Capella, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Capella Queensland
The Gregory Highway is the main street in Capella, 2016
Capella Location in Queensland
Population	974 (2021 census)
• Density	103.6/km2 (268/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4723
Area	9.4 km2 (3.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	52 km (32 mi) NNW of Emerald 334 km (208 mi) W of Rockhampton 883 km (549 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Central Highlands Region
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Localities around Capella: Khosh Bulduk Khosh Bulduk Belcong Hibernia Capella Belcong Hibernia Chirnside Chirnside

Capella is a small country town in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality, which is like a local area. In 2021, about 974 people lived in Capella.

Where is Capella?

Capella is located between the towns of Emerald and Clermont. The main road, called the Gregory Highway, runs right through Capella. This highway is also known as Peak Downs Street and is the town's main street.

Getting Around Capella

A railway line also runs through Capella, next to the highway. The Capella railway station is part of a line connecting Emerald to Blair Athol. This line is a branch of the larger Central Western railway line.

Capella Creek flows through the northern part of the area. This creek eventually joins the Nogoa River, which then flows into the Fitzroy River and finally reaches the Coral Sea.

Capella Airport

Even though it's called Capella airport, it's actually located in the nearby area of Hibernia. It has a gravel runway that is about 985 meters long. The airport is only used during the day because it does not have lights. The local council manages it.

Capella's History

Capella was settled in the 1860s on the traditional land of the Wangan people. Early settlers were encouraged by good reports from explorer Ludwig Leichhardt.

Map of the town of Capella, 1881

The town and Capella Creek were named after the star Capella. A surveyor named Charles Frederick Gregory likely named the creek in 1862. This was after copper was found nearby at Copperfield.

For many years, Capella was a small stop between Emerald and Clermont. This changed when a railway line was built connecting the two larger towns in 1882. A post office also opened in Capella on December 5, 1882.

Early Buildings and Services

In 1883, a Presbyterian Church and school were built. The Capella Provisional School opened on August 29, 1883. It had 35 students by 1884. In 1900, it became Capella State School. A pre-school was added in 1978, and a secondary department in 1984. This secondary department later became Capella State High School in 1989.

Farmers started growing crops and dairying in Capella around 1883. A butter factory was built in 1900 to support the dairy industry.

By the late 1890s, Capella was growing. New shops opened, and hotels were renovated. The Holy Spirit Anglican Church opened in 1907.

Growth in the 20th Century

Capella continued to grow steadily in the early 1900s. Many new buildings were constructed in the 1920s. These included a café, a bakery, and a new Roman Catholic church called St Joseph's. A new hall, a movie theatre, and Country Women's Association clubrooms were also built.

In 1927, Capella became the main town for the Shire of Peak Downs local government. A new Shire Hall was built in 1936. The town also got better streets and footpaths.

Electricity came to Capella in December 1954. Other services like town water arrived in 1962, and mains sewerage in 1982.

Farming and Mining Changes

In the 1950s, a project tried to grow large amounts of grain in the area. This project didn't last, but it introduced new crops like sunflower and sorghum.

The Capella Hotel was built in 1955. The local council decided to build it because the previous hotel had burned down. This was unusual, as councils don't usually build hotels.

In the 1960s, the Brigalow Development Scheme cleared large areas of brigalow scrub. This created new farmland for growing grain and cereal crops. Big storage buildings for these crops were built in 1964. More farming families moved to Capella, and new facilities opened, like an agricultural show, Girl Guides, and a swimming pool.

Coal was found near Tieri in 1982, about 36 kilometers east of Capella. A large open-cut mine was developed. This mine helped the local economy. In the 1980s, Capella gained new buildings like the Capella Cultural Centre and a pioneer village.

In 2003, Capella's water supply was secured with a pipeline to Tieri. In 2008, the Shire of Peak Downs joined with other areas to form the Central Highlands Regional Shire.

Capella's Economy

Grain silos and stockpiles at Capella, 2016

Capella is an important service town. It supports the large coal-mining industry nearby. It also helps local farmers and people who raise livestock.

GrainCorp has a large storage area next to the Capella railway station. Here, crops like sorghum, wheat, chickpea, and barley are collected and stored.

Education in Capella

Capella has two main schools for young people.

Capella State School

Capella State School, 2024

Capella State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located at 41 Huntley Street. In 2018, the school had 171 students.

Capella State High School

Map of Capella State High School, 2024

Capella State High School is a government secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It is located at 35-45 Gordon Street. In 2018, the high school had 110 students. It also offers a special education program.

Community Facilities

Capella has many important facilities to help its residents.

• Capella Police Station is at 35 Huntley Street.
• Capella Fire Station is at 18 Conran Street.
• The Capella SES Facility is at 20 Hibernia Road. The SES helps people during emergencies like floods or storms.
• Capella Outpatients Clinic is at 5 Slider Street. This clinic provides health services.
• Capella Ambulance Station is at 9 Gordon Street.
• The Peak Downs Shire cemetery is in Walsh Street. It has a memorial for people buried in the first Capella Cemetery from 1865 to 1899.

What to Do in Capella

Capella offers various places for recreation and community activities.

Capella Library

The Central Highlands Regional Council runs the Capella Library at 83 Peak Downs Street. It's a great place to find books and learn.

Capella Cultural Centre

The Capella Cultural Centre is an entertainment venue at 89 Peak Downs Street. It can seat up to 500 people. It hosts movies, conferences, and shows by touring performers.

Bridgeman Park Sporting Complex

Bridgeman Park Sporting Complex is at 23 Hibernia Road. It has many sports fields, including those for polocrosse, football, and cricket. It also has a covered arena, stables, and camping facilities. People enjoy activities like campdrafting, rugby league, rugby union, and cricket here.

Capella Aquatic Centre

The Capella Aquatic Centre is a swimming pool and fitness complex at 107 Peak Downs Street. It has swimming pools, waterslides, a gym, and squash courts. There's also a cafe and barbecue area.

Community Groups and Churches

The Capella branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) meets at their hall at 87 Peak Downs Street.

Capella has several churches:

• Holy Spirit Anglican Church is at 32 Conran Street.
• St Joseph's Catholic Church is at 59 Abor Street.
• Capella Uniting Church is at 43 Huntley Street.

Events in Capella

Capella hosts several exciting events throughout the year.

• An annual campdraft event takes place in March. Campdrafting is a sport where a rider on horseback guides a cattle beast around a course.
• The Capella Show is held every May. It's a fun event with displays, competitions, and entertainment.
• The Capella Polocrosse Carnival happens every July. Polocrosse is a team sport played on horseback, combining polo and lacrosse.
• The Capella Cattledogs are the local rugby union team. They play in the Central Highlands Rugby Union competition from March to September.
• The Peak Downs Pirates are the local rugby league team. They compete in the Central Highlands Rugby League competition.

Local Attractions

Capella Pioneer Village

Capella Pioneer Village is a museum located in Pioneer Street. It is in Australia's largest restored homestead built with a special "drop-plank" method. The village has over 5,000 historical items. These items are grouped into different exhibits, showing what life was like in the past.

Images for kids

• Peak Downs cemetery, 2016

  Peak Downs cemetery, 2016