Boonarga, Queensland
Suburb of Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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Boonarga | |||||||||||||
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Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, Boonarga, 2006 | |||||||||||||
  Boonarga | |||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Boonarga | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates: 26.8094°S 150.7202°E | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 57.6 km2 (22.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 37 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.642/km2 (1.664/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 4413 | ||||||||||||
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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 (26.7942°S 150.7153°E).[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 (26.7909°S 150.7075°E).[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:
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 (26.7952°S 150.7155°E).[17]
