The locality is split between the two local government areas: the smaller north-eastern part of the locality in South Burnett Region and the larger south-western part in the Western Downs Region. The north-eastern part is almost entirely within the Bunya Mountains National Park, with a small portion of the south-western part also in the National Park. In contrast, most of the south-western part is freehold land used for agriculture. However, only a very small portion of the north-eastern part as freehold land, used for residential and agricultural purposes. The Bunya Mountain Road roughly follows the split between the two local government areas.[4]
The Bunya Highway passes through the western corner of the locality.[4]
The locality of Mowbullan (in the Western Downs Region) is completely enclosed by the locality of Bunya Mountains and does not form part of the national park.[4] This enclosure within another locality is unusual in Queensland and contrary to the Queensland Government's normal policies.[5]
Bunya Mountains Provisional School opened on 6 October 1919 and closed on 15 December 1922.[6]
A 670-metre tramway with a 250 metre descent from the mountain top to the bottom at Wengenville used winches, winders and flying foxes from 1923 to 1928.[14] The logs were transferred to a horse-drawn tram for movement to a log dump.[15] A "not to scale" model of the tramway can be seen at the natural history museum at the Dandabah camping area.[16]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Bunya Mountains had a population of 144 people.[17]
In the 2021 census, Bunya Mountains had a population of 110 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in the locality of Bunya Mountains. The nearest government primary schools are Bell State School in neighbouring Bell to the west, Kumbia State School in Kumbia to the north, and Quinalow Prep-10 State School in Quinalow to the south. The nearest government secondary schools are Quinalow Prep-10 State School (to Year 10) in Quinalow, Dalby State High School (to Year 12) in Dalby to the south-west, Kingaroy State High School in Kingaroy to the north-east, and Nanango State High School (to Year 12) in Nanango to the north-east.[18]
^"Advertising". Darling Downs Gazette. No. 7630. Queensland, Australia. 7 June 1915. p. 1. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Public Works Tenders". The Brisbane Courier. No. 17, 929. Queensland, Australia. 3 July 1915. p. 10. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"STATE SCHOOLS". The Brisbane Courier. No. 18, 042. Queensland, Australia. 12 November 1915. p. 9. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"DALBY DISTRICT SCHOOLS". The Dalby Herald. Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1916. p. 4. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^Kerr and Philpott, JD and MM (1971). "Lars Andersen's Timber Tramways"(PDF). southburnett.biz. Queensland Heritage. Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
^"Timber Tramway Lives Again". southburnett.com.au. South Burnett Online. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.