Ayr, Queensland

Summary

Ayr is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is the centre of a sugarcane-growing region and the administrative centre for the Burdekin Shire Council.[4] In the 2016 census, the locality of Ayr had a population of 8,738 people.[1]

Ayr
Queensland
Burdekin Hotel, Ayr, 2010
Ayr is located in Queensland
Ayr
Ayr
Coordinates19°34′28″S 147°24′24″E / 19.5744°S 147.4066°E / -19.5744; 147.4066 (Ayr (town centre))
Population8,738 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density300.3/km2 (777.7/sq mi)
Established1882
Postcode(s)4807
Elevation12.0 m (39 ft)
Area29.1 km2 (11.2 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)Burdekin
Federal division(s)Dawson
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
29.5 °C
85 °F
18.4 °C
65 °F
866.8 mm
34.1 in
Localities around Ayr:
Brandon Alva Airdmillan
Brandon Ayr Airdmillan
Brandon McDesme Jarvisfield

Geography edit

Ayr is located 88 kilometres (55 mi) south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) away from the (smaller) town of Home Hill. It is 112 kilometres (70 mi) north of Bowen and 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Mackay. Ayr is located near the delta of the Burdekin River. It is within the Burdekin Shire, which produces the most sugar cane per square kilometre in Australia, accessing underground water supplies and water from the Burdekin Dam to irrigate crops when rains fail.

Mirrigan is a neighbourhood within the locality (19°36′S 147°24′E / 19.6°S 147.4°E / -19.6; 147.4 (Mirrigan)). It takes its name from the former Mirrigan railway station (19°35′39″S 147°23′46″E / 19.5943°S 147.3960°E / -19.5943; 147.3960 (Mirrigan railway station))[5] which was assigned by the Queensland Railways Department on 10 September 1914. It is an Aboriginal name meaning star.[6]

Parkside is a neighbourhood within the south-east of the town (19°35′00″S 147°25′00″E / 19.5833°S 147.4166°E / -19.5833; 147.4166 (Parkside)).[7]

Ayr railway station (19°34′28″S 147°23′46″E / 19.5744°S 147.3961°E / -19.5744; 147.3961 (Ayr railway station)) is on the North Coast railway line and is a passenger stop for the Spirit of Queensland.[5]

Kalamia Sidings railway siding point is on the Kalamia Sugar Mill's cane tramway (19°34′16″S 147°23′36″E / 19.5710°S 147.3932°E / -19.5710; 147.3932 (Kalamia Sidings railway siding point)).[5]

Climate edit

Ayr experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw, Trewartha: Awab), with a short, hot wet season between December and March; and a long, warm dry season between April and November.[8]

