Wallumbilla, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WallumbillaQueensland |
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Newsagency and general store
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Population | 388 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 4.132/km2 (10.70/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4428 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 320 m (1,050 ft) | ||||||||||||||
Area | 93.9 km2 (36.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location | |||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Maranoa Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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Wallumbilla is a rural town and locality in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Wallumbilla had a population of 388 people, with 191 people living in the town itself.
Geography
Wallumbilla is situated five hours by road west from Brisbane, just east of Roma in South West Queensland.
To the north of Wallumbilla the Great Dividing Range (in this region no more than a bumpy watershed) passes roughly ESE to NNW. The town is sandwiched between Wallumbilla & Middle Creeks as they flow south toward the Condamine/Balonne River.
History
The name Wallumbilla was the name of a pastoral run leased by Charles Coxen, The name is presumed to come from the indigenous Mandandanji language and reportedly means wallu=plenty and billa=jew fish.
At the 2006 census, Wallumbilla had a population of 285.
Amenities
Wallumbilla's Calico Cottage, open seven days a week, is the town's Visitor Information Centre. As well as this, Calico Cottage sells locally produced arts and crafts along with refreshments.
The town also contains three churches, as well as a Masonic Hall. Other amenities include a hotel/pub, a news agency, and a petrol station.
Wallambilla has a public library, heritage complex and visitor information centre.
Heritage listings
Wallumbilla has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- George Street: Nostalgic Queen's Theatre
Economy
Traditionally Wallumbilla's main industries were dairy and beef cattle, now the main industries are cropping and beef cattle. The main crops include sorghum and wheat.
Locals believe that if not for the discovery of gas at nearby hub Roma, Wallumbilla would have flourished into a similar hub, as the discovery of gas in 1908 near Roma preluded the Wallumbilla cattle sale yards (a thriving business according to local history) to move up to Roma, accentuating its growth.
A major gas hub is in preparation for Wallumbilla, planned to start operation in 2014.
Education
Wallumbilla State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 22 High Street (26°35′03″S 149°11′10″E / 26.5843°S 149.1861°E). In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 106 students with 15 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (7 full-time equivalent). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 126 students with 16 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).
Most of these students hail from properties surrounding town, as well as the high school students who attended primary school in the neighbouring towns of Jackson and Yuleba.
The nearest state high schools offering Years 11 and 12 of secondary school are Roma State College and St. John's College in Roma (40 kilometres west) and Miles State High School in Miles (90 kilometres east).