Watalgan

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Watalgan
Queensland
Australia Queensland location map.svg
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Watalgan
Coordinates 24°38′52″S152°00′50″E / 24.6477°S 152.0138°E / -24.6477; 152.0138 (Watalgan (centre of locality))
Population38 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density0.735/km2 (1.904/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4670
Area51.7 km2 (20.0 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Bundaberg Region
State electorate(s) Burnett
Federal division(s) Flynn
Suburbs around Watalgan:
Rosedale Winfield Mullett Creek
Rosedale Watalgan Mullett Creek
Rosedale Rosedale Waterloo

Watalgan is a rural locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] In the 2021 census, Watalgan had a population of 38 people. [1]

Contents

Geography

The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the west (Mullett Creek) and exits to the west (Rosedale). [3] Historically, the locality was served by the Watalgan railway station, but, following a realignment of the railway line in 1996, [4] it is now an abandoned railway station on a dismantled section of the line ( 24°38′50″S152°01′31″E / 24.6473°S 152.0252°E / -24.6473; 152.0252 (Watalgan railway station) ). [5]

Rosedale Road enters the locality from the west (Mullett Creek) and exits to the west (Rosedale). [3]

Littabella Conservation Park is in the west and south of the locality, extending into neighbouring Rosedale. There are a number of sections of the Watalgan State Forest in the east and south of the locality, extending into neighbouring Mullett Creek. Apart from these protected areas, the land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation. [6]

History

The locality takes its name from the former Watalgan railway station, which was named by the Queensland Railways Department on 18 August 1913, after the Watalgan Range, a name believed to be of Aboriginal origin. [2]

Watalgan Provisional School opened on 7 February 1927. In August 1933, it became Watalgan State School. It closed on 13 May 1963. [7] [8] It was located approx 24°38′42″S152°01′34″E / 24.64488°S 152.02613°E / -24.64488; 152.02613 (Watalgan State School (former)) , [9] but the land parcel no longer exists due to the realignment of the railway line in 1996. [4]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Watalgan had a population of 38 people. [10]

In the 2021 census, Watalgan had a population of 38 people. [1]

Education

There are no schools in Watalgan. The nearest government primary schools are Rosedale State School in neighbouring Rosedale to the west, Winfield State School in neighbouring Winfield to the north, and Yandaran State School in Yandaran to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Rosedale State School (to Year 12). [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Watalgan (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. 1 2 "Watalgan – locality in Bundaberg Region (entry 47146)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 Laird, Philip (2010). "Brisbane Cairns land transport" (PDF). Australasian Transport Research Forum 2010 Proceedings. p. 5. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  5. "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.
  6. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  7. "Agency ID 6228, Watalgan State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
  9. "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m159" (Map). Queensland Government. 1940. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Watalgan (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 28 March 2025.