European occupation along the banks of the Barron River began in late 1876 when the Douglas Track and Smith's Track were established, linking the new port of Cairns to the Hodgkinson goldfields. Chinese market gardeners moved into the area in the late 1870s, after exhausting their chances on the goldfields,[opinion] leased small plots from the landowners, successfully growing rice, bananas, pineapples and other tropical crops.[citation needed]
The need for transport of large volumes of ore from the mines to the coastal ports resulted in the construction of a railway line from Cairns to Herberton, (now the Tablelands railway line). The first 13 km (8.1 mi) of this railway runs from Cairns to Redlynch crossing over Freshwaster Creek. The development of the railway line encouraged land developers to release a land subdivision called Richmond Park Estate near the railway line and Freshwater Creek, which was sold from 1886 with advertising featuring the forthcoming "Richmond Park railway station" and its ten-minute rail journey to Cairns.[4] When the railway line opened in late 1887, there were a number of railway sidings along the line: Stratford (5 miles from Cairns), Lily Bank (6 miles from Cairns), and Richmond (7 miles from Cairns). Richmond Siding was renamed Freshwater Siding (later Freshwater railway station) in January 1890.[5]
A rice mill was established on the Lower Freshwater Creek and was being successfully operated by local man, Joseph Kipling in 1891. Chinese farmers grew rice in the adjacent fields.[6][7]
Freshwater Provisional School opened on 20 August 1896. On 1 January 1909, it became Freshwater State School. Due to low students numbers, it closed in August 1918 but re-opened on 21 September 1923.[8][9][10]
Freshwater Post Office opened by April 1925 (a receiving office, earlier named Stratford, had been open from 1897).[11]
On Sunday 20 November 1938, BishopJohn Heavey officially opened and blessed the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church.[14][15]
Demographics
At the 2006 census, Freshwater had a population of 1,976.[16]
In the 2011 census, Freshwater had a population of 2,104 people.[17]
In the 2016 census, Freshwater had a population of 2,023 people.[18]
In the 2021 census, Freshwater had a population of 2,142 people.[1]
Education
Freshwater State School, 2020Aerial view, Freshwater State School, 2019
Freshwater State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 10 Corkill Street (16°52′49″S145°42′51″E / 16.8802°S 145.7141°E / -16.8802; 145.7141 (Freshwater State School)).[19][20] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 738 students with 50 teachers (43 full-time equivalent) and 25 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent).[21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 709 students with 52 teachers (46 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent).[22]
There is no secondary school in Freshwater. The nearest government secondary school is Redlynch State College in neighbouring Redlynch to the south-west.[23]
The Freshwater branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall on the corner of Kamerunga Road and Old Smithfield Road (opposite the Freshwater railway station, 16°52′53″S145°42′37″E / 16.8815°S 145.7102°E / -16.8815; 145.7102 (CWA Hall)).[27] The branch was established in 1937 and held its meetings in the home of first president Mrs Odgen. In 1940, the railway square became available for recreational use and the CWA purchased the present site for their hall. However, it was not until after World War II that the branch focussed on raising funds for the building, having devoted their wartime activities to the manufacture of camouflage nets and contributions to the war effort. The building was completed in 1955. In additional to CWA activities, the hall is used for by other community groups and for private parties.[28]
In 2009 for the Q150 commemorations, the Stratford and Freshwater Community Association built a heritage trail, with 22 signposted sites in Freshwater and 29 signposted sites in the neighbouring suburb of Stratford.
Notable people
Herbert ("Bunny") Adair and Gladys Down, just married, Freshwater Hall, 1928
^"Advertising". Cairns Post. Vol. III, no. 152. Queensland, Australia. 8 April 1886. p. 3. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"History". Freshwater State School. 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
^Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
^"STRATFORD NEWS". Cairns Post. No. 11, 591. Queensland, Australia. 12 April 1939. p. 12. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". Cairns Post. No. 11, 471. Queensland, Australia. 19 November 1938. p. 2. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
