South Burnett | |
|---|---|
 The rich soils of the region support a thriving agricultural industry | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| LGAs | |
| Government | |
| • Federal divisions | |
| Area | |
• Total | 8,399 km2 (3,243 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 31,286 (2007)[1] |
| • Density | 3.72497/km2 (9.6476/sq mi) |
TheSouth Burnett is a peanut growing and wine-producing area on theGreat Dividing Range, north of theDarling Downs, inQueensland. It is with the basin of theBurnett River. The area is within two local government areas,South Burnett Region andGympie Region.
Towns located within this region with a population of more than 1,000 includeKingaroy,Murgon,Wondai andNanango. Towns with a population under 1,000 people includeKilkivan,Goomeri,Proston,Blackbutt,Kumbia,Tingoora,Hivesville,Memerambi,Wooroolin,Moffatdale,Crawford,Coolabunia,Mount Mowbullan,Goodger,Booie,Benarkin,Cloyna andWheatlands.
TheD'Aguilar Highway leads south east, while theBunya Highway enters the region from the south west. TheWide Bay Highway connects toGympie and theBruce Highway towards the coast and theBurnett Highway continues north of the region.
TheBrisbane Valley railway line reached Blackbutt in 1905. The line was closed in the 1993.[2]
The South Burnett Wine Region is another attraction, with Verdelho grown successfully, due to the warm climate and rich soils. With around ten wineries, it is a relatively new wine region. Grapes were first planted in the area in 1898.[3] Industrial production began in 1993. Most of the wineries are located close to Kingaroy or in the Moffatdale area north of Murgon. There are none in the west of the region.Shiraz andChardonnay are the most prevalent varieties with production roughly halved between red and white wines.[3]
One of the best known attractions in the area is thepeanut-growing district centered on Kingaroy.[4] 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Murgon is theBjelke-Petersen Dam. Other dams in the region includeGordonbrook Dam andBoondooma Dam.Tarong Power Station and theTarong National Park are both in the south of the Burnett. TheBunya Mountains, protected within theBunya Mountains National Park, which contains the largest naturalbunya pine forest in the world, are a popular natural attraction in the south of the region.[4] AtKinbombi Falls there are picnic and camping facilities next to a large waterfall, gorge and rocky creek. Rock-wallabies can be seen on local cliffs, particularly around twilight hours.Garnet gem fields are found just west of Proston.
26°32′27.4″S151°50′22″E / 26.540944°S 151.83944°E /-26.540944; 151.83944
