Koongal, Queensland

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]

Koongal
Suburb
Rockonia Road Store in Koongal, 2022
Koongal
Interactive map of Koongal
Coordinates: 23.3694°S 150.5483°E / -23.3694; 150.5483 (Koongal (centre of suburb))
Country	Australia
State	Queensland
LGA	Rockhampton Region
Location	5.0 km (3.1 mi) NE of Rockhampton CBD 636 km (395 mi) NNW of Brisbane
Government
• State electorates	Rockhampton Keppel
• Federal division	Capricornia
Area
• Total	4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Population
• Total	4,252 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	966/km2 (2,503/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+10:00 (AEST)
Postcode	4701
Suburbs around Koongal Frenchville Frenchville Frenchville Berserker Koongal Lakes Creek The Common The Common Port Curtis

Geography

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 (23.3746°S 150.5529°E / -23.3746; 150.5529 (Koongal railway station (former))).^[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 23.3742°S 150.5535°E / -23.3742; 150.5535 (St John the Evangelist Anglican Church)) and operated until 1977.^[8]

St Maria Goretti Catholic Church opened in 1958 at 192 Thozet Road (corner Dunbar Street, 23.3640°S 150.5447°E / -23.3640; 150.5447 (St Maria Goretti Catholic Church)).^[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]

Heritage listings

Koongal has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Lakes Creek Hotel, 431 Lakes Creek Road (23.3757°S 150.5578°E / -23.3757; 150.5578 (Lakes Creek Hotel))^[21]

Education

Aerial view of Mount Archer State School, 2022

Despite the name, Mount Archer State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 242 Thozet Road in Koongal (23.3581°S 150.5456°E / -23.3581; 150.5456 (Mount Archer State School)).^[22][23] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 650 students with 48 teachers (44 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).^[24] It includes a special education program.^[22]

There are no secondary schools in Koongal. The nearest government secondary school is North Rockhampton State High School in neighbouring Frenchville to the north-west.^[25]