Kabra, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kabra Queensland
Kabra Location in Queensland
Population	430 (2021 census)
• Density	4.54/km2 (11.8/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4702
Area	94.7 km2 (36.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	20.7 km (13 mi) SW of Rockhampton 21.6 km (13 mi) N of Mount Morgan 623 km (387 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Rockhampton Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Localities around Kabra: Stanwell Nine Mile Gracemere Stanwell Kabra Gracemere Stanwell Bouldercombe Bouldercombe

Kabra is a small town and area in the Rockhampton Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a rural place, meaning it's mostly countryside. In 2021, about 430 people lived in Kabra.

A small part of Kabra is called Boongary. This neighborhood is in the south-east of the area.

Exploring Kabra's Geography

Kabra town is located in the north-east part of the wider Kabra area. The Capricorn Highway runs through the town. Two creeks, Middle Creek and Gracemere Creek, flow through the area.

Railways in Kabra

The Central Western railway line passes through Kabra. This line connects Rockhampton to Winton. Kabra has two railway stations on this line:

• Kabra railway station, which serves the town.
• Neerkol railway station.

Another railway line, the Dawson Valley railway line, used to start at Kabra railway station. It went all the way to Theodore. Two stations on this line were in Kabra:

• Boongary railway station
• Callan railway station

The Dawson Valley railway line is now closed, and these stations are no longer used.

Mountains and Land Use

Kabra is home to two mountains:

• Cargoogie Mountain, which is about 187 meters (614 feet) high.
• Table Mountain, which is about 343 meters (1,125 feet) high.

The land in Kabra is used for different things. While there are houses in the town, some people also live in rural areas, especially in the east. Much of the land is used for farming, mainly for grazing animals on natural or planted grass. There is also some crop farming and several quarries, which are places where stone or sand is dug out of the ground.

A Look Back at Kabra's History

Kabra has an interesting past, with stories about early policing, schools, and community life.

Early Days and Police Outpost

Back in the 1860s, Cargoogie Mountain, near Kabra, was an outpost for the Native Police. This was a place where police officers and their horses stayed. They would send messages to Rockhampton using heliographs (which use sunlight reflections) or smoke signals. Sometimes, when farmers ploughed their fields after the outpost closed, they would find evidence of past activities.

Post Office and Railways

Kabra had its own post office, which opened on September 7, 1887. It closed many years later, on October 31, 1977.

The first part of the railway line to Mount Morgan opened on June 15, 1898. This line branched off from Kabra railway station. The Boongary railway station was named by the Queensland Railways Department. The name Boongarry is an Aboriginal word that means tree kangaroo. This name also refers to the neighborhood around the station.

Kabra's School History

Land was set aside for a school in Kabra in July 1902. The Kabra Provisional School opened on October 29, 1902. It later became Kabra State School on January 1, 1909. However, because fewer and fewer students were attending, the school closed on February 23, 1941.

Honouring War Heroes

On September 29, 1917, a special board was put up at Kabra railway station. This "honour board" listed the names of men from the area who served in World War I. It was made of polished silky oak wood. When the railway station closed, the honour board was moved to the Kabra Hotel. You can still see it displayed in the dining room there today.

Dealing with Flying Foxes

In 2012, people in Kabra started to worry about a large number of flying foxes (a type of bat) living in the town. A group of 15,000 flying foxes were roosting in the town's bloodwood trees. The Rockhampton Regional Council told residents that most of these bats were little red flying foxes, which usually move on after a short time.

However, the flying foxes were still a problem in 2014, with over 40,000 bats in the town. This led to many discussions in the local news. In June 2014, the council got permission to change some of the local trees. They removed some trees and planted new native species that flying foxes would find less appealing.

Natural Events in Kabra

Kabra has also faced natural challenges. In January 2013, the town experienced flash flooding from heavy rain caused by ex-Cyclone Oswald. Seven people had to be rescued by emergency services. Kabra was also affected by the 2018 Central Queensland bushfires in November 2018. A fast-moving fire went through the town, destroying one home before heading towards Gracemere.

Kabra's Population

The number of people living in Kabra has changed over the years.

• In 2011, there were 472 people.
• In 2016, the population was 421 people.
• In the most recent count in 2021, Kabra had a population of 430 people.

Learning and Education

There are no schools directly in Kabra. Children living in Kabra go to primary schools in nearby towns. These include Waraburra State School and Gracemere State School in Gracemere, Bouldercombe State School in Bouldercombe, and Stanwell State School in Stanwell.

For high school, students can attend Rockhampton State High School in Wandal, which is part of Rockhampton. Another option is Mount Morgan State High School in Mount Morgan.

Fun Things to Do in Kabra

Kabra is a significant stop on the National Bicentennial Trail, a long path for walking, cycling, and horse riding.

The town is also well-known for its exciting mud racing events, where vehicles race through muddy tracks.