPETOUN. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19305307 |accessdate=26 April 2024 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LXII |issue=14,824 |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430073849/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19305307 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was opened on Saturday 14 October 1905 by the Reverend William Henry Harrison, President of the Methodist Conference.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 October 1905 |title=RELIGIOUS. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19414399 |accessdate=26 April 2024 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LXII |issue=14,901}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 October 1905 |title=COUNTRY NEWS. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19414771 |accessdate=26 April 2024 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=LXII |issue=14,903 |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430073948/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19414771 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1977, following the amalgamation of the Methodist Church into the Uniting Church in Australia, it became the Kilcoy Uniting Church. It closed on 28 February 2021. It was on a {{Convert|0.5|acre|adj=on}} site at 74 William Street ({{Coord|-26.94314|152.55991|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy Methodist/Uniting Church (former)}}).<ref name="QRPD-3676">{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Thom |title=Kilcoy Methodist Church |url=https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=3676 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Queensland Religious Places |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430073834/https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=3676 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Uniting Church - Former |url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/2120-kilcoy-uniting-church-former |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Churches Australia |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430073836/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/uniting-church-in-australia/directory/2120-kilcoy-uniting-church-former |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Uniting Church |url=https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312193544/https://ucaqld.com.au/find-a-church/ |archive-date=12 March 2018 |access-date=7 August 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-26.9435348,152.5600595,3a,15y,337.38h,89.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXnQhkVUDp1z2HCP8qOxAWg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu|title=Kilcoy Methodist/Uniting Church|access-date=26 April 2024|date=April 2014}}</ref>thumb|Kilcoy District Memorial Hall, 1923 In 1908, the post office name was changed from Hopetoun to Kilcoy, to avoid incorrect mail distribution to other towns of the same name in Victoria and Western Australia.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="Post Office" />

St Michael's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1911 from timber. It was extended in 1914.<ref name="QRPD-712">{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Thom |title=St Michael's Catholic Church |url=https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=71 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Queensland Religious Places |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430074037/https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=71 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1912, the Shire of Kilcoy was formed, and the area became independent from the Caboolture Shire.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref>"Pioneers of the Kilcoy District volume 1. 1900 to 1920''. Published 2002 by KDHS''</ref>

The post office in Kennedy Street opened in 1913.<ref name="ReferenceB" />[[File:Kilcoy Railway 1939.jpg|thumb|Kilcoy railway in 1939]] The establishment of the Kilcoy railway line in 1913 created a surge in the timber industry with more mills opening near Kilcoy (Bert Woodrow – c. 1916; Thurecht Brothers – c. 1918, George Payne – c. 1919) and at Louisavale (1912), Monsildale (1912) and Yednia (early 1900s).<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

The rural areas within a relatively small radius of Kilcoy township catering for the settlers laboring in the industries of dairy, cattle and timber were flourishing with cultural activity and those early years around the turn of the century witnessed small schools spring up in West Vale (1887–1910), Villeneuve (1902–1960), Hazeldean (Stanley River, 1898–1973), Gregors Creek (1896–1963), Woolmar (1894–1941), Louisavale (1915–1940), Monsildale (1913–1922 and 1941–1961), Jimna (1923–2006), Yednia (1911–1946), Sheep Station Creek (1884–1942), Somerset at upper Mount Kilcoy (1915–1943), Mount Kilcoy (1909) and Sandy Creek (Winya, 1918–1960).<ref name="ReferenceC" />thumb|Somerset Dam during construction, July 1938 Somerset Dam was constructed between 1935 and 1959 with suspension of construction during the Second World War. The dam is situated on the Stanley River approximately {{convert|220|km|mi}} upstream from the mouth of the Brisbane River. Construction of the Somerset Dam created many jobs, one of the project's intentions as it commence during the Great Depression.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wiseman |first=Neil |date=12 June 2011 |title=The way we were: Building Somerset Dam |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/the-way-we-were-building-somerset-dam/news-story/a26bcbd9bfa04acfcc14a79ffea0a439 |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=The Sunday Mail}}</ref>

In 1953, the Kilcoy Pastoral Company established an abattoir in the town.<ref>''Pioneers of the Kilcoy District volume 3. 1920 to 1950'', Published Kilcoy District Historical Society 2007</ref>

The Jinibara people were granted Native Title by the Federal Court of Australia in 2012.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} The application used a series of tape recordings made in the 1950s of Aboriginal man, Gaiarbau, (also known as Willie MacKenzie) that provided detailed understandings of Aboriginal culture in southeast Queensland.<ref name="Winterbotham, 1957" /> Gaiabau was born at Kilcoy in the 1870s and died in a Salvation Army Home in Brisbane and was buried on 24 June 1968 in Mt Gravatt Cemetery.<ref>Langevad 1983.</ref>

In the 1960s, road transport ensured the demise of the railway line (1964) and the old Kilcoy railway yard was converted many years later into a park known as Yowie Park.<ref name="ReferenceC" />

