Balberra, Queensland Explained

Type:suburb
Balberra
State:qld
Coordinates:-21.2986°N 149.1411°W
Pop:425
Postcode:4740
Area:61.6
Dist1:21.4
Dir1:S
Location1:Mackay
Dist2:319
Dir2:N
Location2:Rockhampton
Dist3:406
Dir3:SE
Location3:Townsville
Dist4:993
Dir4:NNW
Location4:Brisbane
Lga:Mackay Region
Stategov:Mirani
Fedgov:Capricornia
Near-N:Chelona
Near-Ne:Dunrock
Coral Sea
Near-E:Alligator Creek
Near-Se:Munbura
Near-S:Sunnyside
Near-Sw:Sunnyside
Near-W:Homebush
Oakenden
Near-Nw:Sandiford

Balberra is a coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[1] In the, Balberra had a population of 425 people.

Geography

The northern boundary of the locality is Sandy Creek, the southern boundary is Bell Creek and Alligator Creek, and the western boundary is B L Creek. The eastern tip of the locality is at the joint mouth of Sandy Creek and Alligator Creek as they flow into the Coral Sea.

The Bruce Highway passes through the locality from the north (Chelona) to the south east (Alligator Creek). The North Coast railway line passes through the locality to the west of the highway; Balberra railway station serves the locality.[2]

The predominant land use is growing crops, particularly sugar cane. There is a network of cane tramways in the locality to transport the harvested cane to the sugar mills.

History

The locality appears to take its name from the Balberra railway station, which in turn was named in 1913 by J. Strachan, the Mackay railway traffic manager in the Queensland Railways Department, and takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning creek.[3] [4] [5]

Demographics

In the, Balberra had a population of 457 people.

In the, Balberra had a population of 425 people.

Education

There are no schools in Balberra. The nearest primary schools are in the neighbouring localities of Chelona and Alligator Creek. The nearest secondary schools are in Mackay and Sarina.

Notes and References

  1. 25 April 2019.
  2. 26 April 2018.
  3. News: SKETCHER.. 28 March 1914. The Queenslander. 26 April 2019. 2454. Queensland, Australia. 8. National Library of Australia.
  4. News: OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS.. 31 October 1913. The Northern Miner. 26 April 2019. Queensland, Australia. 7. National Library of Australia.
  5. News: 9 December 1922 . District Place Names . 56 . 8 . . 562 . Queensland, Australia . 7 September 2023 . National Library of Australia.