Barratta, Queensland

Barratta Queensland
Train crossing Barratta Creek during a flood with the water up to the decking of the bridge, 1918
Barratta
Coordinates	19°30′25″S147°15′17″E / 19.5069°S 147.2547°E / -19.5069; 147.2547 (Barratta (town centre))
Population	85 (2021 census locality) [1]
• Density	0.3588/km2 (0.929/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4809
Area	236.9 km2 (91.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	15.8 km (10 mi) W of Ayr 79.5 km (49 mi) SE of Townsville 1,283 km (797 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Burdekin
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal division(s)	Dawson
Localities around Barratta: Jerona Jerona Colevale Horseshoe Lagoon Barratta Brandon Upper Haughton Mona Park Airville Mount Kelly

Barratta is a rural town and a locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the locality of Barratta had a population of 85 people. ^[1]

Geography

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. ^[4]

The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the east (Brandon) and exits to the west (Horseshoe Lagoon). ^[5]

The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the east (Brandon) and exits to the west (Horseshoe Lagoon), but runs approx 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north and parallel to the highway. ^[5] The locality is served by Barratta railway station is a railway station ( 19°31′38″S147°12′40″E / 19.5273°S 147.2110°E / -19.5273; 147.2110 (Barratta railway station) ) and was formerly served by the now-abandoned Lochinvar railway station ( 19°31′22″S147°16′18″E / 19.5227°S 147.2716°E / -19.5227; 147.2716 (Lochinvar railway station (former)) ). ^[6]

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. ^[7] Cane tramways pass through the south of the locality to transport the harvested sugarcane to the Pioneer sugar mill. ^[5]

History

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. ^[8] In 1885, the Queensland Government had surveyed a town site called Noondoo and offered over 100 town lots for sale. ^[9] 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. ^[2] However, no port was established and the town did not develop. The town remains officially in existence, ^[10] but, as at 2024, is being used as grazing land. ^[7]

In February 1918, extensive flooding in the region affected Barratta Creek with over 2 feet (0.61 m) of water flowing over the railway bridge crossing the creek. ^[11]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Barratta had a population of 69 people. ^[12]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Barratta had a population of 85 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Barratta. The nearest government primary schools are: ^[13]

• Brandon State School in neighbouring Brandon to the east
• Maidavale State School in neighbouring Airville to the south-east
• Airville State School in neighbouring Airville to the south-east
• Clare State School in Clare to the south
• Giru State School in Giru to the west

The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in Ayr to the east. ^[13]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Barratta (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Barratta – town in Shire of Burdekin (entry 49396)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 November 2018.
3. "Barratta – locality in Shire of Burdekin (entry 44666)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 November 2018.
4. "Barratta, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 14 August 2021.
5. "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 November 2024.
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. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 17 November 2024.
8. "The North-east Coast in its Relation to the Sugar Industry". The Queenslander . Vol. XX, no. 326. Queensland, Australia. 19 November 1881. p. 663. Retrieved 18 November 2024– via National Library of Australia.
9. "Classified Advertising". The Queenslander . Vol. XXVIII, no. 520. Queensland, Australia. 12 September 1885. p. 426. Retrieved 18 November 2024– via National Library of Australia.
10. "Town of Barratta" (Map). Queensland Government. 1979. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
11. "STIRRING TALE OF THE NORTH". The Queenslander . No. 2687. Queensland, Australia. 23 February 1918. p. 10. Retrieved 18 November 2024– via National Library of Australia.
12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Barratta (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
13. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 November 2024.

External links

• Town map of Barratta, 1979