Climate data for Ayr DPI Research STN, Queensland, Australia (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1951-present); 17 m AMSL
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 44.0
(111.2)
40.6
(105.1)
37.2
(99.0)
36.0
(96.8)
33.2
(91.8)
32.2
(90.0)
32.5
(90.5)
34.1
(93.4)
36.5
(97.7)
38.0
(100.4)
41.9
(107.4)
42.5
(108.5)
44.0
(111.2)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 34.2
(93.6)
33.9
(93.0)
32.8
(91.0)
31.5
(88.7)
29.8
(85.6)
27.8
(82.0)
27.3
(81.1)
28.6
(83.5)
30.4
(86.7)
32.1
(89.8)
33.1
(91.6)
34.1
(93.4)
34.2
(93.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 32.0
(89.6)
31.9
(89.4)
31.3
(88.3)
29.9
(85.8)
27.8
(82.0)
25.9
(78.6)
25.7
(78.3)
26.5
(79.7)
28.7
(83.7)
30.1
(86.2)
31.3
(88.3)
32.3
(90.1)
29.5
(85.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)
27.6
(81.7)
26.6
(79.9)
24.6
(76.3)
22.1
(71.8)
19.8
(67.6)
19.0
(66.2)
19.8
(67.6)
22.3
(72.1)
24.4
(75.9)
26.1
(79.0)
27.5
(81.5)
24.0
(75.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.2
(73.8)
23.2
(73.8)
21.8
(71.2)
19.3
(66.7)
16.4
(61.5)
13.7
(56.7)
12.3
(54.1)
13.0
(55.4)
15.8
(60.4)
18.6
(65.5)
20.9
(69.6)
22.6
(72.7)
18.4
(65.1)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 20.6
(69.1)
21.0
(69.8)
19.3
(66.7)
16.5
(61.7)
11.9
(53.4)
7.4
(45.3)
6.6
(43.9)
8.2
(46.8)
11.6
(52.9)
14.9
(58.8)
17.8
(64.0)
19.7
(67.5)
6.6
(43.9)
Record low °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)
16.7
(62.1)
11.9
(53.4)
8.5
(47.3)
3.7
(38.7)
2.2
(36.0)
1.4
(34.5)
2.0
(35.6)
5.6
(42.1)
7.7
(45.9)
11.5
(52.7)
12.5
(54.5)
1.4
(34.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 241.5
(9.51)
257.2
(10.13)
114.4
(4.50)
36.6
(1.44)
26.5
(1.04)
20.4
(0.80)
16.9
(0.67)
14.0
(0.55)
9.2
(0.36)
23.4
(0.92)
38.8
(1.53)
67.9
(2.67)
866.8
(34.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.4 10.1 6.3 2.9 2.5 2.4 1.6 1.2 1.3 2.3 3.5 5.6 49.1
Average relative humidity (%) 69.5 73.5 67.5 66.5 64.0 64.5 59.0 58.5 57.0 57.5 60.5 63.5 63.5
Average dew point °C (°F) 22.9
(73.2)
23.4
(74.1)
21.7
(71.1)
19.6
(67.3)
16.8
(62.2)
14.4
(57.9)
12.4
(54.3)
13.4
(56.1)
15.7
(60.3)
17.9
(64.2)
19.8
(67.6)
21.7
(71.1)
18.3
(65.0)
Source 1: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1991-2020 normals)[9]
Source 2: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1951-present extremes)[10]

History edit

Aboriginal history edit

Biri (Birri) is a language of Central and North Queensland. Biri refers to a language chain extending from Central Queensland towards Townsville and is often used as a universal name for other languages and/or dialects across the region. The language area includes the towns of Bowen, Ayr, Collinsville and Nebo.[11]

British exploration edit

The first British exploration of the area occurred in 1839 during the third voyage of HMS Beagle where Captain John Clements Wickham travelled 10 miles up the waterway later known as the Burdekin River. His progress was stopped by a fishing weir built by the local Aboriginal people that spanned the river.[12]

 
Interview with Natives of Wickham (Burdekin) River by H.S. Melville

In 1843, during the surveying voyage of HMS Fly, Lieutenant John Ince, Joseph Jukes and Frederick Evans sailed up the river near to where the town of Ayr is now located. They encountered two large tribes of Aboriginal people with whom they had friendly interactions, exchanging items and participating in an apparent Welcome to Country ceremony. Artist, Harden Sidney Melville was also present, later drawing a depiction of the meeting.[13]

Shipwreck survivor James Morrill lived with Aboriginal people in the region for seventeen years from 1846 when he was washed ashore on a makeshift raft. Morrill lived a traditional Aboriginal lifestyle and later made a culturally and historically important record of his experiences.[14]

In 1859, Henry Daniel Sinclair, James Gordon and Ben Poole conducted a sea voyage that examined the mouth of the Burdekin River. They travelled about 8 miles up the river but were afraid to explore further as they were wary of the resident Aborigines and had limited firearms.[15]

George Elphinstone Dalrymple led an overland expedition to the area in 1859 looking for land acquisitions and he returned again in 1860 as the head of a seagoing exploratory party. Dalrymple had several violent encounters with the local Aboriginal people during these expeditions.[16] In 1862, Dalrymple made another journey to the lower Burdekin region concluding that the "richly grassed open forest country" would become "a most valuable addition to the pastoral and agricultural resources of the colony."[17]

