Basalt, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Basalt Queensland
Basalt Location in Queensland
Population	215 (2021 census)
• Density	0.01535/km2 (0.0398/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4820
Area	14,006.3 km2 (5,407.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	95.6 km (59 mi) NW of Charters Towers 142 km (88 mi) WSW of Townsville 1,404 km (872 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Charters Towers Region
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Basalt: Lyndhurst Greenvale Valley of Lagoons Paluma Porcupine Basalt Dotswood Pentland Homestead Campaspe Breddan Southern Cross Black Jack

Basalt is a small rural area in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Charters Towers Region. In 2021, about 215 people lived here. This area is known as a "locality," which is like a small district in Australia.

Exploring Basalt's Landscape

Basalt is a place with interesting natural features. It has important rivers and special protected areas.

Rivers and Natural Parks

The Clarke River flows through Basalt's northern and western parts. In the south, the Burdekin River collects water from many smaller streams.

Two special natural areas are found here. Dalrymple National Park was created in 1990 along the Burdekin River. The amazing Great Basalt Wall National Park is also in the south-west, split into two parts.

Getting Around Basalt

You can reach Basalt by road. The Gregory Developmental Road runs through it. Another road, the Hervey Range Developmental Road, joins it from the east.

There used to be a train line, the Greenvale railway line, that went through Basalt. But it's now closed, and the Tulay railway station is no longer used.

What is the Land Used For?

Most of the land in Basalt is used for grazing. This means farmers raise animals like cattle on the natural grassy areas. These areas are not part of the national parks.

Who Lives in Basalt?

The number of people living in Basalt changes over time. This information comes from official counts called "censuses."

How Many People Live Here?

• In 2011, Basalt had 229 people.
• In 2016, the population was 190 people.
• In 2021, about 215 people lived in Basalt.

Basalt's Historical Places

Basalt has some important historical sites. These places are protected because they tell us about the past.

What Are the Heritage Sites?

• The Lolworth Creek Battery is one of these sites. It's a place that was important for mining long ago.
• Another site is the Hann Family Grave at Bluff Downs Station. This is a historical burial site.

Learning and Education in Basalt

There are no schools directly in Basalt. Students living here have different ways to get their education.

School Options for Kids

For students in the south-east part of Basalt, the closest primary schools are in Charters Towers. These include Richmond Hill State School and Charters Towers Central State School. Homestead State School in Homestead is also nearby.

The closest high school for these students is Charters Towers State High School. It is located in the main part of Charters Towers.

Other Ways to Learn

For students living in other parts of Basalt, schools are not close by. They can choose distance education. This means they learn from home using online lessons or mailed materials. Another option is to attend a boarding school, where students live at the school.