Allenstown
Rockhampton, Queensland
Allenstown Hotel, 2020
Allenstown is located in Queensland
Allenstown
Allenstown
Map
Coordinates23°23′48″S 150°30′15″E / 23.3966°S 150.5041°E / -23.3966; 150.5041 (Allenstown (centre of suburb))
Population2,790 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1,268/km2 (3,280/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4700
Area2.2 km2 (0.8 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Rockhampton Region
State electorate(s)Rockhampton
Federal division(s)Capricornia
Suburbs around Allenstown:
The Range Rockhampton City Rockhampton City
The Range Allenstown Depot Hill
Fairy Bower Fairy Bower Port Curtis

Allenstown is a suburb of Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] It is situated 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) by road south-west of the Rockhampton CBD. In the 2016 census, Allenstown had a population of 2,790 people.[1]

Geography

The main business precinct of Allenstown is anchored by local shopping centre Allenstown Square, which was previously known as Allenstown Plaza before undergoing a major refurbishment and extension which was completed in 2012.

History

The suburb is named after William Allen, builder, around 1862.[2] Allen's decision to sell blocks of land for thirty pounds following his return from the Canoona gold rush, which saw many new cottages being built, prompted the locals to dub the suburb "Allen's town".[3]

In 1864, Patrick Egan established the Merry Jig Hotel.[3]

In December 1870, tenders were called from carpenters to erect a Wesleyan Methodist church in Allenstown.[4] The church was opened on Sunday 16 April 1871.[5] It was designed by architect Septimus Nash Spong and described as "handsome and commodious". It was 33 by 23 feet (10.1 by 7.0 m) and capable of seating 100 people.[6] It was organised and paid for by the "munificence" of Andrew Ross of Balnagowan.[7][8][9][10] In November 1880, it was agreed that a new "central and substantial" church would be erected at an expected cost of £650, which would be funded in part by the sale of the Allenstown Wesleyan church and the Kent Street Wesleyan Church in the Rockhampton CBD.[11][12] The new church was opened in Campbell Street on Sunday 24 July 1881 with the Allenstown Wesleyan church building relocated to the rear of the new church at Campbell Street where it was used as a vestry and Sunday school.[13][6]

Allenstown State School opened on 16 July 1877.[14] The school celebrated its centenary in 1977.[15]

On 15 October 1899, St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral was officially opened by Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran of the Sydney Archdiocese with a celebration of the Pontifical High Mass.[16][17]

On Sunday 14 October 1900, the foundation stone was laid for St Mark's Anglican Church.[18] Its opening service was held on Sunday 23 December 1900.[19] The church was sold in 2021.[20]

From 1909 until 1939, the city's tramway serviced Allenstown along Upper Dawson Road.[3] In 2019, some of the original tram tracks were unearthed during local council roadworks.[21]

The Cathedral College opened on 4 February 1991.[22][23]

At the 2006 census, Allenstown had a population of 2,721 people.[24]

In the 2011 census, Allenstown had a population of 2,911 people.[25]

In the 2016 census, Allenstown had a population of 2,790 people.[1]

Heritage listings

St Mark's Anglican Church, 1975

Allenstown has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Education

Allenstown State School, 2021

Allenstown State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 13–33 Upper Dawson Road (23°23′31″S 150°30′09″E / 23.3919°S 150.5026°E / -23.3919; 150.5026 (Allenstown State School)).[28][29] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 381 students with 31 teachers (29 full-time equivalent) and 27 non-teaching staff (17 full-time equivalent).[30] It includes a special education program.[28]

The Cathedral College is a Catholic secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 189 William Street (23°23′10″S 150°30′18″E / 23.3861°S 150.5051°E / -23.3861; 150.5051 (The Cathedral College)).[31][32] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1,178 students with 79 teachers (78 full-time equivalent) and 59 non-teaching staff (48 full-time equivalent).[33]

There is no government secondary school in Allenstown. The nearest government secondary school is Rockhampton State High School in Wandal to the north.[34]

Amenities

St Josephs Catholic Cathedral is at 169 William Street (23°23′10″S 150°30′23″E / 23.3862°S 150.5065°E / -23.3862; 150.5065 (St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral)).[35]