British colonisation edit

The area was opened up to pastoral squatting leases in 1861 and in that year Edward Spencer Antill (who was a son of the distinguished colonist Henry Colden Antill) arrived in the region to take up land.[18] In 1862, he selected a large area of land along the lower Burdekin River for a sheep station which he named Jarvisfield after the Antill family estate near Picton.[19] Groups of armed settlers and Native Police started to force the Aboriginal people off the land around this time, with James Morrill documenting a massacre of a resident Burdekin River tribe.[14] E.S. Antill bore a life-long scar on his forehead from a boomerang thrown at him during one of these episodes of frontier violence.[19] Morrill attempted to negotiate a treaty between the British and the Aborigines whereby the coastal area on the north side of the Burdekin would be a reserve for the Indigenous people but this was ignored by the authorities.[14]

After E.S. Antill had become established, other colonists took up land in the region, namely John Graham MacDonald who formed the Inkerman Downs property with the financial backing of Robert Towns,[20] and Edward Cunningham who formed Woodhouse station.[21] In retribution for murders and cattle spearing, punitive expeditions by the Native Police led by Lieutenant John Marlow would "disperse" the local Aboriginal population.[22][23]

A township, named Wickham,[24] was formed in the region in 1864 but was destroyed in 1870 during a flood.[25] Robert William Graham formed the Lilliesmere run in 1876 and in 1881 the township of Ayr was laid out on this property by surveyor Ellis William Lymburner.[26]

Ayr was named after the Scottish town of Ayr, the birthplace of nineteenth-century Queensland Premier, Sir Thomas McIlwraith.[27]

Ayr Post Office opened on 25 August 1883.[28]

Sugarcane plantations and mills edit

 
Archibald Campbell MacMillan

Large scale cultivation of sugarcane began in the region in 1879 with the formation of the Burdekin Delta Sugar Company through the partnership of local landholders Robert William Graham and Archibald Campbell MacMillan. Their plantation was called Airdmillan and in 1883 the Airdmillan sugar mill was built.[27] Both the mill and the plantation became financially unviable in 1885 after the repatriation of kidnapped[29] South Sea Islander labourers working on the plantation.[30] Of the 532 Islanders brought to Airdmillan, 128 or 24% had died by 1885.[31] In the 1890s, Airdmillan was subdivided and today much of the town of Ayr is located on what was once part of the Airdmillan estate.[27][32] The nearby locality of Airdmillan is named after the plantation.[33]

Other colonists also established plantations and mills in the region during the 1880s. James Mackenzie formed the Seaforth estate and mill, while Colin Munro built the Drynie mill. In 1882, John Spiller and Henry Brandon established the Pioneer plantation which was soon sold to the Drysdale brothers. The Drysdales built the Pioneer Mill in 1884 and later constructed the Inkerman Mill in 1914. Charles and John Young formed the Kalamia plantation in 1882, the Kalamia Mill being operational two years later.[27] Much of the labour on these plantations during the early years was performed by South Sea Islanders, many of whom died in the first year after being shipped in.[34] At Kalamia[34] and Pioneer,[35] the death rate was 14%, and at Seaforth it was 26%.[36] Islander labour in the region was discontinued in the early 1900s.[27]

The Pioneer, Kalamia and Inkerman mills are still operational and are owned by Wilmar Sugar.[37]

Schools edit

Ayr State School opened on 15 November 1886. In 1928 it was expanded to include a secondary school. In 1937, the secondary school became a separate entity, Ayr State High School.[38]

St Francis Primary School opened in 1912 operated by three Sisters of the Good Samaritan.[38][39]

