History
Founders Message
Charley's Place was established in 2007 for the care of our own children, whilst caring for our own children we created at Charley's Place the magical steps of play and discovery. Success comes from the combination of play and education, both structured and self-discovered, children have a natural sense of curiosity and each one has unique talents, capabilities, and aspirations. The Charley's Place family nurtures these characteristics by providing a stimulating, healthy and caring environment where children can flourish in their own development.
Charley's Place supports families in their parenting role and helps to promote their individual values and beliefs in raising their children, collaborative partnerships with families and communities are fundamental for us to achieve quality outcomes for all children. We encourage families to be active participators in the life of their children at Charley's Place as we build respectful and supportive relationships. Charley's Place reflects the needs of the local communities and families and we are inclusive of all cultures, religion, abilities and needs. We aspire to find ways to benefit each family that attends Charley's Place, success begins in the earliest years as we nurture and support this for each child through play and education.
We hope you enjoy your time at Charley's Place.
- Jason and Raschelle Hewett
Chinchilla and District
Population: 5487 (ABS Census Data 2011)
Elevation: 313m
GPS Coordinates: 26.75oS; 150.59oE
Our area was first discovered by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt on his 1844 expeditions, however, it wasn't until 1846 when he passed through again that he named Charley's Creek and took up camp here with his party. Charley's Creek, named in honour of Leichhardt's Aboriginal guide, Charley Fisher, and the reliable supply of water that it provided prompted the development of the first white settlement in the Chinchilla District. One of the first slab huts to be built and occupied on Chinchilla Station (Wongongerra Cottage) now stands proudly at the Chinchilla Historical Museum.
A succession of good seasons from the 1850s through to the early 1860s enticed landholders to take-up properties adjoining Chinchilla Station and the number of settlers in the area grew. When bullock wagons could no longer provide reliable transport of goods and produce, the settlement looked to the railway. Owing to their short bridge crossings and ample water supply, Charley's Creek and Rocky's Creek were deemed the preferred route, and in 1876, construction of the Dalby to Roma railway line had begun. By 1877, a lawless shanty town of tents and pubs had sprung up along Charley's Creek, which would later become known as Chinchilla. Local historians will tell you that our town name could be based on the Aboriginal word 'jinchilla', which is the indigenous term for the plentiful stands of cypress pine, a fresh scented termite resistant timber that grows on the Western Downs.
