Boonarga, Queensland

Boonarga
Queensland
Boonarga; Queensland
	Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, Boonarga, 2006
	Boonarga
Coordinates	26°48′34″S 150°43′13″E / 26.8094°S 150.7202°E
Population	37 (2021 census)
• Density	0.642/km2 (1.664/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4413
Area	57.6 km2 (22.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	19.9 km (12 mi) SE of Chinchilla ; 77.4 km (48 mi) NW of Dalby ; 144 km (89 mi) NW of Toowoomba ; 272 km (169 mi) WNW of Brisbane ;
LGA(s)	Western Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
	Suburbs around Boonarga:

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Boonarga is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Boonarga had a population of 37 people.^[1]

Geography

The Warrego Highway and Western railway line enter the locality from the south-east (Brigalow) and exit to the north-west (Chinchilla).^[3]

Boonarga railway station is an abandoned station on the Western railway line (26°47′39″S 150°42′55″E / 26.7942°S 150.7153°E / -26.7942; 150.7153 (Boonarga railway station)).^[4]

History

Hill Top Provisional School opened on 20 March 1893. On 1 January 1909, it became Hill Top State School. From 1914 to 1915 it operated as a half-time school with Mulga State School (meaning the two schools shared a single teacher). In 1936, it was renamed Boonarga State School. It closed in June 1954.^[5] It was located on the Warrego Highway (26°47′27″S 150°42′27″E / 26.7909°S 150.7075°E / -26.7909; 150.7075 (Boonarga State School (former))).^[6]^[7]^[3]

The Cactoblastis Memorial Hall was built to celebrate the eradiction of the prickly pear in the Boonarga area through the introduction of the cactoblastis moth.^[8] Prickly pear had spread so extensively through the area that it was often not possible to walk or ride through it.^[9]^[10] The hall was built by local builder Mr Jack Schloss at a cost of £435 and was officially opened in February 1936 by Godfrey Morgan, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[11]^[12] A gala ball was held to mark the occasion.^[13]^[14]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Boonarga had a population of 36 people.^[15]

In the 2021 census, Boonarga had a population of 37 people.^[1]

Heritage listings

Boonarga has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Warrego Highway: Cactoblastis Memorial Hall^[16]

Education

There are no schools in Boonarga. The nearest government primary schools are Brigalow State School in neighbouring Brigalow to the south-east and Chinchilla State School in neighbouring Chinchilla to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Chinchilla State High School in Chinchilla.^[3]

Amenities

Boonarga Cactoblastis Memorial Hall is on the Warrego Highway (26°47′43″S 150°42′56″E / 26.7952°S 150.7155°E / -26.7952; 150.7155 (Cactoblastis Memorial Hall)).^[17]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Boonarga (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
^ "Boonarga – locality in Western Downs Region (entry 47669)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
^ "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
^ "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m81" (Map). Queensland Government. 1953. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^ "County of Lytton" (Map). Queensland Government. 1921. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
^ "MEMORIAL TO CACTOBLASTIS". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 15 November 1934. p. 10. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "A SURVEY & SOME OPINIONS". The Sydney Mail. Vol. XLVIII, no. 1241. New South Wales, Australia. 8 January 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Reclaiming a Lost Province—1". The Courier-mail. No. 966. Queensland, Australia. 3 October 1936. p. 22. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Northern Floods—New Church at Bundaberg Cactoblastis Honoured—Giant Footwear". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 5 March 1936. p. 29. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "SCIENCE WAGES WAR ON". Sunday Mail. No. 323. Queensland, Australia. 28 June 1936. p. 27. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Cactoblastis Memorial Hall (entry 601273)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
^ "AUSTRALIANA". The World's News. No. 1795. New South Wales, Australia. 6 May 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Boonarga (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
^ "Cactoblastis Memorial Hall (entry 601273)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
^ "Community Halls". Western Downs Regional Council. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2021.