Bajool, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BajoolQueensland |
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Bajool Hotel, 2022
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 Bajool
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 447 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.7597/km2 (1.968/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4699 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 588.4 km2 (227.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Rockhampton Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Mirani | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Bajool is a small country town and rural district in the Rockhampton Region of Queensland, Australia. It sits in a sunny farming area with green hills and open plains. In the 2021 census count, Bajool had a population of 447 people. Life here is peaceful and connected closely to nature.
Many people travel past the town while driving on the major roads of the state. It has a long railway background, local farms, and scenic views of big hills.
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Geography and Natural Landscapes around Bajool
The town sits right along the famous Bruce Highway in central Queensland. It is 35 kilometres (22 mi) south of the city of Rockhampton. If you travel 74 kilometres (46 mi) to the south, you will reach Gladstone. A gentle stream called Eight-Mile Creek flows right past the eastern side of the town.
The active North Coast railway line also travels directly through the district. Trains enter from the nearby place called Marmor in the west. They travel through the area and exit north toward Midgee. Two train stations were built to serve the rail route:
- Archer railway station
- Bajool railway station, which served the local town centre
Several large hills and mountains rise over the landscape around the district. These high points provide great views across the countryside:
- Beschs Hill reaches 528 metres (1,732 ft) high.
- Mount Gindiwarra reaches 398 metres (1,306 ft) high.
- Mount Helen reaches 633 metres (2,077 ft) high.
- Mount Hopeful stands tall at 634 metres (2,080 ft) high.
- Mount Kelly reaches 310 metres (1,020 ft) high.
- Mount Mccamley reaches 319 metres (1,047 ft) high.
History of the Country Town
The town received its unique name from its old train station in 1903. The Queensland Railways Department chose an Aboriginal word for a nearby lagoon. That body of water was on a large farm run by the Archer brothers. The original word was written down as Padgole or Badul. Many people believe the name translates to Big Fella water hole or stop here.
During the late nineteenth century, local families needed places where their children could learn. A tiny provisional school opened in March 1888 near Eight Mile Creek. Its first classroom leader was a teacher named Mr Beck. His brother served as the leader of the Fitzroy Shire Council. That early school closed in 1892, opened briefly in 1895, and closed again.
Gold and mineral mining soon brought more families into the district. A temporary school opened in 1900 inside a family home at San Jose. Only ten young students attended classes there under teacher William MacLean. Another small class began in 1902 at the home of Mr H. Cross. These two tiny schools combined in August 1903 with 31 kids attending together.
The arrival of the railway line from Gladstone to Rockhampton changed everything. Workers actually needed the school land to lay tracks, so classes moved. The new railway line brought exciting growth, business, and travelers to town. The town school reopened on Mill Street in 1904. It officially became the permanent Bajool State School in 1909.
Other small settlements nearby had their own country classrooms too. Ulam Upper School taught local students from around 1892 until about 1961. Further south, parents collected their own money in 1892 to build a school. They received no state funds, but they opened Ulam South School in 1894. That country school taught children until it finally closed its doors in 1925.
Education and Schools for Local Kids
Primary school students in the area go to Bajool State School today. It is a government school for boys and girls from Prep up to Year 6. It sits in a quiet spot on Toonda Street.
The school gives children a friendly place to learn in small classes. In 2012, the campus had 39 students learning with two dedicated teachers. By 2018, around 40 students attended classes with four teachers and five support staff.
Older students travel outside the town when they finish Year 6. Older kids can attend Mount Larcom State School nearby in Mount Larcom. Other teens take buses to Mount Morgan State High School in Mount Morgan. Students can also travel north to attend Rockhampton State High School in Wandal, Rockhampton.
Local Facilities and Community Sites
Bajool contains an important industrial storage facility run by the state government. It is one of four main government storage reserves in Queensland. Trucks move goods about 29 kilometres (18 mi) along the road to Port Alma. In the past, a special branch rail line connected Bajool to that port. That train track operated for many years between 1912 and 1986.
The historic Bajool Cemetery is located on School Road near the edge of town. Bajool remains a quiet and friendly stop for travelers exploring regional Queensland.
