Baralaba is a rural town and

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality, a historical named location or place in Canada * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localitie ...

in the

Shire of Banana The Shire of Banana is a Local government in Australia, local government area located in the Capricorn region of Queensland, Australia, inland from the regional city of Gladstone, Queensland, Gladstone. The shire was named after the first townsh ...

in central

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

, Australia. In the , the locality of Baralaba had a population of 324 people.

Geography

The Dawson River forms the western boundary of the locality. The town is located in the north-west corner of the locality beside the river. The Neville Hewitt weir on the river at the town creates a wide river for irrigation and recreation. The town is located west of the

Leichhardt Highway The Leichhardt Highway is a major transport route in Queensland, Australia. It is a continuation northward from Goondiwindi of the Newell Highway, via a section of the Cunningham Highway. It runs northward from Goondiwindi for more than 600 k ...

History

The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "high mountain" referring to nearby Mount Ramsay. Baralaba Provisional School opened on 19 August 1918. It became a state school on 1 March 1922. In 1964, a secondary department was added. Baralaba Post Office opened by April 1924 (a

receiving office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

had been open since about 1919). Lily State School opened in 1925 and closed circa 1927. Mclellan’s Hotel opened on 3 April 1929, being renamed Stewart's Hotel on 11 February 1953. On 2 December 1965, it was renamed Baralaba Hotel. It was destroyed by fire on 24 August 2024. St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was designed by Roy Chipps of

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite. The Scottish- ...

. The timber church was built by R. L. Schofeld at a cost of £650. On Sunday 24 February 1935, the church was opened and consecrated by Bishop Hayes. In May 1941, an Honour Board commemorating those who served in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

was unveiled at the

Returned and Services League of Australia The Returned and Services League of Australia, also known as RSL, RSL Australia and the RSLA, is an independent support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force. History The League was formed in ...

Memorial Hall in Stopford Street (). Outside of the Memorial Hall is a white cross commemorating those who served in all wars and conflicts. In September 1945, a Methodist Ladies' Guild was established to raise funds for a Methodist church. In November 1945, two blocks of land were donated for the church. The land for Baralaba Methodist Church was consecrated in August 1948. In 1977, the Baralaba Methodist Church became Baralaba Uniting Church when the Methodist Church amalgamated into the Uniting Church in Australia. Two coal mines once operated in the Baralaba region. Both closed, but mining operations recommenced at one mine in 2005. The mobile library service commenced in 2004.

Demographics

In the , the town of Baralaba had a population of 290 people. In the , the locality of Baralaba had a population of 479 people. In the , the locality of Baralaba had a population of 314 people. In the , the locality of Baralaba had a population of 324 people.

Heritage listings

Baralaba has a number of

heritage-listed This list is of heritage registers, inventories of cultural properties, natural and human-made, tangible and intangible, movable and immovable, that are deemed to be of sufficient heritage value to be separately identified and recorded. In ma ...

sites, including: *

Dawson Valley Colliery Dawson Valley Colliery is a heritage-listed former coal mine at Morgan Street and The Esplanade, Baralaba, Queensland, Baralaba, Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1921 onwards. It is also known as Baralaba Coal Mine. It ...

, Morgan Street and The Esplanade ()

Economy

The local economy revolves around beef production and more recently coal mining.

Education

Baralaba P-10 State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-10) school for boys and girls at 1 Power Street (). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 90 students with 12 teachers (9 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent). The nearest secondary schools offering Years 11 and 12 are located in Moura and

Biloela Biloela ( ) is a rural town and suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Shire of Banana, Central Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre of the shire. In the , the locality of Biloela had a population of 5,692. The loc ...

Amenities

Baralaba Golf Club has a 9-hole golf course and is located on Alberta Road.

Banana Shire Council The Shire of Banana is a local government area located in the Capricorn region of Queensland, Australia, inland from the regional city of Gladstone. The shire was named after the first township in the region (Banana), which in turn was named af ...

operate a fortnightly mobile library service to Baralaba. Baralaba Uniting Church is at 43 Power Street (). St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is at 29 Power Street ().

Events

Every March, there is a

campdrafting Campdrafting is a unique Australian sport involving a horse and equestrianism, rider working cattle. The riding style is Australian stock saddle, Australian stock, somewhat akin to American Western riding and the event is similar to the Americ ...

competition at Baralaba. The annual Baralaba agricultural show is held in May, while the Saratoga Fishing Competition is held each September.

References

External links

* * {{authority control Towns in Queensland Mining towns in Queensland Shire of Banana World War II memorials in Queensland Localities in Queensland