Kinchant Dam, Queensland
Geography
The water storage facility named Lake Kinchant created by the Kinchant Dam is wholly within the locality. The dam is built on Sandy Creek to provide irrigation and town water. However most of the water in the lake does not come from Sandy Creek but is pumped from the Pioneer River at Mirani Weir into an 8-kilometre (5.0 mi) channel into the lake.
Mount Kinchant is in the south-west of the locality (21°14′15″S 148°54′51″E / 21.2375°S 148.9141°E) and rises to 415 metres (1,362 ft) above sea level. Much of the mountain is within the Mount Kinchart Conservation Park.
The locality is 36 kilometres (22 miles) south-west of Mackay via the Bruce Highway, Peak Downs Highway, North Eton Road, Marian – Eton Road (State Route 5) and Kinchant Dam Road.
History
Francis Charlton Kinchant (1790–1815) was killed in the Battle of Waterloo. His middle name (Charlton) was his grandmothers maiden surname. While it may not have been a well-used given name, his heroic death may have inspired another Kinchant (not necessarily a relative) to name his son “Francis Charlton”. In 1856 a man named Francis Charlton Kinchant arrived in Australia. On 18 March 1867 he married Jane Martin in Mackay, supposedly the first wedding in that town. His connection to the Mackay district is unknown but it is likely that Mount Kinchant was named for him. He died in Mackay in 1913.
The dam was built in 1977.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Kinchant Dam had a population of 123 people.
In the 2021 census, Kinchant Dam had a population of 183 people.
Education
Kinchant Dam Outdoor Education Centre is an Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre at 685 Kinchant Dam Road (21°12′56″S 148°54′15″E / 21.2155°S 148.9043°E). It offers camping programs to develop teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
There are no regular schools in the locality. The nearest primary schools are North Eton State School in neighbouring North Eton to the east, Eton State School in neighbouring Eton to the south-east and Mirani State School in neighbouring Mirani to the north. The nearest secondary school is Mirani State High School in Mirani.
Attractions
Kinchant Dam offers opportunities for fishing and boating. There is a boat ramp into Kinchant Dam on Kinchant Dam Road (21°13′00″S 148°53′39″E / 21.2167°S 148.8943°E), which is managed by the SunWater. There is also a downhill mountain bike circuit.
There is a lookout and picnic and barbeque facilities. Camping is available.
See also
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kinchant Dam (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Kinchant Dam – locality in Mackay Region (entry 49363)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Kinchant Dam, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Kinchant Dam". Sunwater. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Mount Kinchant – mountain in Mackay Regional (entry 18172)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Mount Kinchant Regional Park Management Statement" (PDF). Queensland Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Francis Charlton Kinchant 1790-1815". JCC Glass. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Francis Charlton Kinchant (died 1913)". JCC Glass. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Family Notices". Northern Argus. No. 552. Queensland, Australia. 27 April 1867. p. 2. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Glen Hall (7 March 2019). "Mackay Placenames". mackayhistory.org. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Advertising". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXXI, no. 9920. Queensland, Australia. 25 August 1914. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kinchant Dam (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Kinchant Dam Outdoor Education Centre". Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Programs". Kinchant Outdoor Education Centre. 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