In January 1963, a secondary department was added to Kilcoy State School. On 1 January 1972 Kilcoy State High School opened, replacing the secondary department at Kilcoy State School.<ref name="qfhs" />

=== 21st century === Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church was built from timber in 2000.<ref name="QRPD-36732">{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Thom |title=Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church |url=https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=3673 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Queensland Religious Places |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430074102/https://www.qldreligiousplaces.net.au/View.php?id=3673 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The current Kilcoy library opened in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2017|title=Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016–17|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|archive-date=30 January 2018|access-date=30 January 2018|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=State Library of Queensland|page=15}}</ref>

A sand mining operation was proposed for the town in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hammond |first=John |date=29 November 2011 |title=Sandmining concern |url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/11/29/sandmining-concern/ |access-date=23 February 2024 |work=Sunshine Coast Daily |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222010619/https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast?nk=15554aed04c843dca97cc984c0df5ce6-1640135179 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Circa 2018, the Uniting Church building was used for services by the Kilcoy United Pentecostal Church and the Kilcoy Seventh Day Adventist Church. As at 2024, neither congregation appears to be active in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pentecostals of Kilcoy |url=https://www.upca.org.au/kilcoy.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807094456/https://www.upca.org.au/kilcoy.html |archive-date=7 August 2018 |access-date=7 August 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Adventist Church |url=http://kilcoy.adventist.org.au/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807094124/http://kilcoy.adventist.org.au/ |archive-date=7 August 2018 |access-date=24 October 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Demographics == In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,714 people.<ref name="Census2011">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC30877|name=Kilcoy (SSC)|accessdate=26 April 2024|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,898 people.<ref name=Census2016>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31542|name=Kilcoy (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Kilcoy had a population of 1,996 people.<ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31527|name=Kilcoy (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>

== Heritage listings == Kilcoy has a number of heritage-listed sites, including Kilcoy Homestead on Kilcoy-Murgon Road.<ref>{{cite QHR|15413|Kilcoy Homestead|600638|access-date=12 July 2013}}</ref>

== Education == thumb|Kilcoy State School, 2022 Kilcoy State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 47 Royston Street ({{coord|-26.9456|152.5618|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy State School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{cite web|date=9 July 2018|title=State and non-state school details|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|url-status=live|access-date=21 November 2018|publisher=Queensland Government|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archivedate=21 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Kilcoy State School |url=https://kilcoyss.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Kilcoy State School |language=en |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509062845/https://kilcoyss.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 304 students with 28 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018">{{cite web|title=ACARA School Profile 2018|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|access-date=28 January 2020|publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|url-status=live}}</ref> thumb|Kilcoy State High School, 2022 Kilcoy State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls in Seib Street ({{coord|-26.9397|152.5672|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy State High School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-27|title=Kilcoy State High School|url=https://kilcoyshs.eq.edu.au/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Kilcoy State High School|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609003441/https://kilcoyshs.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 405 students with 39 teachers (36 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (18 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018" /> It includes a special education program.<ref name="SchoolList2018" />

== Amenities == The Somerset Regional Council operates a public library at 15 Kennedy Street ({{Coord|-26.94117|152.56390|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy public library}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/somerset/kilcoy_library|title=Kilcoy Library|date=3 February 2016|website=Public Libraries Connect|access-date=19 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120657/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/somerset/kilcoy_library|archive-date=19 January 2018}}</ref>

The Kilcoy branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall at 33 Rose Street ({{Coord|-26.94362|152.56263|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy QCWA Hall}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|title=Branch Locations|publisher=Queensland Country Women's Association|access-date=26 December 2018|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are a number of parks in the area:

* Anzac Park ({{coord|-26.9415|152.5682|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Anzac Park}})<ref name="PublicRecreation">{{Cite web |date=20 November 2020 |title=Land for public recreation - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122211519/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |access-date=22 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref> * Aston Park ({{coord|-26.9448|152.5681|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Aston Park}})<ref name="PublicRecreation" /> * Kennedy Park ({{coord|-26.9424|152.5634|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kennedy Park}})<ref name="PublicRecreation" />

== Churches == There are a number of churches in Kilcoy, including:

* St Mary's Anglican Church, 67 William Street Service Road ({{coord|-26.943977|152.56|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=St Mary's Anglican Church}})<ref name="QRPD-36712"/> * St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, 28 Kennedy Street ({{coord|-26.940329|152.564|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=St Michael's Catholic Church}})<ref name="QRPD-712"/> * Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church, part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia, 30 McCauley Street ({{Coord|-26.9407|152.5634|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church}})<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church |url=https://wesleyan.org.au/churches/kilcoy-wmc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824221248/https://wesleyan.org.au/churches/kilcoy-wmc/ |archive-date=24 August 2021 |access-date=2021-08-24 |website=Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Wesleyan Methodist Church. |url=http://kilcoy.wesleyan.org.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807094248/http://kilcoy.wesleyan.org.au/ |archive-date=7 August 2018 |access-date=24 October 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=South Queensland|url=https://wesleyan.org.au/south-qld/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821020136/https://wesleyan.org.au/south-qld/|archive-date=21 August 2021|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name="QRPD-36732"/>

