Prairie, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prairie Queensland
Prairie Hotel Motel
Prairie Location in Queensland
Population	116 (2021 census)
• Density	0.01395/km2 (0.0361/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4821
Area	8,318.3 km2 (3,211.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	44.1 km (27 mi) E of Hughenden 339 km (211 mi) WSW of Townsville 566 km (352 mi) E of Mount Isa 1,424 km (885 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Flinders
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Prairie: Hughenden Porcupine Torrens Creek Tangorin Prairie Torrens Creek Corfield Muttaburra Aramac

Prairie is a small rural town in Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Flinders Shire. In 2021, about 116 people lived in Prairie.

Where is Prairie Located?

Prairie is in the northern part of its local area. The Flinders Highway is a main road that goes right through the town. It connects Prairie to places like Torrens Creek and Hughenden.

Railway Lines and Stations

A railway line, called the Great Northern, runs next to the highway. There are several railway stations along this line, from east to west:

• Warreah railway station (20°49′41″S 144°48′09″E / 20.8280°S 144.8026°E / -20.8280; 144.8026 (Warreah railway station))
• Karoon railway station (no longer used) (20°50′43″S 144°43′33″E / 20.8453°S 144.7258°E / -20.8453; 144.7258 (Karoon railway station (former)))
• Prairie railway station, which serves the town (20°52′18″S 144°36′03″E / 20.8717°S 144.6009°E / -20.8717; 144.6009 (Prairie railway station))
• Baronta railway station (no longer used) (20°52′40″S 144°31′03″E / 20.8778°S 144.5175°E / -20.8778; 144.5175 (Baronta railway station (former)))
• Tolkuru railway station (no longer used) (20°52′33″S 144°27′13″E / 20.8757°S 144.4535°E / -20.8757; 144.4535 (Tolkuru railway station (former)))
• Tindo railway station (20°52′19″S 144°25′00″E / 20.8719°S 144.4166°E / -20.8719; 144.4166 (Tindo railway station))
• Jardine Valley railway station (no longer used) (20°52′10″S 144°23′25″E / 20.8694°S 144.3902°E / -20.8694; 144.3902 (Jardine Valley railway station (former)))

A Look at Prairie's Past

The name Prairie comes from a large farm, or pastoral station, that was set up by James Gilson. He named it because the land looked like a prairie, which means a large, flat grassland.

Prairie State School first opened its doors in 1894.

Population Changes in Prairie

The number of people living in Prairie has changed over the years:

• In 2006, about 103 people lived in Prairie and the nearby areas.
• By 2016, the population of Prairie grew to 143 people.
• In the most recent count in 2021, about 116 people lived in Prairie.

Learning in Prairie

Prairie State School is a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Savage Street (20°52′15″S 144°36′19″E / 20.8707°S 144.6053°E / -20.8707; 144.6053 (Prairie State School)). In 2018, the school had 7 students and 1 teacher.

There isn't a high school in Prairie itself. Students who want to continue their education usually go to Hughenden State School. This school is in the nearby town of Hughenden.

For students living far away in the southern part of Prairie, attending a daily school might be difficult. In these cases, students might learn through distance education (learning from home) or go to a boarding school.

What Prairie Offers

The town of Prairie has a few useful places for its residents and visitors. You can find a hotel and motel, which also has a pub. There is also a cafe that doubles as a post office.