 
War Memorial Park arch over the gate at the Memorial Park, 1937-1938

The Ayr War Memorial Arch is the entrance to the Memorial Park and commemorates those who served in World War I. It was dedicated in November 1925 by the shire chairman, Councillor Barsby.[40][41]

In 1926 Annie Dennis founded the Burdekin Community Church as a Pentecostal mission for South Sea Islanders.[42]

East Ayr State School opened on 8 August 1952.[38]

Ayr Opportunity School opened for children with disabilities in 1972. It was renamed Burdekin Special School in about 1985. In 2001 the name was changed to Burdekin School.[38]

Burdekin Catholic High School opened on 1 April 1974 in the Marist tradition.[38][43]

Burdekin Christian College was opened on 5 February 1982 by the Burdekin Community Church.[38][42]

Burdekin Library opened in 1984.[44]

Heritage listings edit

 
Ayr Post Office, 2014

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

 
Ayr Court House, 2009
 
Ayr State High School
 
Burdekin Shire Council Chambers

Demographics edit

In the 2016 census, the locality of Ayr had a population of 8,738 people.[1] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 7.7% of the population. 82.4% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was Italy at 2.1%. 85.4% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Italian at 2.8%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 37.3%, Anglican 15.7% and No Religion 15.0%.[1]

In June 2018, the town become the centre of controversy when a racist poster was displayed in a shop window, asserting that foreigners and backpackers were not welcome. Within hours, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin condemned the people responsible for the poster.[49]

Education edit

Ayr State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 141 Graham Street (19°34′44″S 147°24′02″E / 19.5790°S 147.4005°E / -19.5790; 147.4005 (Ayr State School)).[50][51] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 119 students with 14 teachers (11 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).[52]

East Ayr State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 43–73 Ross Street (19°33′48″S 147°24′59″E / 19.5634°S 147.4164°E / -19.5634; 147.4164 (East Ayr State School)).[50][53] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 557 students with 47 teachers (40 full-time equivalent) and 22 non-teaching staff (15 full-time equivalent).[52] It includes a special education program.[50]

St Francis' School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 99 Edward Street (19°34′13″S 147°24′05″E / 19.5704°S 147.4014°E / -19.5704; 147.4014 (St Francis' School)).[50][54] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 304 students with 20 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).[52]

Burdekin Christian College is a private primary and secondary (Preparatory to Year 12) school for boys and girls at 2–12 Melbourne Street (19°34′22″S 147°25′01″E / 19.5729°S 147.4170°E / -19.5729; 147.4170 (Burdekin Christian College)).[50][55] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 133 students with 13 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[52]

Burdekin School is a special primary and secondary (Early Childhood to Year 12) school for boys and girls at 159 Young Street (19°34′42″S 147°24′28″E / 19.5784°S 147.4079°E / -19.5784; 147.4079 (Burdekin School)).[50][56] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 17 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 11 non-teaching staff (6 full-time equivalent).[52]

Ayr State High School is a government secondary (7 to 12) school for boys and girls at Cnr Edwards & Wickham Streets (19°34′37″S 147°24′35″E / 19.5770°S 147.4096°E / -19.5770; 147.4096 (Ayr State High School)).[50][57] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 480 students with 46 teachers (44 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent).[52] It has a special education program.[58]

Burdekin Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary (7 to 12) school for boys and girls at 45 Gibson Street (19°33′53″S 147°24′52″E / 19.5646°S 147.4145°E / -19.5646; 147.4145 (Burdekin Catholic High School)).[50][59] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 436 students with 40 teachers (39 full-time equivalent) and 23 non-teaching staff (19 full-time equivalent).[52]

Facilities edit

Ayr is home to a small, state owned hospital. The one-storey building offers basic emergency care and has a helipad for more-serious emergencies.

Amenities edit

Ayr has the usual chain stores, including Domino's Pizza, ten pin bowling, a toyshop, cinema, six pubs, and a range of sports, electrical and fashion stores. Ayr has several banks including the Commonwealth, ANZ, Suncorp, National and Bendigo & Adelaide Bank.

