Moranbah

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title: "Moranbah" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mining-towns-in-queensland", "towns-in-queensland", "central-queensland", "isaac-region", "1969-establishments-in-australia", "populated-places-established-in-1969", "localities-in-queensland"] topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moranbah" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox Australian place"]

Field	Value
type	town
name	Moranbah
state	qld
image	Moranbah Water Tower - panoramio.jpg
caption	Moranbah Water Tower at sunset, 2011
coordinates
pop	9425
pop_year
pop_footnotes
postcode	4744
area	3038.9
timezone	AEST
utc	+10:00
dist1	195
dir1	SW
location1	Mackay
dist2	223
dir2	N
location2	Emerald
dist3	407
dir3	NW
location3	Rockhampton
dist4	1047
dir4	NNW
location4	Brisbane
lga	Isaac Region
stategov	Burdekin
fedgov	Capricornia
elevation	249
maxtemp	29.7
mintemp	16.7
rainfall	614.2
est	1969
near-n	Eaglefield
near-ne	Burton
near-e	Coppabella
near-se	Winchester
near-s	Kilcummin
near-sw	Kilcummin
near-w	Pasha
near-nw	Pasha
::

In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a large fly-in fly-out population working in Moranbah's mines: in excess of 1,500 as at 2011.

Geography

The Peak Downs Highway between Mackay and Clermont passes through the south of the locality; the town is 11.9 km north of the highway via the Moranbah Access Road.

Moranbah Airport is also on the Moranbah Access Road, 7.3 km by road of the town ().

Climate

Moranbah experiences a subtropical semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh) with hot, relatively wet summers and very mild, dry winters with cool nights.{{cite web |url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=34038 |title = Moranbah Water Treatment Plant Climate (1972-2012) |publisher = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = July 12, 2024}} |location = Moranbah (21º59'24"S, 148º01'48"E, 260 m AMSL) (1986-2012 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1972-2012) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |collapsed = Yes |Jan record high C = 45.0 |Feb record high C = 41.1 |Mar record high C = 40.4 |Apr record high C = 36.0 |May record high C = 33.9 |Jun record high C = 31.9 |Jul record high C = 31.0 |Aug record high C = 36.4 |Sep record high C = 38.0 |Oct record high C = 40.5 |Nov record high C = 42.7 |Dec record high C = 42.5 |Jan high C = 33.9 |Feb high C = 33.1 |Mar high C = 32.2 |Apr high C = 29.6 |May high C = 26.5 |Jun high C = 23.7 |Jul high C = 23.6 |Aug high C = 25.5 |Sep high C = 29.3 |Oct high C = 32.3 |Nov high C = 33.1 |Dec high C = 33.9 |Jan low C = 21.9 |Feb low C = 21.8 |Mar low C = 20.2 |Apr low C = 17.6 |May low C = 14.2 |Jun low C = 11.1 |Jul low C = 9.8 |Aug low C = 11.1 |Sep low C = 14.1 |Oct low C = 17.6 |Nov low C = 19.4 |Dec low C = 21.1 |Jan record low C = 14.9 |Feb record low C = 15.5 |Mar record low C = 14.3 |Apr record low C = 6.0 |May record low C = 5.0 |Jun record low C = 1.1 |Jul record low C = 0.2 |Aug record low C = 3.0 |Sep record low C = 5.4 |Oct record low C = 10.8 |Nov record low C = 11.9 |Dec record low C = 15.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 103.8 |Feb precipitation mm = 100.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 55.4 |Apr precipitation mm = 36.4 |May precipitation mm = 34.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 22.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 18.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 25.0 |Sep precipitation mm = 9.1 |Oct precipitation mm = 35.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 69.3 |Dec precipitation mm = 103.9 |year precipitation mm = 613.0 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 6.5 |Feb precipitation days = 6.4 |Mar precipitation days = 3.9 |Apr precipitation days = 3.1 |May precipitation days = 2.6 |Jun precipitation days = 2.1 |Jul precipitation days = 1.8 |Aug precipitation days = 1.7 |Sep precipitation days = 1.4 |Oct precipitation days = 3.1 |Nov precipitation days = 4.9 |Dec precipitation days = 5.9 |Jan afthumidity = 43 |Feb afthumidity = 48 |Mar afthumidity = 41 |Apr afthumidity = 43 |May afthumidity = 43 |Jun afthumidity = 44 |Jul afthumidity = 39 |Aug afthumidity = 35 |Sep afthumidity = 30 |Oct afthumidity = 31 |Nov afthumidity = 34 |Dec afthumidity = 38 |Jan dew point C = 17.3 |Feb dew point C = 18.2 |Mar dew point C = 15.7 |Apr dew point C = 13.8 |May dew point C = 11.2 |Jun dew point C = 8.8 |Jul dew point C = 7.0 |Aug dew point C = 6.7 |Sep dew point C = 7.6 |Oct dew point C = 10.5 |Nov dew point C = 12.7 |Dec dew point C = 15.4 |source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology (1986-2012 normals and extremes, rainfall to 1972-2012){{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_034038_All.shtml |title = Moranbah Water Treatment Plant Climate Statistics (1972-2012) |publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |access-date = July 12, 2024

History

The first European to explore the region was Ludwig Leichhardt in January 1845, and the area was first settled by pastoralists in the 1850s.

Moranbah was established in 1969. The town was rapidly expanded in the late 1970s by the Utah Development Company to house mine workers. It has been featured twice (once in 1977 and again in 2012) on Four Corners, an investigative news program, exploring the effects of Australia's various mining booms on local rural communities.

