Diamantina Lakes, Queensland

Diamantina Lakes Queensland
Flock of galahs, Dimantina National Park, 2017
Diamantina Lakes
Coordinates	23°56′29″S141°14′41″E / 23.9413°S 141.2447°E / -23.9413; 141.2447 (Diamantina Lakes (centre of locality))
Population	0 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.000000/km2 (0.00000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4735
Area	23,880.4 km2 (9,220.3 sq mi)
Location	201 km (125 mi) SE of Boulia 311 km (193 mi) SW of Winton 417 km (259 mi) NE of Birdsville 1,536 km (954 mi) WNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Diamantina
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Suburbs around Diamantina Lakes: Min Min Middleton Opalton Bedourie Diamantina Lakes Stonehenge Farrars Creek Bedourie Farrars Creek

Diamantina Lakes is an outback locality in the Shire of Diamantina, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Diamantina Lakes had "no people or a very low population". ^[1]

Geography

Greater bilby active burrow, Astrebla Downs National Park, 2024

Diamantina Lakes is part of the Channel Country which is an arid landscape with a series of ancient flood plains from rivers which only flow intermittently. When there is water in it, the Diamantina River flows from north to south through the locality eventually destined for Lake Eyre in South Australia. ^[3] However, the water usually evaporates and is absorbed into the earth before reaching Lake Eyre. ^[4]

The Diamantina National Park is in the north-east of the locality and the Astrebla Downs National Park is in the south-west of the locality. Apart from these protected areas, the land use is grazing on native vegetation. ^[5]

History

Former Diamantina Lakes pastoral station, 2015

The Diamantina Lakes pastoral station was established in 1875. The pastoral station was capable of holding up to 12,000 head of cattle.In 1992, the property was purchased by the Queensland Government which subsequently gazetted the 5,070 km² (1,958 sq mi) property as the Diamantina National Park. A number of stock routes still exist through the national park. ^[6]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Diamantina Lakes had a population of 17 people. ^[7]

In the 2021 census, Diamantina Lakes had "no people or a very low population". ^[1]

Heritage listings

The heritage listings for Diamantina Lakes includes:

• Elizabeth Springs, an artesian spring from the Great Artesian Basin ^[8]

Education

There are no schools in the locality, nor nearby. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school. ^[9]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Diamantina Lakes (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Diamantina Lakes – locality in Shire of Diamantina (entry 41500)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 29 December 2017.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 11 October 2018.
4. "Landforms from Space". Geoscience Australia. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
5. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 August 2025.
6. "Nature, culture and history | Diamantina National Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
7. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Diamantina Lakes (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
8. "Great Artesian Basin Springs: Elizabeth (Place ID 105821)". Australian Heritage Database . Australian Government . Retrieved 11 October 2018.
9. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 August 2025.

External links

Media related to Diamantina Lakes, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons