| Erakala Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Erakala | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 21°07′56″S149°06′56″E / 21.1322°S 149.1155°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 763 (SAL 2021) [1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4740 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 12.4 km2 (4.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Mackay Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Whitsunday | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Dawson | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Erakala is a mixed-use locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] In the 2021 census, Erakala had a population of 763 people. [3]
Located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of the Mackay CBD, the locality is bounded to the south by the Pioneer River. [4]
The Mackay Ring Road crosses the river from the south (Te Kowai / Racecourse) and is the south-eastern boundary of the locality before continuing north through the locality exiting to Glenella to the north-east. [4]
The Bruce Highway forms two short segments of the locality's northern boundary entering from the north-east (Glenella) and exiting to the north-west (Farleigh). [4]
The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the east (Foulden) heading north-west, forming part of the locality's north-eastern boundary before crossing the Bruce Highway and exiting to the north (Fairleigh / Glenella). [4] The locality was historically served by the former Erakala railway station ( 21°07′38″S149°08′00″E / 21.1271°S 149.1334°E ). [5]
Most of the land in the south of the locality is low-lying (approx 10 metres (33 ft) above sea level), particularly the land near the river. This land is almost entirely used for growing sugarcane and there is a network of cane tramways to transported the harvested sugarcane to the local sugar mills. [5] [4]
The northern parts of the locality are more elevated, rising to 140 metres (460 ft). This land is increasingly used for rural residential and suburban housing. [4] [6]
The locality takes its name from the former Erakala railway station, which in turn was named on 12 January 1927 by J. Strachan, the Mackay railway traffic manager of Queensland Railways Department. It is an Aboriginal word meaning "flat". [2] [7]
In the 2016 census, Erakala had a population of 547 people. [8]
In the 2021 census, Erakala had a population of 763 people. [3]
There are no schools in Erakala. The nearest government primary schools are Farleigh State School in neighbouring Farleigh to the north and Glenella State School in neighbouring Glenella to the north-east. The nearest government secondary school is Mackay North State High School in North Mackay to the north-east. [4]
Calen is a rural town and coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Calen had a population of 390 people.
Bakers Creek is a rural town and coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Bakers Creek had a population of 1,161 people.
Te Kowai is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Te Kowai had a population of 218 people.
The Leap is a coastal rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census The Leap had a population of 642 people.
Racecourse is a suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census Racecourse had a population of 181 people.
Alexandra is a suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Alexandra had a population of 193 people.
Habana is a coastal rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Habana had a population of 952 people.
Glenella is a mixed-use town and suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Glenella had a population of 4,519 people.
Richmond is a suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Richmond had a population of 486 people.
Hampden is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Hampden had a population of 566 people.
Chelona is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Chelona had a population of 100 people.
Farleigh is a rural town and locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Farleigh had a population of 815 people.
Mount Ossa is a rural town and a coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Mount Ossa had a population of 224 people.
Ooralea is a southern suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Ooralea had a population of 3,366 people.
Wangan is a town and a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Wangan had a population of 612 people.
Balberra is a coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Balberra had a population of 457 people.
Duingal is a locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Duingal had a population of 70 people.
Dunnrock is a coastal rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Dunnrock had a population of 58 people.
Bilyana is a coastal locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Bilyana had a population of 190 people.
Currajah is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Currajah had a population of 57 people.
