Koongal, Queensland
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| Koongal Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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 Rockonia Road Store in Koongal, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
  Koongal | |||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 23°22′10″S 150°32′54″E / 23.3694°S 150.5483°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 4,252 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 966/km2 (2,503/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4701 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Rockhampton Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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Koongal is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Koongal had a population of 4,252 people.[1]
The suburb is located on a small section of the Fitzroy River. The Rockhampton–Emu Park Road runs through from south-west to south-east.[3]
Koongal railway station is an abandoned railway station on the former North Rockahampton to Emu Park railway (23°22′29″S 150°33′10″E / 23.3746°S 150.5529°E).[4]
History
In January 1901, Bishop Joseph Higgins opened and dedicated a new Catholic church in Koongal.[5] It was known as St Nicholas Catholic Church. It was enlarged in 1920 and was demolished in 1958 to make way for a new church building.[6]
On Sunday 17 May 1914, Bishop George Halford dedicated the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist.[7] The church was in Harbourne Street (approx 23°22′27″S 150°33′13″E / 23.3742°S 150.5535°E) and operated until 1977.[8]
St Maria Goretti Catholic Church opened in 1958 at 192 Thozet Road (corner Dunbar Street, 23°21′50″S 150°32′41″E / 23.3640°S 150.5447°E).[9][10] It closed on 19 February 2017.[11]
Mount Archer State School opened on 25 January 1982.[12]
In September 2000, Enid O'Toole Park was officially opened in Koongal, named in honour of a local Rockhampton woman who is credited with pioneering the roles of women in the banking sector as one of the first female bank managers in Queensland.[13]
Koongal was one of the worst affected Rockhampton suburbs during the 2009 bushfires in the Mount Archer National Park in October 2009.[14] A Koongal home in Poinciana Street was destroyed in the bushfire.[15]
After an archaeological investigation, the graves of famous Australian botanist Anthelme Thozet, his son Auguste Thozet and his daughter-in-law Lucy Thozet were discovered in Koongal in 2010.[16][17] They were located in Norris Park on what was Thozet's sprawling "Muellerville" 70-acre experimental garden.[16][17]
In 2015, the Rockonia Road Store in Koongal sustained damage during Cyclone Marcia when its roof was torn off in the strong winds.[18] The store was quickly repaired and promptly resumed trade.
Demographics
In the 2011 census, Koongal had a population of 4,728 people.[19]
At the 2016 census, Koongal had a population of 4.286 people.[20]
In the 2021 census, Koongal had a population of 4,252 people.[1]