The Burdekin Shire Council operates a public library in Ayr at 108 Graham Street (19°34′33″S 147°24′14″E / 19.5759°S 147.4039°E / -19.5759; 147.4039 (Burdekin Library)).[60]

The Ayr branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 20 Chippendale Street.[61]

Burdekin Uniting Church has two churches, one at 130 Mackenzie Street (19°34′35″S 147°24′10″E / 19.5764°S 147.4028°E / -19.5764; 147.4028 (Burdekin Uniting Church)) in Ayr and the other in Home Hill.[62][63][64]

Sport edit

A wide variety of sports are played in Ayr, including Touch football, Rugby league, Rugby Union, Soccer, tennis and golf. Netball and Table Tennis (ping pong) are also popular. The Ayr Surf Life Saving club is small and well-established.

Pioneer Park Speedway is a motorcycle speedway venue to the west of the town on Bruce Highway.[65][66] The track has been a significant venue for important speedway events, including qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship[67][68] and the final of the Australian Solo Championship.[69]

Attractions edit

Alva Beach, also known as Lynch's Beach, is a popular area for fishing and swimming located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of Ayr.[70]

Media edit

Published every Thursday, the Burdekin Local News is the region's only locally owned and independent newspaper distributed across the Burdekin region as well as Bowen and the Townsville CBD.[citation needed]

Transport edit

Ayr's main street, Queen Street, is a wide two-laned street. The A1 passes through the town. A mostly two-laned highway, it is the major road of the Burdekin, linking Ayr with nearby Brandon and Home Hill.

Ayr Railway Station is the town's rail-transit stop with regular services from Brisbane to Cairns. While the town has no public transport, several bus routes pick up school children across the region.

