Amby, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amby Queensland
Sign located at the entrance to Amby
Amby Location in Queensland
Population	49 (2021 census)
• Density	0.2462/km2 (0.638/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4462
Elevation	340 m (1,115 ft)
Area	199.0 km2 (76.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	24.6 km (15 mi) SE of Mitchell 63.7 km (40 mi) W of Roma 414 km (257 mi) WNW of Toowoomba 542 km (337 mi) WNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Maranoa Region
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Amby: Mitchell Walhallow Walhallow Mitchell Amby Eurella Eurella Eurella Eurella

Amby is a small rural town and area in the Maranoa Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a quiet place with a small population. In 2021, only 49 people lived in the Amby area.

What is Amby Like?

Amby has an unregistered landing strip for small planes. It's about 3 kilometers south of the town.

The town of Amby is located right in the middle of its wider area. A creek called Amby Creek flows through the area from north to south. This creek passes just east of the town. Amby Creek eventually flows into the Maranoa River.

The main road, the Warrego Highway, goes through Amby from east to west. It even passes right through the town's main street. The Western railway line also runs through Amby, with two train stations:

• Amby railway station, which serves the town.
• Bongo railway station, located north-west of the town.

Most of the land around Amby is used for grazing animals on natural grasslands. Some crops are also grown here. Amby is also known for its quarries. These quarries dig up basalt, a type of rock formed from ancient lava flows. Basalt is used to build roads, railway tracks, and other construction projects.

Amby's Past

Amby State School, around 1921.

Amby got its name from Amby Creek. The word "Amby" might mean "little girl" in the Kogai language, which is part of the Mandandanji language.

A large farm called Amby Downs is thought to have been set up before 1860.

The railway line was planned in 1879. It wasn't supposed to go through Amby at first. But because of flooding, the plans changed. A long bridge had to be built over Amby Creek. Amby railway station was built in 1884, and a place for goods was added in 1885. Passenger trains started running in 1890.

A small post office opened in Amby around 1883. It became a full post office around 1900 and still operates today from the Amby Store.

Amby Provisional School opened on February 26, 1894. It became Amby State School in 1901. The school closed on September 19, 1997.

Another school, Freeman's Waterhole Provisional School, opened in 1920. It was renamed Hampstead Provisional School in 1923 and closed in 1930.

St Barnabas' Anglican Church opened around November 1955. It was made of timber and could seat 70 people. This church has now closed, but the building is still there.

People in Amby

The number of people living in Amby has changed over the years.

• In 2011, there were 139 people.
• In 2016, the population was 86 people.
• In 2021, the population was 49 people.

What Amby Does

The main activity in Amby is farming and grazing. There are several large farms in the area, including:

• Amby Downs
• Huntington
• Richland Hill
• Spring Hill
• Turtle Grove

Learning in Amby

There are no schools directly in Amby. The closest government school is Mitchell State School in Mitchell. This school offers education for primary students and high school students up to Year 10.

For high school students wanting to complete Year 11 and 12, the nearest government school is Roma State College in Roma. Because Roma is quite far, students might also choose to learn through distance education (learning from home) or go to a boarding school.

Community Life

Sign for the Amby branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association.

The Amby branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) is an important part of the community. They meet in the Booringa Shire Hall. The QCWA helps women in rural areas and supports their communities.

Places to Visit

Amby Cemetery, 2019.

The clubhouse at the "No Horse Golf Course", 2019.

Amby has a few local facilities:

• Amby Fire Station, which helps keep the community safe.
• Amby Monumental Cemetery, a quiet place for remembrance.
• Amby "No Horse" Golf course, a unique place for golf lovers.

Famous People from Amby

• Robert Dunsmure was a politician who represented the Maranoa area in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.