| Queanbeyan New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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 Queanbeyan Council Chambers | |||||||||||||||
  Queanbeyan Location in New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°21′12″S149°14′03″E / 35.35333°S 149.23417°E /-35.35333; 149.23417 | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 37,511 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1838 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 576 m (1,890 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 173 km2 (66.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council | ||||||||||||||
| County | Murray | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Queanbeyan | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Monaro | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Eden-Monaro | ||||||||||||||
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Queanbeyan (/ˈkwiːnbiən/KWEEN-bee-ən) is a city in south-easternNew South Wales, Australia, located adjacent to theAustralian Capital Territory in theSouthern Tablelands region. Located on theQueanbeyan River, the city is the council seat of theQueanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council. At the2021 census, the Queanbeyan part of the Canberra–Queanbeyan built-up area had a population of 37,511.[1]
Queanbeyan's economy is based on light construction, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture.Canberra, Australia's capital, is located 15 kilometres (9 miles) to the west, and Queanbeyan is acommuter town. The wordQueanbeyan is the anglicised form ofQuinbean, an Aboriginal word meaning"clear waters"[citation needed].
The first inhabitants of Queanbeyan were the Ngambri peoples of theWalgalu Nation.
The town grew from a squattage held by ex-convict and inn keeper, Timothy Beard, on the banks of theMolonglo River in what is nowOaks Estate. The town centre of Queanbeyan is located on theQueanbeyan River, a tributary of theMolonglo River and approximately 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) south-southeast of Oaks Estate.
Queanbeyan was officially proclaimed a township in 1838 when the population was about 50. The localparish was also known by that name and later still the member for the electorate of Queanbeyan held a seat in the legislative assembly of the colony of NSW. On 28 November 1837 the Colonial Secretary announced the appointment of Captain Alured Tasker Faunce as resident police magistrate at Queanbeyan. His homestead, called Dodsworth, was situated on the banks of the Queanbeyan river opposite the town.[2] The town plan was laid out by surveyorJames Larmer, in 1838.[3]
Traces of gold were discovered in 1851 and lead and silver mines also flourished briefly. Settlers were harassed bybushrangers, of which James Shaw, William Millet, and John Rueben,[4]John Tennant,Jacky Jacky,Frank Gardiner andBen Hall were some of the more notorious. In 1836, a Post Office was established.[5]
TheCommercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited (CBC, now part of theNational Australia Bank) opened in Queanbeyan on 19 September 1859. TheBank of New South Wales began service in Queanbeyan in 1878.The Golden Age (nowThe Queanbeyan Age) was Queanbeyan's first newspaper and was founded in 1860 byJohn Gale. In 1880 the residence of John James Wright, the first mayor of Queanbeyan, was constructed along the edge of the Queanbeyan River. In 1982 that building became the Queanbeyan Art Centre.
TheSalvation Army claimed an outpost in Queanbeyan in 1884.
Queanbeyan became an increasingly successful primary producing district, and was proclaimed a Municipality in February 1885 incorporating an area of 5,700 acres (23 km2). The railway reachedQueanbeyan railway station in 1887 and it became the junction for the lines going toCanberra andBombala. The town is served by the thrice-dailyNSW TrainLink Xplorer service between Canberra and Sydney.
William James Farrer, the wheat experimentalist, established Queanbeyan's reputation as an agricultural district with his famous "Federation" rust-free strain, developed on his property"Lambrigg" atTharwa. Farrer's work was only slowly recognised elsewhere in Australia, but local farmers supported him, particularly in his development of "Blount's Lambrigg", another strain which in 1889 gave hope to farmers after the disastrous season of 1887 when crops had failed after heavy Christmas rains.
At the height of its rural prosperity Queanbeyan boasted sixteen public houses and six flourmills powered by wind, water, horse and steam. The Royal Hotel on Monaro Street opened in 1926. In Canberra alcohol was prohibited from 1911, at the time of the territory's foundation, until 1928, when Federal Parliament had relocated from Melbourne. In that period many of the capital's residents crossed the border to drink at one of Queanbeyan's hotels.