Notable people from Ayr edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ayr (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  2. ^ "Ayr – town in Shire of Burdekin (entry 1066)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Ayr – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 49421)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Contact Us". Burdekin Shire Council. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Railway stations and sidings – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Mirrigan – locality unbounded in Shire of Burdekin (entry 22283)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Parkside – locality unbounded in Shire of Burdekin (entry 39023)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Ayr climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Ayr weather averages - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Ayr DPI Research STN, QLD Climate (1991-2020 normals)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Ayr DPI Research STN, QLD Climate (1951-present extremes)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Indigenous languages map of Queensland". State Library of Queensland. 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  12. ^ Stokes, John Lort (1846). Discoveries in Australia Vol. 1. London: T. & W. Boone. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  13. ^ Jukes, Joseph B. (1847). Narrative of the surveying voyage of the HMS Fly. London: T & W Boone.
  14. ^ a b c Morrill, James (1863). Sketch of a residence among the Aboriginals of Northern Queensland for seventeen years. Brisbane: Courier General. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Sketcher". The Queenslander. Vol. LXIII, no. 1407. Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1902. p. 1062 (Unknown). Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ Report of the Proceedings of the Queensland Government schooner Spitfire. Brisbane: T.P. Pugh. 1860. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  17. ^ "The Exploration of the Burdekin". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. I, no. 48. Queensland, Australia. 14 March 1862. p. 3. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "The Kennedy". Rockhampton Bulletin And Central Queensland Advertiser. No. 17. Queensland, Australia. 26 October 1861. p. 2. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ a b "Personal Pars". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. Vol. XXX, no. 2394. New South Wales, Australia. 17 February 1917. p. 6. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ ""Jack Robertson's" Examination". Rockhampton Bulletin And Central Queensland Advertiser. Queensland, Australia. 13 July 1870. p. 1 (Rockhampton Bulletin Supplement). Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Death of an Old Colonist". Morning Post (Cairns). Vol. 6, no. 21. Queensland, Australia. 23 November 1898. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Adelaide". Rockhampton Bulletin And Central Queensland Advertiser. No. 406. Queensland, Australia. 21 February 1865. p. 2. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Clermont". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XX, no. 2, 539. Queensland, Australia. 17 March 1866. p. 4 (Supplement). Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Port Denison". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XIX, no. 2000. Queensland, Australia. 25 June 1864. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Lower Burdekin". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXII, no. 3, 408. Queensland, Australia. 20 April 1878. p. 7. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "An Agricultural El Dorado". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LV, no. 70. Queensland, Australia. 23 March 1933. p. 7. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ a b c d e "A Short History of the Lower Burdekin". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LX, no. 208. Queensland, Australia. 1 September 1938. p. 12. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  29. ^ "The Kidnapped Islanders". The Queenslander. Vol. XXVII, no. 506. Queensland, Australia. 6 June 1885. p. 913. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Pacific Islanders Compensation Court". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLI, no. 8, 770. Queensland, Australia. 23 February 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Pacific Islanders Compensation Court". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLI, no. 8, 773. Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1886. p. 3. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Airdmillan, Kalamia and Seaforth sugar plantations, c1888". Queensland historical atlas. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  33. ^ "Airdmillan – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 49422)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Pacific Islanders Compensation Court". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLI, no. 8, 761. Queensland, Australia. 12 February 1886. p. 6. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Pacific Islanders' Compensation Court". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLI, no. 8, 765. Queensland, Australia. 17 February 1886. p. 6. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "Pacific Islanders' Compensation Court". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLI, no. 8, 766. Queensland, Australia. 18 February 1886. p. 5. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Mills". Wilmar Sugar. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  38. ^ a b c d e f Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  39. ^ "Overview". St Francis School, Ayr. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  40. ^ "News of the North". Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 – 1954). Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 November 1925. p. 9. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  41. ^ "War Memorial Arch". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  42. ^ a b "Burdekin Community Church". Burdekin Christian College. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  43. ^ "Principal's Welcome". Burdekin Catholic High School. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  44. ^ "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  45. ^ "Ayr Post Office (Place ID 106172)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  46. ^ "Ayr Court House (entry 601126)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  47. ^ "Ayr State High School (entry 601574)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  48. ^ "Burdekin Shire Council Chambers (entry 601922)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  49. ^ "Backpackers furious over explicit poster". Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  51. ^ "Ayr State School". Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  53. ^ "East Ayr State School". Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  54. ^ "St Francis' School". Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  55. ^ "Burdekin Christian College". Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  56. ^ "Burdekin School". Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  57. ^ "Ayr State High School". Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  58. ^ "Ayr SHS – Special Education Program". Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  59. ^ "Burdekin Catholic High School". Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  60. ^ "Burdekin Library Public Libraries Connect". Public Libraries Connect. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  61. ^ "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  62. ^ "Burdekin Uniting Church – Ayr and Home Hill Uniting Church". Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  63. ^ Google (7 May 2021). "Burdekin Uniting Church" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  64. ^ "Find a church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  65. ^ "Pioneer Park Speedway". Visit Burdekin. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  66. ^ "Pioneer Park Speedway, Ayr". Speedway Australia. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  67. ^ "World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  68. ^ "World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  69. ^ "HISTORYCZNE ZESTAWIENIE WYNIKÓW 1929-2023". Speedway History. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  70. ^ "Lynchs Beach". Burdekin Shire Council. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  71. ^ "ABC Open The Bond || From Project: My Back Roads". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  72. ^ Thomas, Hedley (25 September 2015). "Life mission accomplished". The Australian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  73. ^ Macdonald, Ian. "Dr James Raymond Bourke, MG, AM". Senator Ian Macdonald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  74. ^ Eatgate, Ross (February 2017). "Jim Bourke – Remembering a one-off, larger than life character as I recall him". Alliance of the Defence Service Organisations. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  75. ^ "Bourke, James Raymond". Virtual War Memorial. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  76. ^ Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2005). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players – Wests Tigers. Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 1-920910-61-1.

External links edit

  • Burdekin Shire Council Website
  • University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Ayr
  • Annual reports Ayr Hospitals Board, State Library of Queensland