Miriam Vale, Queensland

Miriam Vale is a town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2011 census, Miriam Vale had a population of 422 people.GeographyThe town is situated on the Bruce Highway, 464km north of Brisbane, the state capital, and 170km south of Rockhampton.EconomyMiriam Vale is renowned as a traditional cattle growing area, and also supports timber, beef and dairy cattle. Tourism is an emerging industry within the shire and the town is a gateway to the tourist resorts of Agnes Water and the Town of 1770.In the 1970s signs at the entry to town proudly proclaimed "Welcome to Miriam Vale - Cattle, Tobacco, Timber and Dairy". The tobacco industry faded in the late 1970s followed by the dairy industry in the 1990s.HistoryMiriam Vale Post Office opened on 1 April 1877.Miriam Vale State School opened on 14 July 1897.Timber industryThe timber industry has roots in the late 19th century, with early timber cutters working along the Bobby Range cutting hoop pine. In these early days hoop pine was cut and two timer chutes allowed logs to be shot to the foot of the range where bullock wagons were waiting. Evidence of these old chutes can still be found at the back of Boreelum on the sides of the range. The southern chute was on tram rails and consisted of two carriages. As the log was lowered down the mountain the other empty carriage was drawn to the top. This was achieved by a small overtaking siding in the middle. The other chute to the west was smaller and built out of logs. The timber was in most cases ferried to rail at Lowmead.