Nelia, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NeliaQueensland |
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Nelia, 1952
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 Nelia
Location in Queensland
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| Postcode(s) | 4823 |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of McKinlay |
| State electorate(s) | Traeger |
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy |
Nelia is a small, quiet town located in the Australian outback. It's part of the wider area known as Julia Creek in Queensland, Australia. Imagine a place far away from big cities, surrounded by vast, open landscapes – that's Nelia!
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Where is Nelia?
Nelia is found in the huge state of Queensland, Australia. It's about 1680 kilometers (that's over 1000 miles!) northwest of Brisbane, the state capital. The town sits just north of the Flinders Highway, a major road that crosses this part of Queensland.
Nelia's Railway Link
The "Inlander" train service, which travels between Townsville and Mount Isa, passes right through Nelia. This train uses the Great Northern railway line. Nelia has its own railway siding, which is like a small stop or a place for trains to pull over.
A Look Back at Nelia's History
The name "Nelia" was given by an explorer named William Landsborough. He named the area after a friend of his wife. European settlement in this area began in the 1870s. This is when large farms, called "runs," like Willibah and Benannee, were set up.
Town Development
Nelia got its own Post Office on June 23, 1909. Before that, there was a smaller "receiving office" that opened in 1908. A townsite was officially mapped out in 1912. The very first sales of land in Nelia took place in 1913.
Nelia's School Days
Nelia State School first opened its doors on May 4, 1926. However, it closed a few years later in 1932. The school reopened in 1953 but then closed permanently in 1960.
The Artesian Bore
In 1928, a special well called an artesian bore was built. This was to bring water to the town from deep underground. It was meant to provide a steady water supply. However, the bore flowed out very suddenly and strongly, sending water everywhere!
Recent Events
The Nelia Post Office celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009. In February 2019, heavy floods caused damage to the railway line. This led to a freight train with 81 wagons going off the tracks near Nelia. Workers had to build a new section of track, about 1.2 kilometers long, around the damaged area.
Community Life in Nelia
The Nelia branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) has its meeting rooms in the QCWA Hall. This hall is located at 4 Main Street. The QCWA is a group that supports women and communities, especially in rural areas.
Learning Options for Nelia Students
There are no schools directly in Nelia. The closest primary school is in the town of Julia Creek. For high school, the nearest option is in Richmond, about 102 kilometers to the east. However, this school only teaches up to Year 10.
Further Education
If students want to finish all of high school (up to Year 12), they need to travel further. The closest schools offering Year 12 are in Cloncurry, which is 188 kilometers to the west, or Hughenden, 217 kilometers to the east. Many students in remote areas like Nelia use other ways to learn. These include distance education, where they learn from home, or attending a boarding school away from Nelia.
