The western part of the locality is the valley of the Little Mulgrave River and the eastern part of the locality is the valley of the Mulgrave River.[3] The Gillies Range Road runs through the locality connecting Gordonvale and the lower localities in the Cairns Region with the Atherton Tableland.[4]
A discontiguous section of the Wooroonooran National Park is in the eastern end of the locality. The developed land is mainly around the rivers as the ground rises sharply into the more mountainous terrain away from the rivers. The land use is a mixture of crop growing (including sugarcane), grazing on native vegetation, and rural residential housing around the rivers. There is a quarry in the south of the locality.[5]
In August 1925, the Queensland Government decided to establish a primary school at a cost of £930.[6] Little Mulgrave State School opened on 26 July 1926. A teacher's residence was built in 1937.[7] The school closed on 21 February 1964, after which the students were transported each day to Gordonvale State School in neighbouring Gordonvale to the east.[8][9]
In October 1924, Carl Ross had the first public telephone in Little Mulgrave installed in his residence.[10] In March 1926, Carl and his wife Frances Isabel Roos established the Mountain View Hotel.[11][12] They had a homested in the district and were long-time residents.[13] Roos Road is named after them.[14]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Little Mulgrave had a population of 249 people.[15]
In the 2021 census, Little Mulgrave had a population of 269 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Little Mulgrave. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Gordonvale State School and Gordonvale State High School, both in neighbouring Gordonvale to the east.[16]
^"NEW SCHOOLS". The Daily Mail. No. 7314. Queensland, Australia. 7 August 1925. p. 13. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Improvements to School Buildings". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 13 May 1937. p. 6 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Cairns Post. No. [?]449. Queensland, Australia. 17 March 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Cairns Post. No. 5349. Queensland, Australia. 14 November 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"THIS MOTOR ROUTE". The Cairns Post. Vol. XXX, no. 2[?]3[?]. Queensland, Australia. 16 October 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
