The Perry Fault, a major regional strike-slip structure in South East Queensland is in the New England Orogenic Belt.[5][6]
Mount Perry is about 365 kilometres (227 mi) northwest of
Brisbane, the capital of
Queensland, and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of
Bundaberg. The town is nestled in a valley near Mount Perry, the area's highest mountain. The Normanby Lookout is located on Normanby Range Road off Towns Creek Road from the
Gin Gin-Mount Perry Road and offers views of the Mount Perry Township and the surrounding countryside. Schuh’s Lookout is on Schuhs Lookout Road off the
Monto-Mount Perry Road at the top of the range, offering views south of Mount Perry.[7]
The locality takes its name from Mount Perry pastoral run which was named in 1857. Originally there were two private towns known as Fife-Barnett and the town of Tenningering. Tenningering was renamed Mount Perry on 14 January 1915.[2]
In 1869, copper was discovered at Mount Perry (approx 100 km west of
Bundaberg) and the township grew rapidly.[9] A railway to the coast was essential to provide cheap transport and make the mining of low percentage ore viable.
Maryborough and Bundaberg vied for the opportunity to be the terminus and the latter city was successful. The first 65 kilometres (40 mi) section of the
Mount Perry railway line from
North Bundaberg railway station (originally called Bundaberg station) to Moolboolaman opened on 19 July 1881.[10]
Mount Perry Provisional School opened on 7 October 1871 with 36 students. It became Mount Perry State School on 9 February 1874.[11]
Mount Perry Post Office opened on 26 July 1871. It was known as Tenningering between 1882 and 1884.[12][13][14]
Mount Perry Wesleyan Methodist Church opened on Sunday 21 July 1872.[15][16] It was built from timber at a cost of £220. It could seat 120 people.[17] In 1919, it was relocated to become the Methodist Church in
Woowoonga. In 1939, it was relocated to
Biggenden to be used as the Methodist church hall.[18][19][20]
St Patrick's Catholic Church was built in 1873.[21] A Catholic day school opened at the church under teacher Miss Bertheau.[22] A second St Patrick's Church was built in 1904 from timber on the site of the earlier church, which had sold for removal.[23][24] The architect was
F H Faircloth and the builder was John Guthrie.[25] Although the church was to be opened on Sunday 12 February 1905 by
ArchbishopRobert Dunne, he was unable to attend on the day and the church was officially opened by the local priest Father Mimnagh with over 400 people in attendance.[26][27]
Schoolchildren and teacher outside the school at Drummers Creek, 1908
Mount Perry is a rural farming area, primarily for raising cattle. Gold mining continues as an important industry. Evolution Mining owns and operates Mt Rawdon Mine which is a gold and silver mine with annual community tours.[9]
There are no secondary schools in Mount Perry. The nearest government secondary schools are Gin Gin State High School in
Gin Gin to the north-east and Burnett State College in
Gayndah to the south. However, some parts of Mount Perry are too distant to attend these schools; the alternatives are
distance education and boarding school.[49]
Amenities
There is a government-run health centre and a 9-hole golf course. There is a general store, petrol station and post office (with bank agency), motel and a hotel.
The North Burnett Regional Council operates a public library at 34 Heusman Street.[50]
Mount Perry has an art gallery and a bicentennial museum with active historic gold stamper (demonstrations on request).
An 18 kilometres (11 mi) section of the
Bicentennial National Trail passes through the Mount Perry area and is ideal for walking, cycling or horse riding activities.
^"LOCAL OPTION". The Week. Vol. XII, no. 291. Queensland, Australia. 23 July 1881. p. 15.
Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"OXLEY". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXVII, no. 4, 632. Queensland, Australia. 3 August 1872. p. 5.
Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^Blake, Thom.
"Mount Perry Methodist Church". Queensland religious places database.
Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^"METHODIST CHURCH". The Daily Mail. No. 5456. Queensland, Australia. 5 March 1920. p. 5.
Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^
abBlake, Thom.
"St Anne's Anglican Church". Queensland religious places database.
Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^"DRUMMER'S CREEK". The Bundaberg Mail. Vol. 49, no. 6856. Queensland, Australia. 12 September 1919. p. 6.
Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^Blake, Thom.
"St Patrick's Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database.
Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^Merrillees, P. H.; Merrillees, R. S.,
"Keys, Constance Mabel (1886–1964)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University,
archived from the original on 7 November 2022, retrieved 7 November 2022
Further reading
Corbin, V. T. (1972). Mount Perry State School centenary, 7th October, 1871-1971 : celebrations - 9th October, 1971. [Parents & Citizen’s Association, Mount Perry State School].
ISBN0959914501.