Moonie, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MoonieQueensland |
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The playground, craft and information centre at Moonie
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 Moonie
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 182 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.09369/km2 (0.2427/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4406 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1,942.5 km2 (750.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
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| State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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Moonie is a small country town in Queensland, Australia. It is also a "locality," which means it's an area that includes the town and the surrounding rural land. Moonie is special because it's split between two different local government areas: the Western Downs Region and the Goondiwindi Region. In 2021, about 182 people lived in the Moonie area.
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Discovering Moonie's Location
Moonie is found in a region called the Darling Downs. It sits right where two main roads, the Leichhardt Highway and the Moonie Highway, cross paths. This town is about 331 kilometers (206 miles) west of Brisbane, which is Queensland's capital city. Moonie is even known as the "Official Oil Capital of Australia"!
The Moonie area itself is divided. The northern part is in the Western Downs Region, and the southern part is in the Goondiwindi Region. Both the Moonie Highway and the Leichhardt Highway run through the area, making the town a central meeting point.
A Look at Moonie's Past
The name "Moonie" comes from the Moonie River. An explorer named Sir Thomas Mitchell first wrote down the name "Mooni" in November 1846. He was exploring the area at that time.
Moonie State School, the local primary school, first opened its doors on 14 May 1962. Later, in 1973, a church building was moved from another town called Drillham to Moonie. This building became the Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church. The Moonie Post Office opened in June 1966 but closed in 1983. The Moonie Library, a place for books and learning, opened in 2003.
Who Lives in Moonie?
The number of people living in Moonie changes a little over time. In 2016, there were 189 people living in the Moonie area. By 2021, the population was 182 people.
Moonie's Economy and Resources
Moonie is famous for its oil. In December 1961, it became the site of Australia's very first commercial oil field. This means it was the first place where oil was found and collected to be sold. While it's a small oil field, it's still working today!
Besides oil, the Moonie area is also a big farming region. Farmers here grow grain, raise beef cattle, and produce prime lambs. This makes agriculture a very important part of Moonie's economy.
Learning in Moonie
Moonie State School is the main school in town. It's a government primary school for students from Early Childhood (like kindergarten) up to Year 6. It's located at 11305 Moonie Highway. In 2016, the school had 43 students. By 2018, there were 27 students.
There isn't a high school in Moonie itself. Older students usually go to Tara Shire State School in the nearby town of Tara. However, because Moonie is quite spread out, some students might live too far away to travel to Tara every day. In these cases, students can choose to learn through distance education (learning from home) or attend a boarding school.
Places to Visit and Services
Moonie has several useful places for residents and visitors. There's a service station where you can get fuel and supplies. The Moonie Sports Club is a place for local sports and activities. The town also has a swimming pool and a motel for people staying overnight.
The Moonie Library is a great spot for reading and research. You can find it on the eastern corner where the Leichhardt Highway and Moonie Highway meet. Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church is located on the Moonie Highway. It's part of a larger church group called the St Mary of the Angels' Parish, which is based in Tara.
