Bogantungan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BogantunganQueensland |
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Train on the Central Western line near Bogantungan, September 1989
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 Bogantungan
Location in Queensland
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| Postcode(s) | 4702 |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn |
Bogantungan is a small rural town. It is located in the area of Willows in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, Australia.
Contents
Where is Bogantungan?
Bogantungan is about 930 kilometers (578 miles) northwest of Brisbane. Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland. It is also around 350 kilometers (217 miles) west of Rockhampton. Rockhampton is a larger city nearby.
Travel and Transport
The Central Western railway line goes right through Bogantungan. The few houses in town are built around where the old railway station used to be. The Capricorn Highway is a main road that once passed through the town. Now, it goes around the town to the north.
Bogantungan's Past
What Does the Name Mean?
The name Bogantungan comes from Aboriginal words. "Bogan" means "grass" and "tungan" means "tree".
How Bogantungan Started
The Central Western railway was built in different parts. It started in Rockhampton and moved west. For each part, a temporary town was set up. These towns gave homes to the workers building the railway. Once a part was finished, the workers moved on. They would build a new temporary town further west.
Some of these temporary towns stayed even after the workers left. They became permanent towns. Bogantungan was one of them. In its busiest time, it was a town with thousands of people. It even had many hotels.
Early Town Life
In March 1881, the Queensland Government sold land in Bogantungan. They auctioned off 48 town lots. This helped the town grow.
The Bogantungan Post Office opened on 8 July 1881. It helped people send and receive mail. The post office closed in 1982.
Bogantungan State School opened on 19 March 1883. It gave local children a place to learn. The school closed on 11 August 1972. It was located on Jackson Street.
Medway Station History
Nearby Medway station was started by Robert Donaldson and C.E. Glissan. This was in the Bogantungan ranges. The Donaldson family moved there in 1909. They have continued to manage the property. Today, it is a place where they raise cattle.
The Medway Creek Rail Accident
On 26 February 1960, a serious train accident happened near Bogantungan. It was called the Medway Creek rail disaster. The Midlander passenger train was heading east. It was crossing Medway Creek, just west of town. The bridge collapsed while the train was on it. Several train cars fell into the water. This accident caused the loss of 7 lives and injured 43 people.
What to See in Bogantungan
The Bogantungan Railway Station is now a small museum. It is also a rest area for visitors. You can find a memorial there. There are also signs that tell the story of the rail accident and the railway buildings.
Learning Opportunities
There are no schools in Bogantungan itself. The closest primary schools are in Lochington, Anakie, or Alpha. Lochington is about 48.5 kilometers (30 miles) south. Anakie is about 55.5 kilometers (34 miles) east. Alpha is about 71.5 kilometers (44 miles) west.
The nearest high school is in Alpha. It offers education up to Year 10. For education up to Year 12, the closest school is Emerald State High School. This school is in Emerald, about 98.3 kilometers (61 miles) east. Other ways to learn include distance education or going to a boarding school.
