Howard

History

The town was originally known as Steley (after Abel Steley) but was renamed after William Howard, a pioneer in coal mining in the Burrum area. Abel Steley commenced coal mining in the area in 1856. After a series of setbacks, he eventually established the successful Beauford Colliery and the Queensland Collieries Company. In 1877 George Howard and his son William established the Howard Colliery. From the 1860s the coal from the Burrum coalfields was transported to the port at Maryborough for loading onto boats. From 1877 the 44-ton stern-wheel steamer Barbara and Jane commenced navigating the Burrum River to transport the coal to Maryborough. In 1883 the railway line from Maryborough to the Burrum River opened, and was known as the Burrum line. However until the railway bridge was opened in April 1884, the coal could not be transported by this means. Over the decades, various plans were mooted to move the coal, either through a proposed port at the mouth of the Burrum River, or through the deep water port at Urangan. Burrum coalfields coal supplied the Howard power station which operated from 1951 to 1980. The Howard Cemetery, known as Howard Remembrance Park, opened in 1876 (). The first Burrum Post Office opened on 22 July 1878 and was renamed Howard in 1883. Burrum Provisional School opened on 18 February 1879. On 3 October 1884, it was renamed Howard State School. St Matthew's Anglican Church was opened on 3 October 1883 by Bishop Matthew Hale. It was built on of land donated by the Queensland Land and Coal Company. It was made of hardwood and was with walls high, capable of holding 200 people. A new church was dedicated on 29 October 1913 by Archbishop St Clair Donaldson and the old church became the church hall. During World War II the hall was used as…

Geography

Torbanlea is on the east side of the Burrum River and Howard on the west side of the Burrum River. The distance between the towns is , and they were known as twin towns. Maria Creek runs through the town and discharges into the Burrum River downstream of the Howard boat ramp. The Bruce Highway passes through the locality in an east–west direction skirting the edge of the town. Queensland's North Coast railway line passes in a NW-SE direction through the town centre. The main streets of Howard are Steley and William.

Most-observed species

• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  317
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  314
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  302
• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  281
• Brown Honeyeater

  Lichmera indistincta (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  267
• Laughing Kookaburra

  Dacelo novaeguineae (Hermann, 1783) · Aves
  262
• Lewin's Honeyeater

  Meliphaga lewinii (Swainson, 1837) · Aves
  257
• Rufous Whistler

  Pachycephala rufiventris (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  241