Queanbeyan was granted city status on 7 July 1972. On 21 July 1975 the Queen's Bridge was opened. This bridge took pressure off the existing bridge in linking Monaro Street directly to the east. From 1982 to 1989, theCanberra Raidersrugby league team played their home games in Queanbeyan, atSeiffert Oval.
Since December 2008, the Australian Defence Forces's HQJoint Operations Command has been based adjacent to theKowen district of theAustralian Capital Territory, just south of theKings Highway, about 15 km east of Queanbeyan, and 15 km south ofBungendore, New South Wales.
Queanbeyan has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Queanbeyan has three government high schools: Queanbeyan High, Karabar High and Jerrabomberra High. Queanbeyan primary schools include Queanbeyan South Public School, Queanbeyan West Public School, Queanbeyan East Public School, Queanbeyan Public School, Jerrabomberra Public School andSt Gregory's Primary School.
TheQueanbeyan District Hospital is a small but modern facility providing Maternity, Emergency and some Community Health services. Queanbeyan has an ambulance station, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, community centre, performing arts centre, a public library and several parks.
The city's local bus service isCDC Canberra, which connects Queanbeyan and its suburbs toCity Interchange andWoden Interchange in Canberra, as well as other towns in NSW includingBungendore andYass.
After police operations at 8 Farrer Place were moved to temporary accommodation in Morisset Street, the old station, opened in July 1978, was demolished starting in February 2019. Construction of the new A$24 million station began in November 2019, completion was due January 2021.[15][16][17] The station became fully operational in March 2021, and was officially opened on 26 April 2021.[18]
At the2021 census, the Queanbeyan part of the Canberra–Queanbeyan built-up area had a population of 37,511 (this did not includeGoogong).[1] At the2011 census, the former city of Queanbeyan had a population of 37,991.[19] The suburb of Queanbeyan (central Queanbeyan) had a population of 6,409 in 2021.[20]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 1,825 | — |
| 1933 | 4,019 | +120.2% |
| 1947 | 5,033 | +25.2% |
| 1954 | 7,310 | +45.2% |
| 1961 | 9,448 | +29.2% |
| 1966 | — | |
| 1971 | — | |
| 1976 | 18,923 | — |
| 1981 | 19,383 | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 21,850 | +12.7% |
| 1991 | 23,714 | +8.5% |
| 1996 | 25,689 | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 29,752 | +15.8% |
| 2006 | 34,084 | +14.6% |
| 2011 | 35,878 | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 36,348 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 37,511 | +3.2% |
| Source:Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[21][22] | ||
Queanbeyan has two light manufacturing/industrial precincts centred on Gilmore Road and Yass Road. The Queanbeyan Solar Farm with 720 solar panels has a generating capacity of 50 kW, and is located in the Yass Road area. Queanbeyan has a large and significant retail market in roses, which are sourced from the local district.
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Queanbeyan is served byNSW TrainLinkXplorer which runs several times each day between Canberra and Sydney, calling at heritage listedQueanbeyan railway station. NSW TrainLink also operates regional coaches via Queanbeyan city.[23]
Regional coach services to the coast and Canberra are also provided by Rixons Buses[24] andMurrays.[25]
Air services are available at the nearby (10 km)Canberra Airport.
Local bus services (including cross border services to Canberra and Canberra Airport) are provided byCDC Canberra.
Queanbeyan has a number of sports teams that play in local sports competitions.
| Team | Sport | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Queanbeyan Whites | Rugby Union | ACTRU Premier Division |
| Monaro Panthers FC | Association Football | NPL |
| Queanbeyan City FC | Association Football | NPL 2 |
| Queanbeyan Blues | Rugby league | Canberra Rugby League |
| Queanbeyan Kangaroos | Rugby League | Canberra Rugby League |
| Queanbeyan Tigers | Australian Rules Football | AFL Canberra |
| Queanbeyan Cricket Club | Cricket | ACT Cricket Competition |
| Queanbeyan United Hockey Club | Field Hockey | Hockey ACT |
The Queanbeyan Show, which started over 100 years ago, is held annually at theQueanbeyan Showground in November over two days. There are equestrian events, a sideshow alley, art and craft displays, cooking exhibits, an agricultural pavilion and livestock exhibitions. Also held is a Showgirl, Miss Junior Showgirl and Tiny Tots competition.Seiffert Oval is one of the largest stadia in the region.
