Gumlu is located in between Home Hill and Bowen. It is 38.9 kilometres (24.2 mi) by road from Home Hill and 65.7 kilometres (40.8 mi) by road from Bowen.
The town of Gumlu is located near the eastern boundary of the suburb. The Bruce Highway and the North Coast railway line traverse the locality from east to west passing through the town.[4] There are three railway stops within the locality:
The town takes its name from the Gumlu railway station which was assigned by the Queensland Railways Department on 15 January 1912, and is believed to be a corruption of an Aboriginal word gunyaloo, meaning rock wallaby.[2]
Molongle Creek Provisional School opened on 13 October 1913.[8] It became Molongle Creek State School on 1 December 1914. In 1920 it was renamed Gumlu State School.[9]
Houses have boomed in Gumlu lately[when?] by about 100% in a year, because of a coal mine opening up.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the locality of Gumlu had a population of 181 people.[10]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Gumlu had a population of 124 people.[1]
Economy
Gumlu is a major region for growing of winter vegetables from April/May through to November with mangoes being harvested in the summer months.[11] To celebrate their horticultural focus, a "Big Pumpkin" and a "Big Watermelon" have been constructed in a public rest area beside the Bruce Highway in the town
Education
Gumlu State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at De Salis Street (19°52′46″S147°41′09″E / 19.8794°S 147.6858°E / -19.8794; 147.6858 (Gumlu State School)).[12][13] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 14 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[14] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 19 students with 2 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[15]
There is no secondary school in Gumlu. The nearest government secondary school is Home Hill State High School in Home Hill to the north-west.[4]
