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Tinaroo
Queensland
Pelicans on the shore of Lake Tinaroo, 2008
Tinaroo is located in Queensland
Tinaroo
Tinaroo
Coordinates17°10′04″S 145°32′50″E / 17.1677°S 145.5472°E / -17.1677; 145.5472 (Tinaroo (centre of locality))
Population293 (SAL 2021)
Postcode(s)4872
Area20.2 km (7.8 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Tablelands Region
State electorate(s)Hill
Federal division(s)Kennedy
Suburbs around Tinaroo:
Mareeba Mareeba Danbulla
Tolga Tinaroo Lake Tinaroo
Tolga Kairi Lake Tinaroo

Tinaroo is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Tinaroo had a population of 293 people.

The town of Tinaroo Falls is on the eastern edge of the locality (17°10′06″S 145°32′58″E / 17.1683°S 145.5494°E / -17.1683; 145.5494 (Tinaroo Falls, Queensland)) beside Lake Tinaroo.

Geography

Tinaroo is located on the shore of Lake Tinaroo, a man-made reservoir created by the impoundment of the Barron River by the Tinarroo Dam.

Despite the town's name, the waterfall of the same name is not in the town nor the locality, but it is very close by in the neighbouring locality of Lake Tinaroo, which includes the dam wall, the lake it impounds and the shoreline around the lake.

History

The town and locality take their name from Tinaroo Creek, which is believed to derive from tin hurroo, a shout used by tin miners.

Construction of the dam commenced in 1955 and the town was created to house the workers and their families. Tinaroo State School opened on 28 June 1954 for the workers' children. Construction completed in 1958 and the school closed on 4 December 1959.

Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre was established in 1987.

Demographics

At the 2006 census, Tinaroo had a population of 266.

In the 2016 census, Tinaroo had a population of 312 people.

In the 2021 census, Tinaroo had a population of 293 people.

Education

Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre is 30-44 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road (17°10′07″S 145°32′52″E / 17.1685°S 145.5479°E / -17.1685; 145.5479 (Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre)). Operated by the Queensland Education Department, it provides outdoor and environment school programs.

There are no mainstream schools in Tinaroo. The nearest government primary school is Kairi State School in neighbouring Kairi to the south. The nearest government secondary school is Atherton State High School in Atherton to the south-west.

Attractions

Torpedo Bay Walking Track commences 2.3 km north of the dam wall and includes six lookouts.

Platypus Rock Lookout is accessed from the Platypus Campground Road (17°09′27″S 145°33′40″E / 17.1576°S 145.5612°E / -17.1576; 145.5612 (Platypus Rock Lookout)).

There is a boat ramp in Church Street providing access to the lake (17°10′17″S 145°33′05″E / 17.1715°S 145.5515°E / -17.1715; 145.5515 (Church Street boat ramp)). It is managed by the Tablelands Regional Council.