Walloon, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WalloonQueensland |
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Elm Street, Walloon, 2015
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 Walloon
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 2,305 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 125.3/km2 (325/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4306 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 18.4 km2 (7.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Ipswich | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Ipswich West | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Blair | ||||||||||||||
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Walloon is a small town and a rural area located in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It's a place where people live in homes with larger blocks of land, often surrounded by nature. In 2021, about 2,305 people lived in Walloon.
Contents
Walloon's Location and Landscape
Walloon is bordered by the Warrego Highway to the north and the Bremer River to the south. The main town area is found right in the middle of the locality.
A railway line, called the Rosewood railway line, runs through Walloon. It comes from the east, goes through the town's Walloon railway station, and then heads southwest. The Haigslea–Amberley Road also crosses through Walloon, from the north to the southeast.
Most of Walloon is made up of rural homes with large yards. The western part of the area is mainly used for grazing animals on natural grasslands.
A Look Back at Walloon's History
The name Walloon might come from Wallonia, a French-speaking area in southern Belgium.
Early Schools and Churches
In 1865, the Catholic Church opened Guilfoyles Creek Non Vested School. It might have closed and reopened, but it likely shut down for good when Walloon State School began.
A German Lutheran Church opened its doors in Walloon, close to the railway station, on July 9, 1873.
The Queensland Government set aside land for a "national school" (now called a "state school") in Walloon in July 1873. They asked for builders to construct the school in October 1876. The building's foundations were ready by February 1877, and Walloon State School officially opened on July 9, 1877.
The Babies of Walloon
On April 21, 1891, two sisters, Bridget Kate (9) and Mary Jane Broderick (6), sadly drowned in a waterhole near their home in Walloon. The famous poet Henry Lawson wrote a poem about their deaths called The Babies of Walloon.
In 2006, a sculpture showing the Broderick sisters playing was put up in the Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park in Walloon. In 2015, a new headstone was placed on their grave in Ipswich General Cemetery.
Walloon's Population Over Time
The number of people living in Walloon has changed over the years:
- In 2011, there were 1,548 people.
- In 2016, the population was 1,588 people.
- In 2021, the population grew to 2,305 people.
Getting Around Walloon
The Walloon railway station is an important part of the Queensland Rail City network. From here, you can catch trains to Rosewood, Ipswich, and Brisbane.
Learning in Walloon
Walloon State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located at 528 Karrabin Rosewood Road. In 2018, the school had 234 students and also offers a special education program.
There isn't a high school in Walloon itself. The closest government high schools are Ipswich State High School in Brassall, Ipswich, and Rosewood State High School in Rosewood.
What Walloon Offers
Community Services
The Ipswich City Council provides a mobile library service that visits Queen Street every two weeks. This means you can borrow books and other materials right in your town!
The Walloon branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) meets at 534 Karrabin-Rosewood Road. This group helps women in rural areas and supports the community.
Parks and Green Spaces
Walloon has several parks where you can relax and play:
- Five Mile Creek Park
- Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park
- Poplar Street Reserve
- Suncrest Park
- Tallwood Park
Shops and Businesses in Walloon
Walloon has a variety of small businesses that serve the community. You can find places like:
- Take-away food shops
- Hairdressers
- Real Estate Agents
- A Medical Centre
- A Chemist
- The historical Walloon Saloon
- Walloon IGA (a supermarket)
- Walloon Bakery
- A Dentist
- A Service Station
