Bungunya, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bungunya Queensland
Barwon Highway on the western approach to the locale (2021).
Bungunya Location in Queensland
Population	62 (2021 census)
• Density	0.1379/km2 (0.357/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4494
Area	449.5 km2 (173.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	69.6 km (43 mi) WNW of Goondiwindi 131 km (81 mi) SW of St George 288 km (179 mi) WSW of Toowoomba 414 km (257 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Goondiwindi Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Bungunya: North Talwood North Bungunya Kioma South Talwood Bungunya Toobeah Boomi (NSW) Boomi (NSW) Boomi (NSW)

Bungunya is a rural town and locality in the Goondiwindi Region, Queensland, Australia. The locality is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. In the 2021 census, the locality of Bungunya had a population of 62 people.

Geography

Bungunya is located immediately north of the Macintyre River, which is the border between Queensland and New South Wales. The Weir River flows from east to west through the northern part of the locality. Other creeks flow from east to west through other parts of the locality. All of these rivers and creeks ultimately flow into the Barwon River in New South Wales.

The town is located in the approximate centre of the locality. The Barwon Highway (from St George to Goondiwindi) passes from east to west through the middle of the locality, immediately to the north of the town. The Meandarra – Talwood Road (State Route 74) runs north from the Barwon Highway through the centre of the northern part of the locality. The South Western railway line (from Warwick to Dirranbandi) also passes from east to west through the locality, but to the immediate south of the town. The locality was once served by the former Bungunya railway station (28°25′35″S 149°39′27″E / 28.4264°S 149.6575°E / -28.4264; 149.6575 (Bungunya railway station)) in the town and by the former Welltown railway station (28°26′40″S 149°43′57″E / 28.4445°S 149.7325°E / -28.4445; 149.7325 (Welltown railway station)) in the east of the locality.

The land is very flat, approximately 180 metres above sea level, and is extensively developed for agriculture.

History

The name Bungunya is allegedly an Aboriginal word, meaning a high or safe living place. The language and dialect is unknown but it may be an imported name from Victoria.

Gamilaraay (Gamilaroi, Kamilaroi, Comilroy) is a language from South-West Queensland and North-West New South Wales. The Gamilaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Balonne Shire Council, including the towns of Dirranbandi, Thallon, Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree, Tamworth and Coonabarabran in NSW.

Bungunya Provisional School opened on a half-time basis in 1916, sharing the teacher with Glengower Provisional School. It became a full-time school in 1918 and a state school soon after.

Bungunya was once a busy railway centre from which thousands of bales of wool were transported from local sheep stations following the shearing season.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Bungunya had a population of 189 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Bungunya had a population of 75 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Bungunya had a population of 62 people.

Education

Bungunya State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at George Street (28°25′37″S 149°39′16″E / 28.4270°S 149.6545°E / -28.4270; 149.6545 (Bungunya State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 22 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).

Gallery

• 

  Watering facility, Meandarra Rd, Bungunya, circa 1954

• 

  Barwon Highway westbound, east of Bungunya turn-off (2021).

• 

  Railway siding and silos (2021).

• 

  Post office building, Main Street (2021).