Millaroo, Queensland

The locality is bounded to the west by the Burdekin River.^[6] The place is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-east of Townsville, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) inland from the Coral Sea.

It is a sugarcane growing area with underground water supplies to irrigate crops.^[6]

The name Millaroo comes from Millaroo Creek, which in turn was recorded by surveyor Robert Abbott in 1895, but the original of that name are unknown. There was a pastoral property of that name.^[4][8]

Following World War II, a number of soldier settlement blocks were established in the area for the purpose of growing tobacco, but it was not successful.^[9]

In 1952, there was a plan to establish a new irrigation area along the Burdekin River based around a new town. The town to be called Millaroo was to be established as a "modern" "first class" planned town with reserves, parks, and industrial zones suitable for a population of 6,000 (a similar population to that of Ayr at that time). The buildings were to be constructed with brick and concrete to reduce the fire risk.^[8][10][11]

In 1952, the Millaroo Research Station was established by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock to undertake agricultural research to benefit North Queensland.^[9]

The Burdekin Gorge Weir (20.4726°S 147.2905°E / -20.4726; 147.2905 (Burdekin Gorge Weir)) on the Burdekin River (between Ravenswood and Mount Wyatt) was completed in November 1953 to provide water for irrigation.^[12] This led to the land at Millaroo switching to growing sugarcane.^[9]

Millaroo State School opened on 19 July 1954.^[13][14]

Millaroo Post Office opened on 1 July 1955 and closed in 1972.^[15]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 200 people.^[16]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 96 people.^[17]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Millaroo had a population of 86 people.^[2]

Millaroo State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 1-13 Cunningham Street (20.0581°S 147.2806°E / -20.0581; 147.2806 (Millaroo State School)).^[18][19][6] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 9 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).^[20]

There are no secondary schools in Millaroo. The nearest government secondary school is Home Hill State High School in Home Hill to the north-east, but, given the distance, the alternatives are distance education or boarding schools.^[6]