Wallumbilla, Queensland

Wallumbilla is a rural town and locality in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, the locality of Wallumbilla had a population of 388 people,[1] with 191 people living in the town itself.[4]

Wallumbilla
Queensland
Newsagency and general store
Wallumbilla is located in Queensland
Wallumbilla
Wallumbilla
Coordinates26.5869°S 149.1863°E / -26.5869; 149.1863 (Wallumbilla (town centre))
Population388 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density4.132/km2 (10.702/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4428
Elevation320 m (1,050 ft)
Area93.9 km2 (36.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Maranoa Region
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Wallumbilla:
Pickanjinnee Wallumbilla North Wallumbilla North
Pickanjinnee Wallumbilla Wallumbilla North
Wallumbilla South Wallumbilla South Wallumbilla South

Geography
Wallumbilla, March 2010, looking to the nor-nor-east.

Wallumbilla is situated on the Warrego Highway, five hours by road west from Brisbane, just east of Roma in South West Queensland.[5]

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.[5]

Wallumbilla is on the Western railway line and is served by the Wallumbilla railway station (26.5872°S 149.1879°E / -26.5872; 149.1879 (Wallumbilla railway station)).[6][5]

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.[2][3]

Wallumbilla Provisional School opened on 25 October 1893, becoming Wallumbilla State School on 1 September 1894.[7] From January 1964, secondary schooling was offered in the Memorial Hall opposite the school, until it became possible to accommodate the secondary students on the school site from April 1965. A swimming pool was added to the school in 1981.[8]

On Saturday 17 May 1929, the Wallumbilla School of Arts Memorial Hall was officially opened by Godfrey Morgan, the local Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Murilla.[9]

On 1 December 1956, The Westlander collided head-on with the Western Mail which was stationary at Wallumbilla railway station. The crash killed 5 people and injured 11 or 13 people.[10][11][12][13] There is a memorial at the railway station commemorating the crash.[14]

At the 2006 census, the town of Wallumbilla had a population of 285.[15]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Wallumbilla had a population of 262 people.[16]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Wallumbilla had a population of 388 people,[1] with 191 people living in the town itself.[4]

In 2017, a combined Rural Fire station and SES facility was built.[17]

Heritage listings

Wallumbilla has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

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.[19]

Education
Wallumbilla State School sign, circa 2022

Wallumbilla State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 22 High Street (26.5843°S 149.1861°E / -26.5843; 149.1861 (Wallumbilla State School)).[20][21] 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).[22] 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).[23]

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).[5]

Facilities

Wallumbilla Police Station is on the corner of Flinders Street and High Street (26.5841°S 149.1877°E / -26.5841; 149.1877 (Wallumbilla Police Station)).[24][25]

Wallumbilla Rural Fire Station and SES Facility is a combined emergency service centre at 1-3 Russell Street (26.5825°S 149.1916°E / -26.5825; 149.1916 (Wallumbilla Fire Station & SES Facility)).[17]

Wallumbilla Community Clinic (sometimes called Wallumbillla Hospital) is a government health facility at 1-7 West Street (corner of Stakeyard Road, 26.5817°S 149.1813°E / -26.5817; 149.1813 (Wallumbilla Community Clinic)).[26][27]

Wallumbilla Monumental & Lawn Cemetery is on the north-west corner of Wallumbilla North Road and Stolz Lane (26.5729°S 149.1870°E / -26.5729; 149.1870 (Wallumbilla Monumental & Lawn Cemetery)).[28]

Media

ABQ transmits to Wallumbilla through its Roma relay station ABRAQ-2 at 26°34′20″S 148°51′1″E (Timbury Hills Transmitter site).[citation needed]

Network Ten and its sister channels 10 Bold and 10 Peach transmits to Wallumbilla through its regional area affiliate, CDT.[citation needed]

The Nine Network and its sister channels 9Go! and 9Gem transmits to Wallumbilla through its regional area affiliate, IMP.[citation needed]

The Seven Network and its sister channels 7two and 7mate transmits to Wallumbilla through its remote area affiliate, ITQ.[citation needed]

The Special Broadcasting Service and its sister channels transmits to Wallumbilla.[citation needed]

Amenities
Federal Hotel, Wallumbilla, 2008

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 Calico Cottage also serves as Wallumbilla's main Intercity Bus Stop which is used by Greyhound Australia as a regular timetabled stop on its main intercity services:

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.

Wallumbilla has a heritage complex and visitor information centre. A Public Library (operated by the Maranoa Regional Council) operates in Wallumbilla in George Street.[29]

The Wallumbilla branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 15 College Street.[30]

Wallumbilla School of Arts Memorial Hall is at 8 Chadstone Street (26.5840°S 149.18656°E / -26.5840; 149.18656 (Wallumbilla School of Arts Memorial Hall)).[31]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wallumbilla (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Wallumbilla – town in Maranoa Region (entry 36362)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. "Wallumbilla – locality in Maranoa Region (entry 47462)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wallumbilla (Urban Centre)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  5. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  6. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "Our school". Wallumbilla State School. 17 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  9. "SPORTING". Western Star And Roma Advertiser. No. 2838. Queensland, Australia. 23 March 1929. p. 4. Retrieved 12 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "RAIL CRASH VICTIM RUSHED 190 M." The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 3 December 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 12 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "CIB SEEKS CLUES ON RAIL CRASH". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 4 December 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 12 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Matron tells Queensland inquiry: RAIL CRASH DRIVER SAID: I must have dozen"". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 5 December 1956. p. 3. Retrieved 12 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Train smash crew silent". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 7 December 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 12 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ""Westlander" & "Western Mail" Rail Crash". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  15. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Wallumbilla (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Wallumbilla (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  17. "Wallumbilla State Emergency & Rural Fire Station". Cordell Connect. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  18. "Nostalgic Queen's Theatre (entry 602378)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  19. "Gas Supply Hub". Australian Energy Market Operator. Archived from the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  20. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. "Wallumbilla State School". Wallumbilla State School. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  22. "2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Wallumbilla State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  23. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  24. "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  25. "Wallumbilla Station". Queensland Police. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  26. "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  27. "Wallumbilla Community Clinic". South West Hospital and Health Service. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  28. "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  29. "Wallumbilla Library". plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  30. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  31. "School of Arts Memorial Hall". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
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