The local Stanley River Roman Catholic parish has a strong ecumenical focus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stanleyriver.org/ecumenical-events.html|title=Stanley River Catholic Church|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727063033/http://www.stanleyriver.org/ecumenical-events.html|archive-date=27 July 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Saint Mary's Anglican Church is notable for its liberalism and gay-friendly Anglo-Catholic churchmanship. It maintains a close relationship with the Roman Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite news|title=Church profile|date=17 June 2014|author=Somerset Sentinel|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The parish's last two priests have been females and one trainee minister has been gay. Under one of these priests, the church has adopted Progressive Christianity and Jesuit spirituality.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 December 2023|author=Somerset Sentinel|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Attractions == The Kilcoy District Historical Society operates the Hall of History at 39 Hope Street in Yowie Park ({{Coord|-26.94750|152.56373|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Hall of History}}). The hall contains documents, photos, and artifacts from the district's history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Hall of History |url=https://experiencesomerset.com.au/listing/kilcoy-hall-of-history/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Experience Somerset |language=en-US |archive-date=22 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322061903/https://experiencesomerset.com.au/listing/kilcoy-hall-of-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

A history trail has been established to tour past the historical buildings in the town. The trail guide is available from the Hall of History.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Buildings of Kilcoy - History Trail Signs of Kilcoy |url=https://nationaltrustqld.org.au/whats-on/historical-buildings-kilcoy-history-trail-signs-kilcoy |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=National Trust of Australia (Queensland) |language=en |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323055028/https://nationaltrustqld.org.au/whats-on/historical-buildings-kilcoy-history-trail-signs-kilcoy |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre is at 41 Hope Street ({{Coord|-26.94776|152.56322|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre |url=https://www.queensland.com/au/en/plan-your-holiday/information-services/p-56b26567aeeeaaf773cf82bd-kilcoy-visitor-information-centre |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Tourism & Events Queensland |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707161416/https://www.queensland.com/au/en/plan-your-holiday/information-services/p-56b26567aeeeaaf773cf82bd-kilcoy-visitor-information-centre |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Notable residents == * Merri Rose – politician (Labor Party) * Robert Copeland – Australian rules footballer, Brisbane Lions dual-premiership player<ref name="QLD Hall of Fame">[https://www.aflq.com.au/2023-queensland-football-hall-of-fame-robert-copeland/ 2023 Queensland Football Hall of Fame – Robert Copeland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229070359/https://www.aflq.com.au/2023-queensland-football-hall-of-fame-robert-copeland/ |date=29 December 2024 }} 14 September 2023</ref> * Rebel Morrow – Olympic equestrian who represented Australia at the '''2004 Athens Olympics''' in '''eventing''', placing '''11th individually''' and '''winning team bronze'''. Morrow was born in Kilcoy and began riding at a young age in the local region. * Arthur Butler (historian) – Born at Kilcoy, 1872. Kilcoy's first doctor 1899.<ref>The Brisbane Courier, 1 November 1899 page 7</ref> Awarded the Distinguished Service Order for heroism at Gallipoli. Commander of the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance during battles of Bullecourt and Passchendaele. Author of the official three volume history of the Australian medical service in World War 1.<ref>Gurner, C.M. "Biography: Butler, Arthur Graham (1872–1949)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 4 Aug 2025</ref>

== See also == {{portal|Queensland}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{Citation | author1=Lergessner, James G | title=Death Pudding: The Kilcoy Massacre | year=2007 | publication-date=2007 | publisher=James G. Lergessner | isbn=978-0-646-47751-0 }} *{{Citation|title=The history of Kilcoy Station and its owners, and some descriptions of Kilcoy|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12454683|publication-date=1975|publisher=Brisbane}} *{{Citation|title=Kilcoy State School : the first one hundred years, 1892-1992 : commemorative issue: including the closed small schools of Gregor's Creek, Sheep Station Creek, Stanley River, Villeneuve, West Vale, Wineya, Woolmar and Yednia|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/22566776|publication-date=1992|publisher=Kilcoy State School Centenary Committee}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.kilcoydistricthistoricalsociety.com/ Kilcoy Historical Society] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100516144554/http://www.somersettourism.com.au/ Kilcoy Tourism Body] * [http://www.somerset.qld.gov.au/ Somerset Regional Council]

{{Somerset Region}} {{South East Queensland}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Massacres of ethnic groups Category:History of Indigenous Australians Category:Massacres in Australia Category:Suburbs of Somerset Region Category:Localities in Queensland