Lawgi Dawes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lawgi DawesQueensland |
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Sign outside Lawgi Hall, 2014
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 Lawgi Dawes
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 144 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.2520/km2 (0.653/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4716 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 571.5 km2 (220.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Banana | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Callide | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Lawgi Dawes is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Lawgi Dawes had a population of 144 people. It contains the neighbourhood of Lawgi, a former town.
Geography
Lawgi is an abandoned neighbourhood (24°34′00″S 150°39′00″E / 24.5666°S 150.65°E) within the locality. It is located on the Burnett Highway.
Mardale is a neighbourhood (24°33′S 150°42′E / 24.55°S 150.7°E). It is located on Blackmans Yard Road.
The area is a productive agricultural area with cattle and grain farming predominating.
History
During the planning to build the Rannes-Monto railway line, one of the proposed railway stations along the route was assigned the name Lawgi by the Railways Department in 1926. The name is believed to mean home in one of the Aboriginal languages. Construction of the railway line commenced from Rannes. On Saturday 24 September 1932, the segment from Thangool to Lawgi was officially opened by the Minister for Railways, John Dash (the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mundingburra). This resulted in the establishment of the township of Lawgi.
The Lawgi State School opened in September 1935. It was renamed Mardale State School in 1952. The school closed on 13 March 1964.
The last section of the railway line from Lawgi to Monto was never completed, and Lawgi became the terminus.
However, the railway line was not profitable and the section from Thangool to Lawgi was closed in 1955. As a result, the township gradually disappeared leaving only the community hall.
In 2003 local artists Gary Latcham and Jo Lawrence painted the exterior of the hall with the silhouettes of bottle trees against a sunset.
In the 2016 census Lawgi Dawes had a population of 144 people.
In 2019, a decision was made to put cladding on the hall, covering the artwork. Gary Latcham assisted by local volunteer artists repainted the artwork.
Amenities
Lawgi Community Hall at the intersection of the Burnett Highway and the Lawgi Connection Road is used for regular community dances, occasional church services, indoor bowls, polling booth and other community functions. The exterior of the hall features a painting of bottle brushes trees against a multi-coloured sky.
A memorial in the form of a gravestone marks the point where the proposed Rannes-Monto railway line was terminated at Lawgi. There is a rest area behind the hall for travellers.
Free camping is also available at the nearby Lawgi Heritage Park, which boasts 360° views, stunning sunsets and hot showers.
Education
There are no schools in Lawgi Dawes. The nearest primary school is Thangool State School in neighbouring Thangool to the north-west. The nearest secondary schools are Biloela State High School in Biloela to the north-west and Monto State High School in Monto to the south-east.
