Hungerford, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hungerford Queensland
The view around the Royal Mail Hotel
Hungerford Location in Queensland
Population	19 (2021 census)
• Density	0.00284/km2 (0.0074/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4493
Elevation	130 m (427 ft)
Area	6,690.5 km2 (2,583.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	152 km (94 mi) SE of Thargomindah 194 km (121 mi) SW of Cunnamulla 214 km (133 mi) NW of Bourke 985 km (612 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Bulloo Shire of Paroo
Region	South West Queensland
County	Numalla County
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Hungerford: Thargomindah Thargomindah Eulo Bulloo Downs Hungerford Cuttaburra Wanaaring (NSW) Hungerford (NSW) Yantabulla (NSW)

Hungerford is a small outback town in South West Queensland, Australia. It is located right on the border between Queensland and New South Wales. This border is also part of the famous Dingo fence, a very long fence built to keep dingoes away from sheep.

In 2021, only 19 people lived in the Hungerford area on the Queensland side. Another 15 people lived in the part of Hungerford that is in New South Wales.

Get ready for a special event! Hungerford will be a great place to see a total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028. This is when the Moon completely blocks the Sun.

Discover Hungerford: An Outback Town

Where is Hungerford?

Hungerford is split between two local government areas. The western part of the area is in the Shire of Bulloo, and the eastern part is in the Shire of Paroo. The town itself is in the Shire of Bulloo, just north of the border.

The town is surrounded by the beautiful Currawinya National Park. This park is home to many different plants and animals.

Hungerford also has a small airport called Hungerford Aerodrome. It is run by the Bulloo Shire Council. The airport has one sealed runway that is 1,100 metres (about 0.7 miles) long. It doesn't have lights, but portable lights can be used in emergencies.

A Glimpse into Hungerford's Past

Hungerford is on land that traditionally belonged to the Badjiri people.

How Hungerford Got Its Name

The town is named after Thomas Hungerford, an Australian politician. He once camped at this spot. Hungerford grew from a place where customs officers checked goods. This was because it was a border crossing on a stock route (a path for moving livestock) along the Paroo River.

The first hotel opened in 1874. The town was officially recognized the next year. For some time, people thought the town was in New South Wales. This was before a proper land survey was done.

Famous Visitors and Border Stories

In 1892–1893, a famous Australian writer named Henry Lawson visited Hungerford. He even wrote a short story about the town. He described it as being right on the Queensland border. He noted that the rabbit-proof fence ran across the main street. Lawson wrote that Hungerford had a few houses in New South Wales and five houses in Queensland. He also found it interesting that both pubs were in Queensland!

A Cobb & Co coach service used to run to the town. These horse-drawn coaches were a main way to travel in the past. The service to Hungerford stopped in 1904.

Schools and Border Closures

Hungerford has had a school that opened and closed a few times. The Hungerford Provisional School first opened in 1892. It became a State School in 1909. However, it closed in 1918 because not enough students attended. It reopened in 1928 but closed again in 1930 for the same reason. The school even reopened for a short time in 1981 in the Bulloo Shire Hall.

Charleville Police keeping the border closed at Hungerford during the Spanish flu pandemic, 1919

Hungerford has played a role in keeping people safe during health crises. In 1919, during the Spanish Flu Pandemic, police from Charleville came to Hungerford. They closed the border to stop the flu from spreading into Queensland from New South Wales. People had to be checked by doctors before they could return to Queensland.

Charleville Police keeping the border closed at Hungerford during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020

History repeated itself during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Queensland Police again closed the border at Hungerford. This was to control the movement of people between the two states.

Who Lives in Hungerford?

In 2016, Hungerford had a population of 23 people. The part of Hungerford in New South Wales had 15 people. By 2021, the population in the Queensland part of Hungerford was 19 people.

Places to See in Hungerford

Hungerford has some important historical sites. The Royal Mail Hotel on Archernar Street is one of them. It is listed as a heritage site.

The area also has several large farms, known as homesteads. These include Boorara, Corina, and Currawinya.

If you like views, you can visit Walters Range Lookout. It offers great sights of the surrounding landscape.