| Type: | town |
| Barratta | |
| State: | qld |
| Coordinates: | -19.5069°N 147.2547°W |
| Pop: | 85 |
| Pop Year: | locality |
| Postcode: | 4809 |
| Area: | 236.9 |
| Timezone: | AEST |
| Utc: | +10:00 |
| Dist1: | 15.8 |
| Dir1: | W |
| Location1: | Ayr |
| Dist2: | 79.5 |
| Dir2: | SE |
| Location2: | Townsville |
| Dist3: | 1283 |
| Dir3: | NNW |
| Location3: | Brisbane |
| Lga: | Shire of Burdekin |
| Stategov: | Burdekin |
| Fedgov: | Dawson |
| Near-N: | Jerona |
| Near-Ne: | Colevale |
| Near-E: | Brandon |
| Near-Se: | Airville Mount Kelly |
| Near-S: | Mona Park |
| Near-Sw: | Upper Haughton |
| Near-W: | Horseshoe Lagoon |
| Near-Nw: | Jerona |
Barratta is a rural town and a locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia.[1] [2] In the, the locality of Barratta had a population of 85 people.
Barratta Creek rises in the locality and runs north through Jerona to the Coral Sea, while Barramundi Creek also rises and runs to the north-west.
The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the east (Brandon) and exits to the west (Horseshoe Lagoon).
The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the east (Brandon) and exits to the west (Horseshoe Lagoon), but runs approx north and parallel to the highway.[3] The locality is served by Barratta railway station is a railway station (-19.5273°N 147.211°W) and was formerly served by the now-abandoned Lochinvar railway station (-19.5227°N 147.2716°W).[4]
The land use is divided between grazing on native vegetation in the north of the locality and growing sugarcane in the south of the locality. Cane tramways pass through the south of the locality to transport the harvested sugarcane to the Pioneer sugar mill.
In 1881, the success of sugarcane growing in the Burdekin district and the navigability of Barratta Creek from the Coral Sea via Bowling Green Bay resulted in a proposal to establish a town and a port along Barratta Creek.[5] In 1885, the Queensland Government had surveyed a town site called Noondoo and offered over 100 town lots for sale.[6] On 25 September 1897, the town's name was changed to Baratta by notification in the Queensland Government Gazette and then to Barratta (two "r"s) on 21 March 1902. Barratta is believed to be an Aboriginal name for the chain of lagoons in the area. However, no port was established and the town did not develop. The town remains officially in existence,[7] but, as at 2024, is being used as grazing land.[8]
In February 1918, extensive flooding in the region affected Barratta Creek with over of water flowing over the railway bridge crossing the creek.[9]
In the, the locality of Barratta had a population of 69 people.
In the, the locality of Barratta had a population of 85 people.
There are no schools in Barratta. The nearest government primary schools are:[10]
The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in Ayr to the east.
