Sharon

History

The locality is named after the Sharon plain in Israel. The Primitive Methodist church was officially opened on Sunday 29 March 1896 by Reverend William Powell and Reverend Tom Ellison. The church was used by the Primitive Methodists on three Sundays each month with the fourth Sunday being available to other denominations. Circa 1935, the church building was sold to the Anglican Church. Tantitha Provisional School opened on 26 February 1883. In 1894 it became a state school and was renamed Sharon State School. Erin Hill State School opened on 30 April 1917. It closed on 14 June 1957. It was on a in the Splitters Creek area, now part of Sharon, at 411 Ten Mile Road (). St Stephen's Anglican church was dedicated on 30 April 1945 by Rural Dean Reverend N.C.C. Bertram. Its closure was approved in September 1991. The church was in Gin Gin Road roughly opposite the Sharon State School (approx ).

Geography

The locality is bounded to the north and east by Splitters Creek and to the south by the Burnett River. Sharon is approximately eight kilometres west of Bundaberg towards Gin Gin. The Sharon Gorge is a further four kilometres along the highway, and is home to a tranquil area with rainforests, ferns, palms and orchids. The neighbourhood of Manoo is located in the south-western area of Sharon (); it takes its name from the former Manoo railway station on the now closed Mount Perry railway line. The name Manoo is an Aboriginal word meaning clear straight track. The Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road (State Route 3) runs through from east to south.

Most-observed species

• Australian Ibis

  Threskiornis molucca (Cuvier, 1829) · Aves
  2,659
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  2,592
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  2,571
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  2,501
• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  2,459
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  2,451
• Australasian Figbird

  Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  2,399
• Masked Lapwing

  Vanellus miles (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  2,357

Most recent

• M 4.9 — 2015-02-15
  42 km N of Mundubbera, Australia