# South Johnstone, Queensland

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South Johnstone is a rural town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of South Johnstone had a population of 456 people.

## Geography

South Johnstone is in Far North Queensland, approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) south-west of Innisfail.

## History

South Johnstone Sugar Mill opened in 1915.
South Johnstone State School was opened on 5 June 1916. The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016.
St Rita's Catholic School was established on 1 February 1932 by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
The South Johnstone parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns was established in 1947. It is now merged with the Innisfail and Mourilyian parishes.
St Saviour's Anglican Church was designed by Arthur Brown and constructed by local builder Mose Romano using masonry in 1939. It was officially opened on Sunday 2 September 1939 by Bishop John Feetham. It was at 26 Hynes Street (17°35′52″S 145°59′38″E﻿ / ﻿17.597861°S 145.994°E﻿ / -17.597861; 145.994﻿ (St Saviour's Anglican Church)) and has now closed.
The town was originally called Basilisk until 1954, when it was officially renamed South Johnstone after the South Johnstone River. The river was named by George Elphinstone Dalrymple in honour of Robert Johnstone who accompanied him on an expedition in 1873. The name Basilisk is now used for a nearby locality.
St Rita's Roman Catholic Church was built from brick in 1970.

## Demographics

In the 2011 census, the town of South Johnstone had a population of 411 people.
In the 2016 census, the locality of South Johnstone had a population of 413 people.
In the 2021 census, the locality of South Johnstone had a population of 456 people.

## Heritage listings

South Johnstone has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* 26 Hynes Street: St Saviour's Anglican Church

## Economy

South Johnstone Sugar Mill is operated by MSF Sugar. It is on Innisfail Japoon Road (17°36′15″S 145°59′16″E﻿ / ﻿17.6042°S 145.9879°E﻿ / -17.6042; 145.9879﻿ (sugar mill)).

## Education

South Johnstone State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at East Avenue (17°35′36″S 146°00′00″E﻿ / ﻿17.5934°S 145.9999°E﻿ / -17.5934; 145.9999﻿ (South Johnstone State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 31 students with 3 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).
St Rita's School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 8 Green Street (17°35′56″S 145°59′47″E﻿ / ﻿17.5988°S 145.9963°E﻿ / -17.5988; 145.9963﻿ (St Rita's School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 117 students with 15 teachers (10 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).
There are no secondary schools in South Johnstone. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in East Innisfail.

## Amenities

St Rita's Catholic Church is at 5 Green Street (17°35′57″S 145°59′44″E﻿ / ﻿17.5991°S 145.9956°E﻿ / -17.5991; 145.9956﻿ (St Rita's Catholic Church)). It is within the Innisfail Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.
South Johnsone has a number of facilities:
* South Johnstone Post Office (17°35′55″S 145°59′44″E﻿ / ﻿17.5987°S 145.9956°E﻿ / -17.5987; 145.9956﻿ (SOUTH JOHNSTONE POST OFFICE)).
* South Johnstone Police Station (17°36′13″S 145°59′32″E﻿ / ﻿17.6035°S 145.9921°E﻿ / -17.6035; 145.9921﻿ (South Johnstone Police Station))
* South Johnstone Ambulance Station(17°36′13″S 145°59′32″E﻿ / ﻿17.6037°S 145.9921°E﻿ / -17.6037; 145.9921﻿ (South Johnstone Ambulance Station))