Womalilla, Queensland

Womalilla Queensland
Womalilla
Coordinates	26.4997°S 147.8172°E / -26.4997; 147.8172 (Womalilla (town centre))
Population	72 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.0591/km^2 (0.1530/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4465
Area	1,219.0 km^2 (470.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Maranoa Region
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Womalilla: Tyrconnel Tyrconnel Forestvale Mungallala Womalilla Mitchell Mungallala South V Gate Eurella

Womalilla is a rural town and locality in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Womalilla had a population of 72 people.[1]

Geography

Womalilla Creek rise through the locality in the north-west and flows south-east to become a tributary of the Maranoa River.[4]

The Warrego Highway runs through from east to west.[5]

The Western railway line runs from east to west, south of the highway.

Ooline railway station was in the north-west north of the locality and is the highest point on the Western Railway Line west of Kingsthorpe (26.48278°S 147.63694°E / -26.48278; 147.63694 (Ooline railway station (former))).

It was named by the Queensland Railways Department on 11 May 1916 and is an Aboriginal word describing a particular species of tree.[6]

History

The town's name is derived from a pastoral run name used from 1862, reportedly an Aboriginal word group for trees by a creek (from womal meaning tree/timber and illa meaning creek).[2]

Womalilla Creek No 1 Provisional School and Womalilla Creek No 2 Provisional School were to be opened together in 1913 to operate as a pair of part-time schools (meaning they would share one teacher between the two schools. However, the No 2 school opened on 24 August 1913 but it was not until 3 July 1914 that the No 1 school opened. Both schools closed in 1929 due to low student numbers.[7]

On 17 April 1935, the new Womalilla Provisional School opened and operated on a full-time basis. In 1937, it became Womalilla State School. The school closed in 1954.[7][8] It was located in the town centre (approx 27.87320°S 151.42816°E / -27.87320; 151.42816 (Womalilla State School (former))).[9]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Womalilla had a population of 39 people.[10]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Womalilla had a population of 72 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in Womalilla. The nearest government primary schools are Mitchell State School in neighbouring Mitchell to the east, Mungallala State School in neighbouring Mungallala to the west, and Dunkeld State School in Dunkeld to the south-east.[11]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Womalilla (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Womalilla – town in Maranoa Region (entry 37849)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
3. "Womalilla – locality in Maranoa Region (entry 47469)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
5. "Womalilla, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
6. "Ooline – locality unbounded in Maranoa Regional (entry 39305)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
8. "Agency ID 9280, Womalilla State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
9. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m91" (Map). Queensland Government. 1953. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Womalilla (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
11. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 December 2024.

External links

• "Town map of Womalilla". Queensland Government. 1987.