Bunya Mountains, Queensland Explained

Type:suburb
Bunya Mountains
State:qld
Coordinates:-26.878°N 151.55°W
Pop:110
Postcode:4405
Area:371.0
Timezone:AEST
Utc:+10:00
Lga:Western Downs Region
Lga2:South Burnett Region
Stategov:Callide
Stategov2:Nanango
Fedgov:Maranoa
Near-N:Boyneside
Near-Ne:Alice Creek
Near-E:Wengenville
Near-Se:Pimpimbudgee
Near-S:Rangemore
Upper Cooyar Creek
Near-Sw:Moola
Near-W:Bell
Near-Nw:Cooranga

Bunya Mountains is a locality split between the Western Downs Region and the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.[1] The town of Mount Mowbullan is located on the boundary of Bunya Mountains and the enclosed locality of Mowbullan.[2] In the, Bunya Mountains had a population of 110 people.

Geography

The locality is split between the two local government areas: the smaller north-eastern part of the locality in South Burnett Region and the larger south-western part in the Western Downs Region. The north-eastern part is almost entirely within the Bunya Mountains National Park, with a small portion of the south-western part also in the National Park. In contrast, most of the south-western part is freehold land used for agriculture. However, only a very small portion of the north-eastern part as freehold land, used for residential and agricultural purposes. The Bunya Mountain Road roughly follows the split between the two local government areas.

The Bunya Highway passes through the western corner of the locality.

The locality of Mowbullan (in the Western Downs Region) is completely enclosed by the locality of Bunya Mountains and does not form part of the national park. This enclosure within another locality is unusual in Queensland and contrary to the Queensland Government's normal policies.[3]

History

The locality name comes from the mountain range, Bunya Mountains, and is a Kabi language word bonyi or bunyi, indicating the Bunya pine tree (Araucaria bidwillii).[1]

Sunnyvale State School (also known as Sunny Vale State School) opened on 11 July 1911 and closed in 1958. It was on a 5acres site on the eastern corner of Sunnyvale Road and Blancks Road .[4] [5]

Woodlawn State School opened in early 1916.[6] [7] [8] [9] It closed circa 1944. It was on the southern corner of the junction of Woodlawn Road and Woodlawn School Road .

Bunya Mountains Provisional School opened on 6 October 1919 and closed on 15 December 1922.

A 670-metre tramway with a 250 metre descent from the mountain top to the bottom at Wengenville used winches, winders and flying foxes from 1923 to 1928.[10] The logs were transferred to a horse-drawn tram for movement to a log dump.[11] A "not to scale" model of the tramway can be seen at the natural history museum at the Dandabah camping area.[12]

Demographics

In the, Bunya Mountains had a population of 144 people.

In the, Bunya Mountains had a population of 110 people.

See also

Notes and References

  1. 31 December 2017.
  2. 23 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Defining boundaries and extent. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190814040310/https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/place-names/naming/boundaries. 14 August 2019. 2021-01-19. How places are named. Queensland Government. en-AU.
  4. Web site: 1921 . Darling Downs 2 Mile map BG1 series sheet 8 . 7 July 2024 . . Map.
  5. Web site: Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Land parcel; Watercourse . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ . 19 December 2017 . 5 July 2024 . Queensland Globe . Queensland Government.
  6. News: 7 June 1915 . Advertising . 6 July 2024 . . Queensland, Australia . 1 . National Library of Australia . 7630.
  7. News: 3 July 1915 . Public Works Tenders. . 6 July 2024 . . Queensland, Australia . 10 . National Library of Australia . 17,929.
  8. News: 12 November 1915 . STATE SCHOOLS. . 6 July 2024 . . Queensland, Australia . 9 . National Library of Australia . 18,042.
  9. News: 8 November 1916 . DALBY DISTRICT SCHOOLS. . 6 July 2024 . . Queensland, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  10. Web site: 2019. Bunya Mountains National Park - Nature, culture and history - Harvest of the bunya pine. 28 Dec 2019. parks.des.qld.gov.au. Queensland Government - Department of Environment and Science. 29 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191129115311/https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/bunya-mountains/culture.html. live.
  11. Web site: Kerr and Philpott. JD and MM. 1971. Lars Andersen's Timber Tramways. 29 Dec 2019. southburnett.biz. Queensland Heritage. 28 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191228113839/http://www.southburnett.biz/pdfs/queenslandheritage.pdf. live.
  12. Web site: . 2 Mar 2015. Timber Tramway Lives Again. 28 Dec 2019. southburnett.com.au. South Burnett Online. 28 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191228113829/https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2015/03/02/timber-tramway-lives-again/. live.