Blackbutt

History

European settlement in the Blackbutt area began in 1842, when the Scott family established Taromeo Station. In 1887, the Scott family ceded land to found both Blackbutt and its neighbouring town of Benarkin. Farms were established in the area and the discovery of gold in the area in the late 19th century led to population growth in the town. The timber industry played an important role in the development of the town. The town is named after Eucalyptus pilularis, commonly known as blackbutt, a common tree of the family Myrtaceae native to south-eastern Australia which is one of Australia's most important hardwoods. Blackbutt, Benarkin and the nearby town of Yarraman are often collectively referred to as the "Timber Towns" and the terms "Timbertown" and "Timbertowners" feature in the name of many local businesses and a sporting teams. Blackbutt Provisional School opened on 20 January 1896 under teacher Rosa Bella Ryan. On 1 January 1909, it became Blackbutt State School. The school was on a site at 97 Blackbutt Crows Nest Road in present-day Blackbutt South (south-east corner of Haynes Kite Millar Road, ). In 1912, school daily attendance was between 60 and 70 students, leading to a petition from parents to build a new school in a more central location. In January 1914, the school relocated its current larger site in Blackbutt. Blackbutt Post Office opened by November 1906 (a receiving office had been open from 1896). When the Blackbutt railway station was built to serve the town, it was some distance from the town, so in 1910 it was decided to name the station Benarkin instead. This in turn gave its name to the new town that formed near the railway station Benarkin. Because of the close proximity ( apart) and intertwined history of the two towns, they are often…

Geography

The town is located on the D'Aguilar Highway, in the South Burnett local government area, north-west of the state capital, Brisbane. Blackbutt lies within the Cooyar Creek catchment, tributary of the Brisbane River, which rises in the Bunya Mountains to the west.

Most-observed species

• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  403
• Lewin's Honeyeater

  Meliphaga lewinii (Swainson, 1837) · Aves
  369
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  310
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  309
• Pied Currawong

  Strepera graculina (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  305
• Eastern Whipbird

  Psophodes olivaceus (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  273
• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  261
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  248

Most recent

• M 4.9 — 2025-08-15
  12 km ESE of Cherbourg, Australia
• M 3.9 — 2007-08-25
  40 km W of Kingaroy, Australia
• M 3.6 — 2005-03-07
  36 km WNW of Kingaroy, Australia
• M 3.7 — 2004-02-21
  47 km WNW of Kingaroy, Australia