Proserpine

History

The Gia people are the traditional custodians of the Proserpine area. Giya (also known as Kia) is a language of North Queensland. The Giya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Whitsunday Regional Council, particularly the towns of Bowen and Proserpine. It has been claimed that George Elphinstone Dalrymple named the Proserpine River on an expedition in 1859, but has also been claimed that the first use of the name was in August 1861 when the Emmerson family applied for a tenure over the Proserpine Creek run. The name Proserpine derives from the Roman goddess Proserpina, who also appears in Greek mythology as Persephone. The first British colonists arrived in the early 1860s with Daniel Emmerson forming the Proserpine pastoral station. Frederick Bode and William Dangar took up land at Bromby Park and Goorganga Creek, while Charles Bradley and James Colling established properties along the Gregory River. conducted patrols through the Proserpine area. Following a large number of cattle being killed by Aboriginal people, the native police dispersed around six "large mobs" of Aboriginal people during this mission. Marlow used Daniel Emmerson's property for his stock-yard and bought horses from him. The Crystal Brook Sugar Company was formed in 1882 and established a sugar industry in the region a year later. A sugar mill was built and the labouring on the plantation was performed by imported South Sea Islanders. In 1893 the plantation, which was located at Glen Isla close to the present Proserpine township, was closed and smaller sugar farms run by white owner-operators were established. In 1937, the school was expanded to include a High Top to offer secondary schooling beyond Year 8. In 1946, the Windermere school building…

Geography

Proserpine is situated on the Bruce Highway. Proserpine is located on the North Coast line with Proserpine railway station located in Hinschen Street in the town centre. Proserpine is locally governed by Whitsunday Regional Council, a product of amalgamation of the former Shire of Whitsunday with the former Shire of Bowen. Proserpine is situated within the Queensland electorate of Whitsunday, and the federal electorate of Dawson.

Most-observed species

• Australasian Figbird

  Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  413
• Masked Lapwing

  Vanellus miles (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  396
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

  Cacatua galerita (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  393
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  387
• Silver Gull

  Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1826) · Aves
  331
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  314
• Peaceful Dove

  Geopelia placida Gould, 1844 · Aves
  306
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  274

Most recent

• M 5 — 2020-04-15
  32 km NNW of Whitsundays, Australia
• M 4.3 — 2016-08-18
  50 km N of Whitsundays, Australia
• M 4 — 2016-08-18
  43 km N of Whitsundays, Australia
• M 5.7 — 2016-08-18
  37 km NNW of Whitsundays, Australia
• M 4 — 2011-04-16
  45 km NNW of Collinsville, Australia
• M 5 — 2011-04-16
  Queensland, Australia