02. Cherbourg
Cairns
Cherbourg is located approximately 280km northwest of
Brisbane and 6km from the regional town of Murgon.
Townsville
Mt Isa
Brief history
Cherbourg, formerly known as
Barambah, is Queensland’s third
largest Aboriginal community.
It was founded in 1901 when the
Queensland Government set
aside 7000 acres of the Cherbourg
selection as an Aboriginal reserve.
In 1904 the Protector of Aborigines
forcibly relocated more than 300
Aboriginal people from 13 different
tribes to Barambah.
Rockhampton
Aboriginal people at Barambah were
required to clear the area by hand.
Early conditions in the community were
so harsh, most people continued to live
off the land and live in bush humpies.
In 1931 Barambah was renamed
as Cherbourg. In the 1930s the
government provided rations for the
inhabitants and began to construct
proper accommodation in the
Cherbourg township.
By 1934 the population was more than
900 people, representing 28 different
language groups.
Cherbourg
Brisbane
The size of the settlement has steadily
increased with ventures in agriculture,
beef cattle and joinery becoming
increasingly successful.
The community celebrated its
centenary in 2004. Cherbourg
became independent in 1986 when
the Queensland Government issued
the community with a Deed of Grant
in Trust.
General information
Population
1241 (approx)
Traditional owners
and school holiday activities, family
violence support and early intervention
programs. There are also support
programs to help people suffering
from drug and alcohol misuse.
Wakka Wakka and
Western Wakka Wakka peoples
Accommodation
Local government authority
6 kms to Murgon Township –
a number of options are available:
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
C/- Post Office
CHERBOURG QLD 4605
Murgon Motor Inn
Ph 41681400
Telephone: 07 4168 1866
Mr Warren Collins (CEO)
Community services
Cherbourg’s community services
include a hospital, health service,
women’s and children’s shelters,
primary school and a TAFE College.
Law and order includes community
police, a youth justice service and
a community justice group.
A Queensland Police station is
located in nearby Murgon.
State government funding also
supports emergency relief, family
support and youth services, child care
Department of Public Works
Brambah Lodge B&B
Ph 0417712921
Brambah Cvn Park
Ph 41681085
Royal Hotel
Ph 41681799
Store facilities
Retail store
Mon-Fri 9 am – 4:30 pm
General shopping in Murgon
Cafe
8 00 am – 7 pm
Mobile phone coverage
Coverage can depend on your service
provider and handset. In Australia,
mobile phone services reach about
99 per cent of the population, but
cover only 25 per cent of metropolitan
and rural areas due to the large
Australian landmass.
The reception can depend on where
you are and the type of handset.
The coverage amongst the mobile
providers differ, however some of the
more effective include; Telstra; Optus;
and Vodafone.
The best coverage in remote areas use
an external antenna and a satellite
phone can give wider coverage.
Blue cards
The purpose of the blue card system
is to promote safety for children and
young people in environments where
they are required to be (such as
schools and child care centres) and
those that promote their physical,
social and cultural development (such
as sporting or community groups).
Volunteers, trainee students, paid
employees and people operating a
business may need a blue card to work
with children in certain environments.
QBuild Employees (including
contractors) may be required to
carry out work on school sites where
licensed childcare operations are
located. Even though they will not be
providing services to children, they
will be required to hold Blue Cards
to perform work within the licensed
parameters of these operations. For
further information, please contact
QBuild, Workforce Capability on
07 3224 5239.
Recreational activities
Contact Council for more information
prior to undertaking any recreational
activities outside the township area
within the Cherbourg Shire boundaries.
Seasonal considerations
Nil
Alcohol restrictions
All visitors to a discrete Indigenous
community must familiarise
themselves with local alcohol
management plans and local laws
prior to commencing work within the
community. Also note that Queensland
State Laws prohibit the consumption
of alcohol in any public place
in Queensland.
Alcohol restrictions either ban or limit
the amount and type of alcohol you can
take into a community.
The restricted area is the Cherbourg
Shire, including the banks of the
Barambah Creek bounding the
community and waterway where it
passes through Cherbourg. All public
and private places are included.
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL
THAT A PERSON CAN CARRY IN
CHERBOURG SHIRE IS 11.25 LITRES
(1 CARTON OF 30 X 375 ML CANS) OF
LIGHT OR MID-STRENGTH BEER – NO
WINE AND NO SPIRITS.
For more information on Alcohol
Management Plans and local laws,
visit www.atsip.qld.gov.au/
everybodys-business/travellersalcohol-restrictions/
Department of Public Works’ Regional Offices
QBuild Wide Bay/Burnett Regional Office
44 Ariadne Street
MARYBOROUGH QLD 4650
Project Services
120-124 Mort Street
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
Telephone: 07 4121 1999
Fax: 07 4121 1948
Telephone: 07 4615 3573
Fax: 07 4615 3602