Big Bulls

Allenstown Square shopping centre, 2020

Allenstown is home to three of the seven Big Bulls statues that decorate Rockhampton, which regards itself as the Beef Capital of Australia.[36] The three bull statues are located along the Bruce Highway (also known as Gladstone Road) and depict three important cattle varieties raised in the area: Santa Gertrudis, Romagnola, and Braford.[37] The Big Bulls are listed as one of "the big things of Australia".[38]

The theft of the testicles from the bulls is a common prank and they frequently have to be replaced. Some residents also feel that the bull statues over-emphasise one aspect of the city and should be relocated to less prominent locations. However, there is strong public support for the retention of the bulls.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Allenstown (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b "Allenstown (entry 46415)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Jarrett, Vanessa (25 February 2020). "Allenstown history over the decades". The Morning Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Advertising". Rockhampton Bulletin And Central Queensland Advertiser. No. 1304. Queensland, Australia. 3 December 1870. p. 3. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAM". Rockhampton Bulletin And Central Queensland Advertiser. No. 1361. Queensland, Australia. 15 April 1871. p. 2. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b "Wesleyan Methodist Church". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXVII, no. 4163. Queensland, Australia. 25 July 1881. p. 2. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Miscellaneous Items". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. III, no. 73. New South Wales, Australia. 27 May 1871. p. 5. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "No title". Rockhampton Bulletin. No. 1526. Queensland, Australia. 4 May 1872. p. 3. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "CAMPBELL STREET METHODISTS". Morning Bulletin. No. 15, 268. Queensland, Australia. 23 September 1913. p. 9. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Miscellaneous Items". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. III, no. 73. New South Wales, Australia. 27 May 1871. p. 5. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXVI, no. 3960. Queensland, Australia. 11 November 1880. p. 2. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Annual District Meeting of the Wesleyan Church, Queensland". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXIV, no. 3, 877. Queensland, Australia. 21 October 1879. p. 3. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Advertising". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXVII, no. 4156. Queensland, Australia. 16 July 1881. p. 1. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "History". Allenstown State School. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  15. ^ Allenstown State School (1977), Allenstown State School centenary booklet, 1877-1977, City Printing Works, archived from the original on 25 July 2020, retrieved 3 February 2018
  16. ^ a b "St Josephs Cathedral (entry 600822)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. ^ "New Catholic Cathedral". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. XL, no. 5972. Queensland, Australia. 17 October 1899. p. 2. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "ALLENSTOWN ANGLICAN CHURCH". Morning Bulletin. Vol. LXI, no. 10, 889. Queensland, Australia. 15 October 1900. p. 5. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ a b "St Marks Church (entry 602031)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  20. ^ Stokes, Aden (4 May 2021). "Heritage-listed Rocky church sells to Qld couple for $140k". The Morning Bulletin. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Old Tram Tracks Unearthed". ABC Capricornia (Facebook page). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  22. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  23. ^ "Our Story". The Cathedral College Rockhampton. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  24. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Allenstown (Rockhampton City) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  25. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Allenstown". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 November 2015. Edit this at Wikidata
  26. ^ "South Rockhampton Cemetery (entry 601131)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Allenstown State School (entry 650232)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  28. ^ a b "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Allenstown State School". Allenstown State School. 1 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  30. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  31. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  32. ^ "The Cathedral College". Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  33. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Rockhampton – Cathedral Parish of St Joseph – Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton". Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  36. ^ Robinson, Paul; Farrow-Smith, Elloise; Saunders, Miranda (17 April 2014). "An ownership row has erupted over who holds Australia's Beef Capital title". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  37. ^ "Where's the Beef?". Rockhampton Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  38. ^ Clark, David (2004). Big Things: Australia's Amazing Roadside Attractions. Penguin Books. pp. 10–13. ISBN 0-14-300200-7.
  39. ^ Whop, Marlina (20 November 2013). "Tourism group rears up over Rockhampton bull statues". ABC News. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Allenstown, Queensland.
Suburbs of Rockhampton, Central Queensland, Queensland
Towns, suburbs and localities in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland
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