Balnagowan, Queensland
Balnagowan | |||||||||||||
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 Balnagowan homestead, circa 1914 | |||||||||||||
  Balnagowan | |||||||||||||
Interactive map of Balnagowan | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates: 21°07′05″S 149°01′05″E / 21.1180°S 149.0180°E | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 40.8 km2 (15.8 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 438 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 10.735/km2 (27.80/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 4740 | ||||||||||||
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Balnagowan is a rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Balnagowan had a population of 438 people.[1]
Geography
The Pioneer River forms the southern boundary of the locality. It ultimates flows into the Coral Sea at Mackay.[3]
The land use is predominantly crop growing (mostly sugarcane) with some grazing on native vegetation.[4] There are some cane train tramways in the locality to transport the harvested sugarcane to the local sugar mills.[5]
History
Balnagowan was settled by John Cook and Louis Gerald Ross in 1862. Ross named it Balnagowan after his home in Scotland.[6][7] Ross died in 1870 at Balnagowan.[8] The Balnagowan homestead is still visible on a 1976 map (21°08′22″S 149°01′33″E / 21.13938°S 149.02587°E).[9][10]
Balnagowan State School opened on 6 February 1950. It closed on 24 January 1977.[11] It was one of 11 schools closed in 1977 due to falling student numbers where transport was available to access other local schools.[12] It was on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site at 12 Coxs Road (21°07′21″S 149°01′47″E / 21.1226°S 149.0298°E).[13][14]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Balnagowan had a population of 418 people.[15]
In the 2021 census, Balnagowan had a population of 438 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Balnagowan. The nearest government primary schools are:[16]
- Walkerston State School in neighbouring Walkerston to the south-east
- Coningsby State School in neighbouring Farleigh to the north-east
- Hampden State School in neighbouring Hampden to the north-west
- Marian State School in neighbouring Marian to the south-west
The nearest government secondary schools are:[16]
- Mackay North State High School in North Mackay to the east
- Mackay State High School in South Mackay to the east
- Mirani State High School in Mirani to the south-west
References
- 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Balnagowan (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ↑ "Balnagowan – locality in Mackay Region (entry 49360)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ↑ "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourse". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ "Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ "Placenames of Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia". Mackay History. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ "EARLY DAYS OF MACKAY". Daily Mercury. Vol. 68, no. 300. Queensland, Australia. 21 December 1934. p. 1 (CHRISTMAS SECTION 1934). Retrieved 4 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Classified Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXV, no. 3, 994. Queensland, Australia. 23 July 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 4 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "8755-434 Pleystowe" (Map). Queensland Government. 1976. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Mackay (Western half)" (Map). Queensland Government. 1942. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ↑ "Agency ID 4811, Balnagowan State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ↑ "8755 Mackay" (Map). Queensland Government. 1973. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ↑ "Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m309" (Map). Queensland Government. 1960. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Balnagowan (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- 1 2 "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 June 2024.