Eungella, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eungella Queensland
Eungella, Queensland, Australia, in the clouds at the top of the range, 2021
Eungella Location in Queensland
Population	190 (2021 census)
• Density	4.48/km2 (11.6/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4757
Elevation	690 m (2,264 ft)
Area	42.4 km2 (16.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	46.4 km (29 mi) W of Mirani 82.4 km (51 mi) W of Mackay 1,037 km (644 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal Division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Eungella: Eungella Dam Dalrymple Heights Dalrymple Heights Eungella Dam Eungella Netherdale Eungella Dam Crediton Broken River

Eungella is a small town and area in Queensland, Australia. It's located in the beautiful Mackay Region. In 2021, about 190 people lived here. The name Eungella is thought to be an Aboriginal word meaning "land of cloud."

Exploring Eungella's Geography

Eungella town sits high up on a steep slope called an escarpment. This escarpment is part of the Clarke Range. The town is about 690 meters (2,264 feet) above sea level.

From Eungella, the land drops down to about 200 meters (656 feet) in a nearby area called Netherdale. A stream called Cattle Creek starts here. It flows into the Pioneer River and then into the Coral Sea near Mackay.

National Parks and Forests in Eungella

A big part of Eungella is covered by the Eungella National Park. This park is famous for its rainforests and wildlife. It stretches into other nearby areas too.

There are also parts of the Crediton Forest Reserve and Crediton State Forest in Eungella. Because of the mountains and protected areas, there aren't many buildings or farms here. Most of the land is used for grazing animals on natural grass.

Eungella's Past: A Look at History

The name Eungella comes from a large grazing area named by explorer Ernest Favenc in 1876. People believe the name means "land of cloud" in an Aboriginal language.

Early Days and Gold Mining

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Eungella was part of a gold mining area. Getting to Eungella was hard back then. People used pack horses or a rough road.

The Eungella Range Road opened in 1909. However, it was often damaged, especially after heavy rain. Even in 1923, the first car to travel on the road had to tie a heavy log behind it to stay steady! Landslides are still a problem after big storms.

Schools and Community Life

The first Eungella Provisional School opened around 1891 but closed a few years later. A new Eungella Provisional School opened in 1928 and later became Eungella State School.

The Eungella Post Office opened in 1930. But it had to change its name because there was another post office with the same name in New South Wales. After talking with the community, it was renamed Dalrymple Heights Post Office. This new name came from the nearby Mount Dalrymple.

Old Eungella water wheel driven battery at Broken River gold mines, Queensland, Australia, 1927

Eungella Chalet, 1963

Eungella was a cool place for people to escape the heat from the coast. It was popular for picnics and dances. In 1933, nineteen local families worked together to build the Eungella Chalet, a place for visitors to stay.

A Presbyterian Church was built in Eungella in 1947. It was designed to look like a church in Victoria. The church was damaged by cyclones in 2010 and 2011.

Learning in Eungella

Eungella State School, 2020

Eungella State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 36 Eungella Dam Road. In 2018, the school had 38 students.

There isn't a high school in Eungella. Older students usually go to Mirani State High School in Mirani, which is to the east.

Community Places in Eungella

The Eungella Memorial Hall is a community building at 13 North Street. It's also known as the Eungella Hub. The Eungella District Community Association manages it.

The Eungella Uniting Church congregation meets at the Eungella Memorial Hall.

Fun Events in Eungella

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Broken River, QLD, Australia. 2010

The Eungella Markets are held on the first Sunday morning of every month. You can find them at the Eungella Memorial Hall.

Top Attractions in Eungella

Eungella National Park is a very popular place to visit. People love to walk on its rainforest trails. It's also one of the best places to spot a Platypus in the wild!

There are also several lookouts where you can see amazing views of the valley below. These include Goodes Lookout in the town and Sky Window lookout inside the national park.