Netherdale is the most western locality of the Pioneer Valley. The river does not pass through Netherdale but Netherdale is within its drainage basin. The Mackay–Eungella Road passes from the east to the west through the locality after which it climbs the Clarke Range to Eungella.[3]
The north and south of the locality are mountainous (part of the Clarke Range) and rise to 890 metres and 670 metres respectively. Between them lie the "valley" through which the road runs at an elevation of 140 metres (in the east) to 180 metres (in the west). The land use in the valley is a mixture of sugar cane and grazing like most of the Pioneer Valley. There is no development of the mountainous north and south of the locality.[3]
History
Netherdale district, circa 1931
The Mackay Railway was extended from Finch Hatton (to the west) to Netherdale in 1911. The locality was served by two stations:
The line and the stations were closed in 1977 as part of the overall closure of the Mackay Railway.
The Netherdale State School opened on 24 January 1914, having been originally proposed to be called the Eungella Range State School. It closed on 31 December 1963.[6][7]
On 21 April 1928, there was a stump capping ceremony for the Netherton Methodist Church.[8] On Saturday 6 June 1928 the church was officially opened.[9]
Netherdale was within the Shire of Mirani until the shire was amalgamated into the Mackay Region in 2008.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Netherdale had a population of 111 people.[10]
In the 2021 census, Netherdale had a population of 121 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Netherdale. The nearest government primary schools are Eungella State School in neighbouring Eungella to the west and Finch Hatton State School in neighbouring Finch Hatton to the east. The nearest government secondary school is Mirani State High School in Mirani to the east.[11]
^Mackay Region Pilot Heritage Study, p. Appendix 1 - 13
^Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN978-1-921171-26-0
^Mackay Region Pilot Heritage Study, pp. Appendix 1 - 14, 19
^"Stump-capping". Daily Mercury. Vol. 61, no. 4854. Queensland, Australia. 12 May 1928. p. 5. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Bazaars--Sale of work". Daily Mercury. Vol. 61, no. 4894. Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1928. p. 10. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
