Boonarga, Queensland

Not to be confused with Boonara, Queensland.

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]

Boonarga Queensland
Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, Boonarga, 2006
Boonarga
Coordinates	26.8094°S 150.7202°E / -26.8094; 150.7202 (Boonarga (centre of locality))
Population	37 (2021 census)[1]
• 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: Chinchilla Chances Plain Brigalow Hopeland Boonarga Brigalow Hopeland Hopeland Brigalow

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 / -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 (26.7909°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 (26.7952°S 150.7155°E / -26.7952; 150.7155 (Cactoblastis Memorial Hall)).^[17]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Boonarga (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Boonarga – locality in Western Downs Region (entry 47669)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
4. "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.
5. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
6. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m81" (Map). Queensland Government. 1953. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
7. "County of Lytton" (Map). Queensland Government. 1921. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
8. "MEMORIAL TO CACTOBLASTIS". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 15 November 1934. p. 10. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "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.
10. "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.
11. "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.
12. "SCIENCE WAGES WAR ON". Sunday Mail. No. 323. Queensland, Australia. 28 June 1936. p. 27. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "Cactoblastis Memorial Hall (entry 601273)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
14. "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.
15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Boonarga (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
16. "Cactoblastis Memorial Hall (entry 601273)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
17. "Community Halls". Western Downs Regional Council. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2021.

External links

Media related to Boonarga, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons