Shire
of Burdekin and the Town of Ayr
| Shire
Population: |
18,957 |
| Ayr Township
Population: |
8,302 |
| Area of
Shire: |
5026.720 sq. km |
| Rainfall: |
Varies from 800mm to
1200mm |
| Major land
use: |
Agriculture |
| Major Industry: |
Sugar |
Other gross agricultural
production: |
$240 million |
| Major towns: |
Ayr & Home Hill |
| Other townships: |
Giru, Brandon, Clare, Millaroo,
Dalbeg and Ravenswood. |
| First explored: |
Early 1840's by Captain Wickham |
| First settlement: |
Township of Wickham on
Rita Island in the early 1860's. |
Distance from school
to centre of Ayr: |
1km |
| Local Services: |
Town water; normal AC power;
doctors; dentists; chemists;
hospital, ambulance; veterinary
surgeries; Police station; full
vehicle service; hotels, railway
station; local bus transport;
Official Post Office - mail
collected daily; good Television
& mobile Phone reception. |
| Recreation: |
Golf, bowls, swimming pool,
tennis, squash, basketball,
cricket, football, equestrian,
fishing, sailing, water skiing |
| Organisations/clubs: |
RSL, Rotary, Lions,
Apex, Jaycees, Toastmasters. |
The
Burdekin is built on liquid gold, and our primary
industry is agriculture, mainly sugar cane. We are
blessed with a magnificent resource of underground water
and an irrigation scheme from the Burdekin Dam. Because
of this, our farmers have the ability to virtually
control their weather. The Burdekin River Irrigation
Scheme, the lifeblood of the area, is the largest land
and water conservation scheme in the State.
We live in the dry
tropics and this is a truly bountiful area. Apart from
sugar, we produce mangoes, melons and many different
horticultural crops.
Our many tidal creeks
offer the opportunity for the enthusiast to try their
luck, and you may even catch a barramundi. There are
heaps of mudcrabs.
With its beautiful
sights and natural resources, all nestled along the banks
of the magnificent Burdekin River, the Burdekin is its
own little piece of paradise. Few other regions can match
the Burdekin's "Winterless" climate, blue skies
and kilometres of sandy coastline.
Spanning the full
width of the Burdekin river is the awe-inspiring
"Silver link", one of the longest bridges in
Australia.
Of
Interest:
 |
Ayr Nature
Display, Wilmington Street, fine collection of
emu egg carvings, butterflies and beetles. |
|
Burdekin
Cultural Complex, Queen Street, includes 530 seat
theatre, library and activities centre;
distinctive 'Living Lagoon' in the theatre
forecourt. |
|
ESA markets,
Plantation Creek Park, Queen Street, 3rd Sunday
of each month. |
|
September:
Water Festival. |
In
the Area:
 |
Alva Beach,
18km north, for beach walks, bird watching,
swimming and fishing; markets first Sunday of
each month. |
|
Australian
institute of Marine Science at Cape Bowling
Green, 20km north. |
|
Hutchings
Lagoon, 5km north west, for water sports and
picnics. |
|
Lions Diorama, 10km south,
shows agricultural achievements of Burdekin
region. |
If you have comments
or suggestions, e-mail us at the.principal@ayrss.eq.edu.au
|
