Sharon Bundaberg, Queensland
Sharon
Coordinates	24°52′34″S 152°14′45″E / 24.8761°S 152.2458°E / -24.8761; 152.2458 (Sharon (centre of locality))
Population	1,209 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	24.77/km2 (64.17/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4670
Area	48.8 km2 (18.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	11.9 km (7 mi) W of Bundaberg CBD 380 km (236 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Bundaberg Region
State electorate(s)	Burnett
Federal division(s)	Flynn
Suburbs around Sharon: Meadowvale Meadowvale Meadowvale South Kolan Sharon Oakwood South Kolan Branyan Avoca

Sharon is a rural locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Sharon had a population of 1,209 people.^[1]

The locality is bounded to the north and east by Splitters Creek and to the south by the Burnett River.^[3]

Sharon is approximately eight kilometres west of Bundaberg towards Gin Gin. The Sharon Gorge is a further four kilometres along the highway, and is home to a tranquil area with rainforests, ferns, palms and orchids.^[4]

The neighbourhood of Manoo is located in the south-western area of Sharon (24°53′00″S 152°14′00″E / 24.8833°S 152.2333°E / -24.8833; 152.2333 (Manoo)); it takes its name from the former Manoo railway station on the now closed Mount Perry railway line. The name Manoo is an Aboriginal word meaning clear straight track.^[5]

The Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road (State Route 3) runs through from east to south.^[6]

The locality is named after the Sharon plain in Israel.^[2]

A Methodist Sunday School was established in 1882 by the Workman family which met on the verandah of the school until a church could be built.^[7] The Primitive Methodist church was officially opened on Sunday 29 March 1896 by Reverend William Powell and Reverend Tom Ellison.^[8] The church was used by the Primitive Methodists on three Sundays each month with the fourth Sunday being available to other denominations.^[9][10] Circa 1935, the church building was sold to the Anglican Church.^[11]

Tantitha Provisional School opened on 26 February 1883. In 1894 it became a state school and was renamed Sharon State School.^[12]

Erin Hill State School opened on 30 April 1917. It closed on 14 June 1957.^[13] It was on a 10-acre (4.0 ha) in the Splitters Creek area, now part of Sharon, at 411 Ten Mile Road (24°51′17″S 152°14′08″E / 24.8546°S 152.2356°E / -24.8546; 152.2356 (Erin Hill State School (former))).^[14][3]

Circa 1935, the Anglican Church purchased the former Primitive Methodist Church building and commenced services in February 1935.^[15] St Stephen's Anglican church was dedicated on 30 April 1945 by Rural Dean Reverend N.C.C. Bertram. Its closure was approved in September 1991.^[16] The church was in Gin Gin Road roughly opposite the Sharon State School (approx 24°52′20″S 152°15′46″E / 24.8723°S 152.2627°E / -24.8723; 152.2627 (St Stephen's Anglican Church (former))).^[17]

In the 2011 census, Sharon had a population of 1,131 people.^[18]

In the 2016 census, Sharon had a population of 1,316 people.^[19]

In the 2021 census, Sharon had a population of 1,209 people.^[1]

Sharon has the following heritage listings:

• Splitters Creek Railway Bridge^[20]

Sharon State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 18 Sharon School Road (24°52′21″S 152°15′48″E / 24.8724°S 152.2633°E / -24.8724; 152.2633 (Sharon State School)).^[21][22] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 116 students with 10 teachers (8 full-time equivalent) and 8 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).^[23]

There are no secondary schools in Sharon. The nearest government secondary school is Bundaberg North State High School in Bundaberg North to the north-east.^[3]

Sharon Public Hall is at 1016 Gin Gin Road (24°51′42″S 152°16′02″E / 24.8618°S 152.2672°E / -24.8618; 152.2672 (Sharon Public Hall)).^[24]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sharon, Queensland.

• "Sharon". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.