Moranbah State School opened on 1 January 1971 with a secondary department, which became Moranbah State High School on 25 January 1976. Moranbah East State School opened on 27 January 1981.

Moranbah Post Office opened on 1 March 1971.

In 2011, the Queensland Government's Office of Economic and Statistical Research reported Moranbah as the most expensive place to live in the state of Queensland. The study compared the cost of goods and services such as rent, electricity and household fuels in regional areas, to those in Brisbane and found Moranbah in first place with a housing index at 65 per cent higher than that of Brisbane. Since then, housing prices and accommodation rentals have returned to much more affordable levels. For example, the median house price in Moranbah between September 20203 and August 2024 was $350,000.

In 2021, the town celebrated its 50th anniversary with four days of jubilee celebrations, held across the Labour Day long weekend from 30 April 2021 to 3 May 2021. The event had been earlier postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Demographics

In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 8,965.

In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 8,735.

In the , the locality of Moranbah had a population of 9,425.

Economy

Moranbah services the Peak Downs Mine, Goonyella Riverside Mine, Broadmeadow Mine, Grosvenor Mine, Olive Downs mine, Moranbah North coal mine, North Goonyella coal mine and several other smaller mines in the region. Although one of the newest towns in the region, its central location and large population has made it the seat of the Isaac Regional Council.

Education

Moranbah State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Belyando Avenue (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 567 students with 42 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 31 non-teaching staff (19 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Moranbah East State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 4 Williams Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 605 students with 35 teachers (34 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (18 full-time equivalent).

Moranbah State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at Mills Avenue (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 654 students with 56 teachers (55 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.

Amenities

For a small regional town it offers a diverse range of sports and entertainment facilities including a skate park, library, public swimming pool, soccer, rugby league, golf course, AFL, hockey, tennis, off-road racing, motocross and a BMX club.

Isaac Regional Council operates a public library located at Grosvenor Complex, Batchelor Parade, Town Square.

The Moranbah branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Meeting Room at Town Square.

Churches in the town include:

Assembly of God ("Oasis Life")
Uniting Church
Catholic Church
Anglican Church
Christian Fellowship Church

Sport

Sporting facilities in the town include:

Rugby Union – Moranbah Bulls who compete in the Mackay Rugby Union competition.
Australian rules football – Moranbah Bulldogs. Established in 1976, the Senior Club boasts 5 Premierships. In 1977, 1978 and 2014 in the Mackay AFL, and in 1985 and 1986 in the now defunct Central Highlands AFL. The Bulldogs currently participate in the AFL Mackay competition in a 7 club competition and are the most recent Premiers.
Rugby league – the club competes as the Moranbah Miners in the Mackay & District Rugby League competition, fielding teams in three adult grades as well as a number of junior teams in the Mackay Junior League competition. Previously the club competed as the Sharks in the Central Highlands competition against teams from Dysart, Blackwater, Middlemount, Tieri, Emerald, Clermont and Bluff.
Soccer – Moranbah Hawks
Netball
Indoor Volleyball
Squash
Cricket (during summer season)
Social water polo
Touch Football league
Gymnastics
Gun Club
BMX
Athletics Club
Golf
Crossfit

Notable residents

The following people were born in, or have lived in, Moranbah:

Clint Boge – musician
Josh Hannay (born 1980) – professional rugby league player; born in Moranbah
Kaylee Kimber (born 2003) – Australian rules footballer
Shane Marteene (born 1977) – professional rugby league player; born in Moranbah
Larrissa Miller (born 1992) – gymnast, Australian Olympian in 2012 and 2016; born in Moranbah
Travis Norton (born 1976) – professional rugby league player
Clinton Schifcofske (born 1975) – professional rugby league & rugby union player; born in Moranbah
Dennis Scott (born 1976) – professional rugby league player; born in Moranbah

References

{{cite QPN. 22774. Moranbah. town in Isaac Region
{{cite QPN. 49384. Moranbah. locality in Isaac Region
Petkova-Timmer, Vanessa. "The development of Moranbah - Stakeholder analysis".
{{Queensland Globe
(22 October 2020). "Airports - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
{{Queensland Globe
(8 February 2004). "Moranbah". Fairfax Media.
"Boom times pushing regional towns to the limit". ABC.
"Queensland schools past and present". [[Queensland Family History Society]].
{{Cite QldSchool
Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions.
(2011-05-26). "Study counts higher living costs in regional Qld". ABC News.
"Moranbah". realestate.com.au Pty Ltd.
Booth, Kristen. (30 March 2021). "Moranbah will celebrate 50 years with four days of family fun". [[Central Queensland News]].
{{Census 2011 AUS
{{Census 2016 AUS
{{Census 2021 AUS
(15 July 2024). "Like a scene from Game of Thrones: How the Grosvenor coal mine fire unfolded".
"About Council - Isaac Regional Council".
"Moranbah - Isaac Regional Council".
(9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
(2020-03-02). "Moranbah State School".
"ACARA School Profile 2018". [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].
(2020-03-24). "Moranbah East State School".
(2020-03-24). "Moranbah State High School".
"Moranbah Golf Club".
(21 June 2017). "Moranbah Library". State Library of Queensland.
"Branch Locations". [[Queensland Country Women's Association]].
"About Us". Moranbah Miners Rugby League Football Club Inc.
(14 September 2022). "GC Suns AFLW add Kaylee Kimber ahead of Mackay match against St Kilda". Courier Mail.

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