Waverley, Queensland

Waverley is an outback locality in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Waverley had a population of 6 people.^[1]

Waverley Queensland
Landscape beside the Boulia Mount Isa Highway, 2019
Waverley
Coordinates	21.5768°S 139.0092°E / -21.5768; 139.0092 (Waverley (centre of locality))
Population	6 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.00065/km2 (0.00168/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4825
Area	9,244.8 km2 (3,569.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	38.5 km (24 mi) SSW of Mount Isa 119 km (74 mi) N of Dajarra 268 km (167 mi) N of Boulia 940 km (584 mi) W of Townsville 1,861 km (1,156 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Boulia
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Waverley: Barkly Mount Isa (locality) Duchess Piturie Waverley Dajarra Carrandotta Georgina Buckingham

Geography

Waverley is in the Channel Country. All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin,^[3] and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre.^[4]

The predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation.^[3]

The Boulia Mount Isa Highway enters the locality from the north-east (Mount Isa) and exits to the east (Dajarra).^[3]

Waverley has the following mountains (from north to south):

• Rifle Creek Hill (20.9537°S 139.5171°E / -20.9537; 139.5171 (Rifle Creek Hill)) 542 metres (1,778 ft)^[5]
• Mount Guide (21.0375°S 139.5196°E / -21.0375; 139.5196 (Mount Guide))^[5][6]
• Mount Woodhouse (21.0991°S 139.1348°E / -21.0991; 139.1348 (Mount Woodhouse))^[5][7]
• Pinnacle Knob (21.8851°S 139.0727°E / -21.8851; 139.0727 (Pinnacle Knob)) 276 metres (906 ft)^[5][8]
• Steamboat Hill (21.9094°S 139.0701°E / -21.9094; 139.0701 (Steamboat Hill)) 301 metres (988 ft)^[5][9]
• McCabe Knob (22.3101°S 138.9468°E / -22.3101; 138.9468 (McCabe Knob))^[5][10]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Waverley had a population of 20 people.^[11]

In the 2021 census, Waverley had a population of 6 people.^[1]

Heritage listings

Moonah Creek Hanging Tree, 1964

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

• Ardmore Station: Moonah Creek Hanging Tree^[12]

Education

There are no schools in Waverley. The nearest primary schools are in Mount Isa and Dajarra but might be infeasible for a daily commute.^[3] The nearest secondary school is in Mount Isa.^[3] The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa offers boarding facilities.^[13] Other boarding schools or distance education would be options.

Economy

There are a number of homesteads in the locality (from north to south):^[14]

• Mount Guide (21.0082°S 139.4067°E / -21.0082; 139.4067 (Mount Guide (homestead)))
• Sheila Outstation (21.1992°S 138.8466°E / -21.1992; 138.8466 (Sheila Outstation (homestead)))
• Oban (21.2339°S 139.0460°E / -21.2339; 139.0460 (Oban (homestead)))
• Suva Downs Outstation (21.6055°S 138.7426°E / -21.6055; 138.7426 (Suva Downs Outstation (homestead)))
• Ardmore (21.6481°S 139.1844°E / -21.6481; 139.1844 (Ardmore (homestead)))
• Douglas Downs Outstation (21.6576°S 138.9339°E / -21.6576; 138.9339 (Douglas Downs Outstation (homestead)))
• Kallala (21.7585°S 138.8855°E / -21.7585; 138.8855 (Kallala (homestead)))
• Quewar Outstation (21.9139°S 138.9142°E / -21.9139; 138.9142 (Quewar Outstation (homestead)))