Kilkivan is a town and locality in the Gympie Region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 census, Kilkivan had a population of 713. Rossmore is a neighbourhood within the locality to the south-west of the town of Kilkivan.
Kilkivan was first inhabited by the Gubbi Gubbi tribe of the Australian Aboriginal peoples. The town was first settled by Europeans in the 1840s. Queensland’s first gold discovery was at Kilkivan in 1852 and subsequent findings escalated into a gold rush in the 1860s. The town was named for a pastoral run owned by pastoralist John Daniel MacTaggart after his father's farm name near Drumlemble, Kintyre, Scotland. The nearby Australian 'Glenbarr' property owned by MacTaggart was also named for a nearby Scottish farm. Kilkivan Post Office opened on 8 June 1868. It was known as Neureum between 1876 and 1881. Kilkivan State School opened in March 1876. In 1883, a court house, police quarters and lock-up was built at a total cost of ₤748 10s. It was a wooden building with an iron roof and consisted of the court house, two bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, verandahs, and two cells. In 1887, two parcels of land were resumed from the Kilkivan pastoral run: one of and the other. The land was offered for selection for the establishment of small farms on 17 April 1887. St Matthew's Anglican Church was dedicated in 1888 by Reverend E. C. Osbourne of Gympie. Its closure circa 2013 was approved by Bishop Rob Nolan. Fairfield State School opened circa 1915. In 1916 it was renamed Rossmore State School. It was closed circa 1943. The Kilkivan Library opened in 1967. The Kilkivan War Memorial commemorates those of the district who served in the wars. It was dedicated on 28 March 1996.
Attractions
The Kilkivan and District Museum and information centre in the main street features extensive displays which pay tribute to the region's early pioneers. The country town features parks and restored historical buildings. Kilkivan has antique stores, a historical walk, and a cafe and B&B housed in the town's original bank. Kilkivan is one of the few towns on the Bicentennial National Trail. A stone plaque commemorates the opening of the trail in 1988. The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride is held annually in April. Over 1,000 horses and riders start from five points around Kilkivan and travel 20 – along parts of the National Trail to Kilkivan for the Grand Parade down the main street. Mudlo Gap is a popular forest park north of Kilkivan. Mount Clara chimney, thought to be the oldest surviving mining industry chimney in Queensland, and also among the first to have been built, is located by road outside town, and is now conserved as a tourist attraction.
Economy
Major industries today include tourism, beef, dairying and forestry.
Education
Kilkivan State School is a primary and secondary school for boys and girls operated by the Queensland Government at 6 Council Street. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 97 students with 14 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff.
Amenities
The Gympie Regional Council operates a public library at 31 Bligh Street, Kilkivan. The Kilkivan branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA hall at 6 Park Street. The building was built as the council chambers of the Division of Kilkivan at 26 Bligh Street in 1890, but was purchased and relocated to its present site in 1958. The QCWA branch in Kilkivan was established in 1926.
