Moura, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moura Queensland
Moura Location in Queensland
Population	1,993 (2021 census)
Established	1936
Postcode(s)	4718
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	589 km (366 mi) from Brisbane 171 km (106 mi) from Rockhampton
LGA(s)	Banana Shire
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 32 °C 90 °F 12 °C 54 °F 732 mm 28.8 in
Localities around Moura: Alberta Baralaba Banana Alberta Moura Banana Warnoah Kianga Banana

Sculpted by Diana Webber, this bronze statue was erected in 1988 to commemorate the Moura mine disasters.

Moura is a small town and area in Central Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Shire of Banana. The town helps support the local coal mining and farming activities. Moura is about 65 kilometres (40 mi) west of Biloela. It is also 171 kilometres (106 mi) southwest of Rockhampton.

In 2021, about 1,993 people lived in Moura.

What Moura Does

Moura's economy relies on a few main industries. The biggest one is coal mining. The local coal mine is currently called Dawson coal mine. It is run by AngloAmerican Coal. Since 1994, only open-cut mining is used. This means coal is dug from the surface.

Other important industries in the area include raising beef cattle. Farmers also grow cotton and different kinds of cereal crops.

Moura's Story

How Moura Got Its Name

In 1854, a man named Charles Marshall leased land here. He called his property Moura. There are two ideas about where the name came from. One idea is that he named it after a town in Portugal called Moura. He had served there in the British Army. The other idea is that Moura is an Aboriginal word. It might mean native camp dog.

Edward Homer built a homestead on the Moura property in 1880. The town itself started in 1936. It was first a farming centre near the existing Moura Station. The Moura Post Office opened in late 1939.

Schools in Moura

Moura Provisional School first opened on September 10, 1940. It became Moura State School in 1948. In 1965, a special section for high school students was added. By 1975, there were enough older students for a separate high school. So, Moura State High School opened on January 25, 1976. It started with 263 students.

Important Mining Events

Moura has experienced three serious mining incidents. These events happened near the town:

• The first was the Kianga mining incident. It happened on September 20, 1975. An explosion in the Kianga No. 1 underground mine caused 13 miners to lose their lives. A special memorial centre was opened in Moura in 1978 to remember this event.
• The second incident was on July 16, 1986. An explosion occurred in the Moura No. 4 underground mine. Twelve miners sadly lost their lives. The youngest miner was only 18 years old.
• The third event happened on August 7, 1994. There was an explosion in the Moura No. 2 underground coal mine. Rescue efforts stopped after a second, stronger explosion happened 18 hours later. Eleven miners lost their lives. The mine was then sealed off.

After 1994, underground mining stopped in the area. Now, only open-cut coal mining takes place.

In 2017, a routine blast at the mine caused the ground to move. This created a large crack across a public road. This road was important for farmers and others to reach Moura. It was also a school bus route. The road stayed closed for a long time. A new road route was planned to help the community.

Moura's Weather

Moura gets about 732mm of rain each year. It rains on about 63 days per year. The average summer temperature is 32 degrees Celsius (90 °F). Temperatures over 36 degrees Celsius (97 °F) are common in December and January. The average winter temperature is 22 degrees Celsius (72 °F).

Learning in Moura

Moura has two government schools. Moura State School is for primary students (Prep to Year 6). Moura State High School is for secondary students (Years 7 to 12). Both schools are located on Gillespie Street.

Fun Things to See and Do

The 150th Meridian

Just outside Moura, you can find the 150th meridian east. This is an imaginary line of longitude around the Earth. Many tourists and locals like to take pictures here. Rocks with drill holes show the exact path of this line.

APEX Park by the River

APEX Park is next to the Dawson River. It is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of town on the Dawson Highway. This park offers free camping spots. It has hot showers, toilets, and a traditional wood barbecue. There is also a public boat ramp for those who enjoy boating.

Moura Museum

The Moura Museum and Information Centre is at 33 Gillespie Street. The museum shares the story of Moura's farming and mining history. You can also see a collection of Japanese items. These were given by the Mitsui Mining Company.

Events and Celebrations

Muddy Water Classic

The Moura Muddy Water Classic is a fishing competition. It happens every year on the third weekend in February. The event takes place at APEX Park on the Dawson River. Many people from nearby areas come to join this local fishing contest.

Campdrafting

Moura also hosts an annual campdraft event in July. This is where riders on horseback try to control cattle.

Coal and Country Festival

The Coal and Country Festival is held every year. It takes place in the third week of August and lasts for seven days. The festival includes fun events like coal shovelling races. There is also a professional rodeo.

The main festivities usually happen on the weekend of the third week. They start on Friday afternoon and finish on Sunday. The festival is held at the recreational grounds. These grounds have cattle yards and plenty of open space.

Town Services

The Banana Shire Council has an office on Gillespie Street. They also run a library on MacArthur Street.

Moura has many shops and services. These include banks, a post office, and grocery stores. You can also find newsagents, beauticians, and hairdressers. There are butcher shops, service stations, and stores for electrical goods. You can buy furniture and hardware too.

The town has many sports clubs. You can play golf, bowls, or squash. There are also football clubs. Moura has different places to eat and restaurants. There used to be an RSL and Memorial club for social gatherings, but it is now closed.

Moura Cemetery

The Moura Cemetery is also known as Moura Lawn Cemetery. It is located at 126 Theodore Moura Road. The Banana Shire Council manages this cemetery.

Sister City

Moura has a sister city in Portugal:

• Moura, Portugal