Dajarra, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DajarraQueensland |
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Dajarra Hotel, Mark Street, 2016
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 Dajarra
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 186 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.03746/km2 (0.0970/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4825 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4,965.2 km2 (1,917.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Cloncurry | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Dajarra is a small town in the countryside of Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Shire of Cloncurry. In 2021, only about 186 people lived there.
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Where is Dajarra?
Dajarra is located in the north-west part of Queensland, close to the border of the Northern Territory. It's about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of a bigger town called Mount Isa. You can find it along the Diamantina Developmental Road. This road is also known as the Boulia Mount Isa Highway.
A Look Back at Dajarra's History
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The town of Dajarra got its name from the Dajarra railway station. This name was given by the Queensland Railways Department in 1916. It's believed to be an Aboriginal word for a lonely mountain nearby. Before that, the area was called Carbine Creek.
The railway line reached Dajarra in 1917. It connected Dajarra to Cloncurry. This line was meant to be part of a much bigger railway project. It was called the Great Western Railway. This huge railway was planned to link Sydney in New South Wales all the way to Darwin in the Northern Territory. However, the part of the line from Dajarra towards Camooweal was started but never finished.
Dajarra was once a very important place for the cattle industry. It was a "railhead," which means it was where cattle were loaded onto trains. These trains would then take the cattle to markets and ports on Australia's east coast. The Dajarra Post Office opened in 1919.
Older people who remember Dajarra's busiest times say that more cattle were sent from here than from Texas in the United States. Cattle drovers, who were cowboys on horseback, would bring cattle from as far away as Western Australia. They would travel long distances just to put their cattle on the train at Dajarra.
Dajarra State School opened its doors in 1920. A Catholic church, St Martin de Porres, was built in 1962.
Over time, trucks started to take over from trains for moving cattle. Because of this, the Dajarra railway station closed in 1994. The very last train left Dajarra in 1988.
More recently, a phosphate mine and fertilizer factory opened nearby at Phosphate Hill. This has created some job opportunities for people in Dajarra. The mining company has also helped the town get a better water supply.
Dajarra has a rich Aboriginal history. It is home to Aboriginal tribes from areas like the Diamantina River, the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the Northern Territory.
Dajarra's Population
In 2011, Dajarra and the surrounding area had 429 people. By 2016, the population of Dajarra town was 191 people. About 60% of these residents were Indigenous. In 2021, the population was 186 people.
Learning in Dajarra
Dajarra State School is a government primary school for students from early childhood up to Year 6. It's located on Matheson Street. In 2017, there were 27 students. In 2018, there were 22 students.
At the school, students learn an Aboriginal language. They also learn how to make boomerangs and what types of wood are best for didgeridoos. The children are taught where to find bush foods. They learn about "bush lollies" found on gidyea trees after it rains, and other traditional foods.
There are no high schools in Dajarra itself. Students who want to continue their education can study through distance education. They can also go to boarding schools. Spinifex State College in Healy, Mount Isa, has boarding facilities for students.
Places to Visit
You can visit the Post Office Museum at 19 Matheson Street.
