Moonie, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moonie Queensland
The playground, craft and information centre at Moonie
Moonie Location in Queensland
Population	189 (2016 census)
• Density	0.09730/km2 (0.2520/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4406
Area	1,942.5 km2 (750.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	89.1 km (55 mi) SSW of Tara 96.1 km (60 mi) N of Goondiwindi 158 km (98 mi) SW of Dalby 222 km (138 mi) WSW of Toowoomba 375 km (233 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Western Downs Region Goondiwindi Region
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Moonie: Hannaford The Gums Tara Marmadua Southwood Moonie Weir River Lundavra Calingunee Boondandilla Yagaburne

Moonie is a rural town in the Western Downs Region and a locality split between the Western Downs Region and the Goondiwindi Region in Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Moonie had a population of 189 people.

Geography

The town is in the Western Downs Region local government area at the intersection of the Leichhardt and Moonie Highways, 331 kilometres (206 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane, and is the Official Oil Capital of Australia. The locality is split between the Western Downs Region (northern part of the locality) and the Goondiwindi Region (southern part of the locality).

History

The town's name is derived from Moonie River, which was first recorded as Mooni by Sir Thomas Mitchell in November 1846 when he passed through the region.

Moonie Post Office opened by June 1966 closed in 1983.

Amenities

The town has a public school, service station, the Moonie Sports Club and a motel.

Economy

Farm land, Moonie, 2016

In December 1961, Moonie was the site of Australia's first commercial oil field, a very small field consisting of less than one percent of Australia's oil and gas reserves. The oil field is still operational and pumps out 35 kilolitres (7,700 gallons) every day.

The region is also an agricultural area that produces grain, beef cattle and prime lambs.

Education

Moonie State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 11305 Moonie Highway (27°42′50″S 150°22′24″E / 27.7138°S 150.3732°E / -27.7138; 150.3732 (Moonie State School)). In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 43 students with 4 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 2 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).

There is no secondary school in Moonie. The nearest government secondary school is Tara Shire State School in neighbouring Tara to the north. However, unless resident in the northern parts of the locality of Moonie, the distances involved are so large that distance education and boarding school would be other options.