Bungunya, Queensland

Bungunya is a rural town and locality in the Goondiwindi Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] The locality is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.[4] In the 2016 census, Bungunya had a population of 75 people.[1]

Bungunya
Queensland
Watering facility, Meandarra Rd, Bungunya, circa 1954
Bungunya
Coordinates28.4247°S 149.6569°E / -28.4247; 149.6569 (Bungunya (centre of town))
Population75 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.1669/km2 (0.4321/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4494
Area449.5 km2 (173.6 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Goondiwindi Region
State electorate(s)Southern Downs
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Suburbs around Bungunya:
North Talwood North Bungunya Kioma
South Talwood Bungunya Toobeah
Boomi (NSW) Boomi (NSW) Boomi (NSW)

Geography

Bungunya is located immediately north of the Macintyre River, which is the border between Queensland and New South Wales. The Weir River flows from east to west through the northern part of the locality. Other creeks flow from east to west through other parts of the locality. All of these rivers and creeks ultimately flow into the Barwon River in New South Wales.[5]

The town is located in the approximate centre of the locality. The Barwon Highway (from St George to Goondiwindi) passes from east to west through the middle of the locality, immediately to the north of the town. The Meandarra – Talwood Road (State Route 74) runs north from the Barwon Highway through the centre of the northern part of the locality. The South Western railway line (from Warwick to Dirranbandi) also passes from east to west through the locality, but to the immediate south of the town. The locality was once served by the former Bungunya railway station (28.4264°S 149.6575°E / -28.4264; 149.6575 (Bungunya railway station)) in the town and by the former Welltown railway station (28.4445°S 149.7325°E / -28.4445; 149.7325 (Welltown railway station)) in the east of the locality.[5]

The land is very flat, approximately 180 metres above sea level, and is extensively developed for agriculture.[5]

History

The name Bungunya is allegedly an Aboriginal word, meaning a high or safe living place. The language and dialect is unknown but it may be an imported name from Victoria.[2]

Gamilaraay (Gamilaroi, Kamilaroi, Comilroy) is a language from South-West Queensland and North-West New South Wales. The Gamilaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Balonne Shire Council, including the towns of Dirranbandi, Thallon, Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree, Tamworth and Coonabarabran in NSW.[6]

Bungunya Provisional School opened on a half-time basis in 1916, sharing the teacher with Glengower Provisional School. It became a full-time school in 1918 and a state school soon after.[7]

Bungunya was once a busy railway centre from which thousands of bales of wool were transported from local sheep stations following the shearing season.[8]

In the 2011 census, Bungunya had a population of 189 people.[9]

In the 2016 census, Bungunya had a population of 75 people.[1]

Education

Bungunya State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at George Street (28.4270°S 149.6545°E / -28.4270; 149.6545 (Bungunya State School)).[10][11] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 22 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[12]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bungunya (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Bungunya - town in Goondiwindi Region (entry 5279)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. "Bungunya - locality in Goondiwindi Region (entry 47800)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  6. "Indigenous Language map of Queensland". State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "BUNGUNYA SIDING". The Week. XCIV (2, 432). Brisbane. 4 August 1922. p. 17. Retrieved 15 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.Download
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bungunya (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  10. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. "Bungunya State School". Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.