Moffatdale, Queensland

Moffatdale is a rural locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Moffatdale had a population of 257 people.^[1]

Moffatdale Queensland
Parasailing on Lake Barambah impounded by the Bjelke-Petersen Dam, 2014
Moffatdale
Coordinates	26.3080°S 152.0183°E / -26.3080; 152.0183 (Moffatdale (centre of locality))
Population	257 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	4.886/km2 (12.65/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4605
Area	52.6 km2 (20.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	11.0 km (7 mi) SE of Murgon 54.7 km (34 mi) NNE of Kingaroy 98.4 km (61 mi) W of Gympie 237 km (147 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	South Burnett Region
State electorate(s)	Nanango
Federal division(s)	Wide Bay Flynn
Suburbs around Moffatdale: Murgon Redgate Redgate Cherbourg Moffatdale Redgate Charlestown Charlestown Barambah

Geography

The Bjelke-Petersen Dam is in the west of the locality (26.3032°S 151.9789°E / -26.3032; 151.9789 (Bjelke-Petersen Dam)) with the reservoir Lake Barambah (26.3269°S 151.9974°E / -26.3269; 151.9974 (Lake Barambah)) extending through the south-west of the locality.^[3]

Although Moffatdale is not officially a town, there is a residential subdivision near the school. Apart from this, the land use is a mixture of grazing on native vegetation and crop growing.^[3]

There are a number of homesteads in the locality, including:^[4]

• Barambah-Dale (26.2954°S 152.0291°E / -26.2954; 152.0291 (Barambah-Dale (homestead)))
• Bridgeman Downs (26.3128°S 152.0059°E / -26.3128; 152.0059 (Bridgeman Downs (homestead)))
• Brigalow Park (26.2839°S 152.0043°E / -26.2839; 152.0043 (Brigalow Park (homestead)))
• Dal Dowie Retreat (26.3283°S 152.0231°E / -26.3283; 152.0231 (Dal Dowie Retreat (homestead)))
• Lakeview (26.3350°S 152.0291°E / -26.3350; 152.0291 (Lakeview (homestead)))
• Moffatdale (26.2939°S 152.0258°E / -26.2939; 152.0258 (Moffatdale (homestead)))
• Parrishs Paddock (26.3064°S 152.0151°E / -26.3064; 152.0151 (Parrishs Paddock (homestead)))
• Peppercorn (26.3254°S 152.0110°E / -26.3254; 152.0110 (Peppercorn (homestead)))
• Sunny Brae (26.3175°S 152.0336°E / -26.3175; 152.0336 (Sunny Brae (homestead)))

History

Original school building at Moffatdale State School, 1973

Caulfield Provisional School opened on 1 November 1915 with 11 students under teacher Miss Elise Ellen Bow.^[5][6] In 1916, it was renamed Barambah West Provisional School and again in 1918 as Moffatdale Provisional School. On 1 June 1926, it became Moffatdale State School.^[7] The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 1965 with 5 of its first-day students in attendance. The school celebrated its 75th anniversary on 27 October 1990 with nearly 500 former students and teachers in attendance. The school celebrated its centenary in 2015 with the publication of a school centenary history book. At that time, the school had an enrolment of 53 students and the original school building was still on site, but was being used as an office.^[5][6]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Moffatdale had a population of 179 people.^[8]

In the 2021 census, Moffatdale had a population of 257 people.^[1]

Education

Moffatdale State School, 2024

Moffatdale State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 892 Barambah Road (26.3059°S 152.0117°E / -26.3059; 152.0117 (Moffatdale State School)).^[9][10] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 42 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (4 full-time equivalent).^[11]

There is no secondary school in Moffatdale. The nearest secondary school is Murgon State High School in neighbouring Murgon to the north-west.^[3]

Amenities

There are two boat ramps into Lake Barambah known as:^[12]

• Bjelke-Petersen Dam (West) (26.3059°S 151.9820°E / -26.3059; 151.9820 (Bjelke-Petersen Dam (West) boat ramp))

• Bjelke-Petersen Dam (East) (26.3063°S 151.9928°E / -26.3063; 151.9928 (Bjelke-Petersen Dam (East) boat ramp))

Both are on Haager Drive and are managed by the South Burnett Regional Council.^[12]