Hebel, Queensland

Hebel is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.[4] In the 2016 census, Hebel had a population of 67 people.[1]

Hebel
Queensland
Entry sign to Hebel
Hebel
Coordinates28.9730°S 147.7930°E / -28.9730; 147.7930 (Hebel (town centre))
Population67 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.03948/km2 (0.1023/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4486
Area1,697.1 km2 (655.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Balonne Shire
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Hebel:
Bollon Dirranbandi Dirranbandi
Jobs Gate Hebel Dirranbandi
Weilmoringle (NSW) Goodooga (NSW) Angledool (NSW)

Geography

Hebel is in South West Queensland situated 4 kilometres (2 mi) north of the border with New South Wales on the Castlereagh Highway. It is the eastern corner of the locality.[5]

The Bokhara River (a non-perennial river) enters the locality from the east (Dirranbandi) and flows past the immediate north of the town and exits the locality to the south (Goodooga in New South Wales).[6] It is part of the Murray-Darling River system.[5]

In the west of the locality is the Culgoa River and the Culgoa Floodplain National Park (28.9164°S 147.0111°E / -28.9164; 147.0111 (Culgoa Floodplain National Park (centre point))),[7], which extends into neighbouring Jobs Gate.[8][9]

Hebel is close to the well known opal mines of Lightning Ridge in New South wales.

History

Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.[10]

Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales.[11]

Hebel Post Office, circa 1920

The town was reputedly named after a German immigrant Noble Van Hebel. Hebel helped stage the coaches for Cobb and Co.[12]

Curriwillinghi Post Office opened on 1 January 1864 (named after the Curriwillinghi pastoral station, which still exists as at 2020 at 28.9317°S 147.7672°E / -28.9317; 147.7672 (Curriwillinghi pastoral station) [4]).[13]

Circa 1886 Hebel was established as a border township with a border customs post, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Curriwillinghi pastoral station. In 1889, the Curriwillinghi Post Office was replaced by the Hebel Post Office.[13]

In 1897 a dance hall was built. It is now the general store.[14]

Celebrations at Hebel State School, 1901

Hebel Provisional School opened on 11 April 1901. On 1 January 1909 it became Hebel State School.[15][16]

The Hebel Post office closed in 1989.[13]

At the 2006 census, Hebel and the surrounding area had a population of 149.[17]

In the 2016 census, Hebel had a population of 67 people.[1]

Facilities
The Hebel Hotel, 2017

Visitors to the village will find a general store, caravan park, hotel, and coffee shop.

Hebel General Store, 2011

Balonne Shire Council operates a library in William Street.[18][19]

Education

Hebel State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls in Maud Street (28.9709°S 147.7910°E / -28.9709; 147.7910 (Hebel State School)).[20][21] In 2015, it had an enrolment of 11 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[22] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 1 teachers and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[23]

There is no secondary school in Hebel. The nearest secondary school is Dirranbandi State School (to Year 10) in Dirranbandi and St George State High School (to Year 12) in St George.[4]

Attractions

The front of the Hebel Hotel features brightly-coloured art work by John Murray, which the interior furnishings are made of recycled items found in the bush.[14]

The Hebel Historical Circle is a walk around the town illustrates places of historic interest.[14]

The general store is also a cafe and restaurant; it retains its original dance floor.[14]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Hebel (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Hebel - town in Shire of Balonne (entry 15625)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. "Hebel - locality in Shire of Balonne (entry 42681)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. "Bokhara River - river in the Balonne Shire (entry 3495)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  7. "Culgoa Floodplain National Park - national park in Shire of Balonne (entry 39439)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  9. "Culgoa Floodplain National Park - Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  10. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwaalaraay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  11. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwaalayaay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  12. Balonne (Qld.). Council (1996), Window of the west : The Balonne Shire, Balonne Shire Council, retrieved 10 May 2020
  13. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  14. "Hebel". Southern Queensland Country Tourism. 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  15. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  16. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Hebel (Balonne Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  18. "Library location and hours". Balonne Shire Council. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  19. "Hebel Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  20. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. "Hebel State School". Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  22. "2015 School Annual Report (Amended)" (PDF). Hebel State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  23. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Retrieved 28 January 2020.

Further reading
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