Cooladdi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cooladdi Queensland
Road House Cooladdi, 2024
Cooladdi Location in Queensland
Population	7 (2021 census)
• Density	0.00175/km2 (0.0045/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4479
Elevation	300 m (984 ft)
Area	3,990.2 km2 (1,540.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	88.9 km (55 mi) SW of Charleville 356 km (221 mi) W of Roma 834 km (518 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Murweh
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Cooladdi: Adavale Langlo Ward Adavale Cooladdi Bakers Bend Humeburn Wyandra Murweh

Cooladdi is a small town and area in the Shire of Murweh, Queensland, Australia. It is about 89 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Charleville.

Cooladdi is known for being one of Australia's smallest towns. In 2015, only 3 people lived there, all at the general store! By 2021, the population of the whole area grew to 7 people.

Where is Cooladdi?

Cooladdi is located in the middle of its surrounding area. A railway line, called the Western railway line, runs through the town from east to west. This line used to have several railway stations nearby.

The Diamantina Developmental Road also goes through Cooladdi. This road is part of the long Warrego Way, which is a touring route from Brisbane to Birdsville.

Cooladdi's History

The railway station in Cooladdi was first named Yarronvale. This name came from a large farm nearby. But in 1913, the station and town were renamed Cooladdi. This was done to avoid confusion with the farm, which was 15 miles away.

The name Cooladdi comes from an Aboriginal word. It means black duck.

A Busy Railhead

Long ago, Cooladdi was a very important place for local farms. It was a "railhead," meaning it was where goods from farms were loaded onto trains. At one time, Cooladdi was much bigger. It had a school, a post office, and even a police station. About 270 people lived there!

But as the railway line was built further west, Cooladdi became less important. Its population started to get smaller.

The Cooladdi School

The Cooladdi State School first opened on March 19, 1926. It started as a small "Provisional School" with only 9 students. A new school building was built in 1933, and it became a full "State School." However, the school closed its doors on May 3, 1974. It was located across from the railway station.

How Many People Live There?

Cooladdi is famous for its very small population. In 2015, only 3 people lived in the town itself. They all lived at the general store.

By 2016, the whole area of Cooladdi had 16 people. In the most recent count in 2021, the population of the Cooladdi area was 7 people.

Education in Cooladdi

Today, there are no schools in Cooladdi itself. Students living in the area usually go to school in Charleville. This town is to the northeast of Cooladdi. Charleville has both a primary school and a high school.

However, only students living closer to the eastern side of Cooladdi can easily travel to Charleville every day. For others, there are different options. These include distance education, where students learn from home, or attending boarding schools.