In February, the Queanbeyan Showground plays host to the annual "Convoy for Kids" to aid cancer research. The event is widely supported by community groups, regional businesses and the emergency services. The event attracts hundreds of commercial vehicles, trucks, prime movers and bushfire brigade vehicles. The highlight of the afternoon is the sounding of horns, which can be heard for miles around. Other regular events throughout the year include the Rodeo in March which was in its 20th year in 2020,[26] but was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[27] Field Days, and a camping and off-road vehicle show. Queanbeyan Basketball Stadium is based on Southbar Road in the suburb ofKarabar and is the main venue used for indoor sports like basketball and netball.
On 3 December, Queanbeyan hosts an annual Festival of Ability as part of the Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign, celebratingInternational Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event attracts more than 3,500 people and is a community celebration, acknowledging the strengths, skills and achievements of people with a disability in the Queanbeyan region.
Queanbeyan hosts several car shows through the year among them being Shannons Wheels in March 2020,[28] and "Terribly British Day" in early December, a car and bike show that has been held in the Australian Capital Territory region since 1975.[29] The show was in years past held on the lawns ofOld Parliament House.[30]
In March 2008, the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre –the Q – became the new home for theQueanbeyan Players who have provided over thirty years of live theatre and dramatic entertainment for the Queanbeyan community.[31]
Canberra'sHarmonie German Club holds anOktoberfest over a three-day period every year in October.[32] Previously held atExhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), in 2017 the event moved over the border to the Queanbeyan Showground on 27–29 October.[33][34]
In 2021 a scaled-down, 2 day, version of the Canberra-basedNational Folk Festival, cancelled in 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia, titled "Good Folk", was held in Queanbeyan, across Saturday 3 April and Sunday 4 April.[35]
Queanbeyan receives five free-to-air television networks relayed fromCanberra that broadcast from theBlack Mountain.
The town is served by these radio stations:[36]
The local newspaper isThe Queanbeyan Age.
Federally, Queanbeyan lies withinthe electorate of Eden-Monaro, currently held byKristy McBain representing theAustralian Labor Party.
At a state level, Queanbeyan is the major population centre inthe seat of Monaro, held bySteve Whan of theNew South Wales Labor Party since May 2023.
![William Farrer memorial[44]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWilliam_Farrer_(1).jpg)
The Choirboys song 'Struggle Town' was written about Queanbeyan after lead singerMark Gable heard the reference to the town from the band's drummer Lindsay Tebbutt's father called Queanbeyan "Struggle Town".
Queanbeyan has anoceanic climate (Cfb) with warm summers and cool winters, similar to Canberra.
| Climate data for Queanbeyan Bowling Club (1909–1956, rainfall 1870–2019); 580 m AMSL | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) | 28.5 (83.3) | 25.6 (78.1) | 20.6 (69.1) | 15.9 (60.6) | 12.5 (54.5) | 11.8 (53.2) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.3 (63.1) | 20.7 (69.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 27.6 (81.7) | 20.6 (69.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) | 12.9 (55.2) | 10.7 (51.3) | 6.6 (43.9) | 3.3 (37.9) | 0.9 (33.6) | −0.2 (31.6) | 0.9 (33.6) | 3.3 (37.9) | 6.0 (42.8) | 8.9 (48.0) | 11.4 (52.5) | 6.5 (43.6) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 55.3 (2.18) | 51.5 (2.03) | 51.2 (2.02) | 43.8 (1.72) | 42.9 (1.69) | 44.4 (1.75) | 39.2 (1.54) | 43.9 (1.73) | 47.7 (1.88) | 59.0 (2.32) | 58.9 (2.32) | 56.0 (2.20) | 593.8 (23.38) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 63.3 |
| Source:Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1909–1956 temperatures, rainfall 1870–2019)[54] | |||||||||||||
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.
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