Lawgi Dawes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lawgi Dawes Queensland
Sign outside Lawgi Hall, 2014
Lawgi Dawes Location in Queensland
Population	138 (2021 census)
• Density	0.2415/km2 (0.625/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4716
Area	571.5 km2 (220.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	30.1 km (19 mi) SE of Biloela 73.2 km (45 mi) NW of Monto 150 km (93 mi) SW of Gladstone 172 km (107 mi) S of Rockhampton 536 km (333 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Banana
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Suburbs around Lawgi Dawes: Thangool Valentine Plains Valentine Plains Thangool Lawgi Dawes Cania Harrami Coominglah Coominglah

Lawgi Dawes is a quiet, rural area in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Shire of Banana and is known for its farming. A small part of Lawgi Dawes, called Lawgi, used to be a town but is now just a neighbourhood. In 2021, about 138 people lived here.

Exploring Lawgi Dawes

Lawgi Dawes is a large area of land in Queensland. It includes two smaller neighbourhoods: Lawgi and Mardale.

Lawgi Neighbourhood

Lawgi is a neighbourhood that was once a small town. It is located right on the Burnett Highway. Today, it's mostly an abandoned area.

Mardale Neighbourhood

Mardale is another neighbourhood within Lawgi Dawes. You can find it along Blackmans Yard Road.

Farming in the Area

The land in Lawgi Dawes is very good for farming. Most of the farms here raise cattle or grow grain.

A Look Back: History of Lawgi Dawes

The history of Lawgi Dawes is closely linked to the railway and local schools.

The Railway Story

In 1926, plans were made for a new railway line called the Rannes-Monto railway. A station along this line was going to be named Lawgi. People believe the name "Lawgi" means "home" in an Aboriginal language.

The railway line started being built from Rannes. On September 24, 1932, a section of the railway from Thangool to Lawgi officially opened. This led to the creation of the town of Lawgi.

However, the railway line was never finished all the way to Monto. Lawgi became the end of the line. The railway wasn't making enough money, so the section from Thangool to Lawgi closed in 1955. Because of this, the town of Lawgi slowly disappeared, leaving only its community hall.

Early Schools in the Area

Several small schools opened and closed in the Lawgi Dawes area over the years:

• Dawes State School opened in June 1932 but closed just a few months later in October 1932.
• Yaparaba State School was open from 1934 to 1970. It was located near where a railway station called Yaparaba was planned but never built.
• Lawgi State School opened in 1935. It was later renamed Mardale State School in 1952 and closed in 1964.
• Coominglah State School opened around 1939 and closed around 1947.

The Lawgi Hall Artwork

The Lawgi Community Hall is a special building. In 2003, local artists Gary Latcham and Jo Lawrence painted beautiful pictures on the outside of the hall. They painted silhouettes of bottle trees against a sunset sky.

In 2019, the hall was updated with new cladding. This covered the original artwork. But don't worry! Gary Latcham, with help from local volunteers, repainted the amazing bottle tree artwork on the new cladding.

Community Life and Amenities

Lawgi Dawes has a few important places for its community and visitors.

Lawgi Hall painted with bottle trees, 2014

Lawgi Community Hall

The Lawgi Community Hall is a busy spot. It's located where the Burnett Highway meets Lawgi Connection Road. People use the hall for many things, like:

• Community dances
• Church services
• Indoor bowls
• Voting during elections
• Other community events

The outside of the hall is famous for its painting of bottle trees against a colourful sky.

Railway Memorial and Rest Area

Behind the hall, there's a special memorial. It looks like a gravestone and marks the spot where the planned Rannes-Monto railway line ended. There's also a rest area here for people traveling through.

Lawgi Heritage Park

If you love camping, Lawgi Heritage Park is a great place to visit. It offers free camping with amazing 360-degree views, beautiful sunsets, and even hot showers!

Learning and Education

There are no schools directly in Lawgi Dawes. Students usually travel to nearby towns for their education.

Primary School Options

The closest primary school for younger students is Thangool State School. It's located in the neighbouring town of Thangool, to the north-west of Lawgi Dawes.

Secondary School Options

For older students, the nearest high schools are:

• Biloela State High School in Biloela, which is to the north-west.
• Monto State High School in Monto, located to the south-east.