Nebo Township
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Population:Resident population (estimated) in June 2006: 231. Non-Resident worker population in June 2006: 691. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) population in June 2006: 922.
Attractions in the town: Nebo Shire Council, Nebo Museum, Nebo Hotel, Swimming Pool, MAC Art Gallery, Skate Park, Bowls Club, Pioneer Memorial, Board Walk (along Nebo Creek), Centenary and Perry Parks
The First European to travel through the area now known as Nebo was Ludwig Leichhardt in 1865, followed in 1856 by William Landsbrough who named most of the features in the southern and western areas of the Shire including Nebo Creek.
The town of Nebo was surveyed in 1865, the official name at the time being Fort Cooper after the distinctive Mt. Fort Cooper, however, in 1923 the name was changed by popular demand to Nebo, derived from Nebo Creek.
In the early years Nebo Township was strategically situated at the crossroads of the main south-to-north track and the east-to-west track now known as Peak Downs Highway. During the establishment decade, Nebo’s primary production was dominated by sheep and wool growing, however, the area proved unsuitable for sheep, which were eventually replaced by cattle.
A horse bred in the Nebo area became one of King George the V’s favourite chargers. In 1910, during the funeral procession of King Edward VII, the future King George V rode a fine horse with the brand 2GD.20 on its left shoulder. This brand was recognised by an Australian; Mr. A.B McDonald who realised the horse had been bred by him in Central Queensland.
The Shire also has a strong indigenous cultural heritage. The Aborigines of the Nebo area were the first referred to by explorer by Ludwig Leichhardt. Five Tribes dominated the area; Jangga, Wiri, Barna, Barada, and Biria and records indicate that most of the tribes had an average of 500 people.
The District has had eight towns since 1865;
- Epsom on Mt Spenser Station, 30 kilometers east of Nebo Township;
- Hazeldean on Black Waterhole Creek, halfway between Mackay and Nebo;
- Elphinstone, at the northern end of Lake Elphinstone;
- Mt. Britton, the goldmining town on Oaky Creek;
- Dullawunna, a small village several kilometres along the Nebo/Mt. Britton Road;
- Blue Mountain, a settlement in the east of the Shire;
- Coppabella, established to service and support train crew hauling coal from district mines; and
- Glenden established to service Newlands Coal Mine and the first Queensland mining town to include facilities for disabled residents and visitors.