Gairloch, Queensland

The locality is bounded by the Herbert River to the east and by Ripple Creek, a tributary of the Herbert River, to the north.^[3]

The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the south (Ingham) crossing the river on the Sir John Row Bridge into Gairloch. The highway exits to the north to the locality (Bemerside).^[4]

The predominant land use is growing sugarcane.^[5] There is a network of cane tramways to transport the harvested sugarcane to the local sugar mill.^[4]

Historically, Gairloch was south of the Herbert River where the now-abandoned Gairloch railway station was located (18°37′41″S 146°10′53″E / 18.628181°S 146.1814685°E / -18.628181; 146.1814685 (Gairloch railway station (former))).^[6] The land to the north of the Herbert River was known as North Gairloch. Gairloch and North Garloch were connected via the Garloch Bridge (18°37′00″S 146°10′59″E / 18.61663°S 146.18307°E / -18.61663; 146.18307 (Gairloch Bridge)).^[7] Today, the northern side of the river is known simply as Gairloch and the land known as Gairloch on the southern side of the river is now within the localities of Ingham and Foresthome. The former Gairloch railway station is now within Foresthome.^[8]

In October 1921, the Queensland Government approved the construction of the North Gairloch State School at a cost of £869. The school opened in July 1922.^[9][10] In October 1936, tenders were called to build a teacher's residence.^[11] The school closed circa 1942.^[12] The school was on the north-western side of Hawkins Creek Road (approx 18°37′33″S 146°09′31″E / 18.62575°S 146.15848°E / -18.62575; 146.15848 (North Gairloch State School (former))).^[13][14]

In January 1955, a crocodile was sighted in the Herbert River near Gairloch.^[15]

In the 2016 census, Gairloch had a population of 41 people.^[16]

In the 2021 census, Gairloch had a population of 31 people.^[1]