Balcomba, Queensland
| Balcomba Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Balcomba Homestead, circa 1900 | |||||||||||||||
  Balcomba | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 23°19′25″S 149°38′36″E / 23.3236°S 149.6433°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 29 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.0314/km2 (0.0812/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4702 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 924.6 km2 (357.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | |||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
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Balcomba is a rural locality split between the Central Highlands Region and the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, Balcomba had a population of 29 people.[1]
Geography
[edit]
The Mackenzie River forms the western boudary of the locality, entering from the north-west (Mackenzie / Mount Gardiner) and exiting to the south-west (Duaringa / Gogango).[4]
Local government boundaries split Balcomba into three parts:[5]
- the larger northern part in Central Highlands Region (23°16′24″S 149°37′43″E / 23.27337°S 149.62852°E)
- the smaller middle part in the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda (23°28′45″S 149°41′26″E / 23.47909°S 149.69051°E)
- smaller southern part in Central Highlands Region (23°31′26″S 149°45′26″E / 23.52391°S 149.75727°E)
The land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation with some crop growing in the south of the locality.[6]
History
[edit]In 1863, Balcomba pastoral Station was owned by A. Thompson and Turner.[7] In 1905, it was sold with 2300 cattle and 60-80 horses to Mr M. M. McKellar.[8] After World War I, James Lockie Wilson and P. J. C. McDouall bought Calliungal, Rannes and Balcomba pastoral stations. Balcomba station was on the Mackenzie River and was 209 square miles (540 km2).[9]
Demographics
[edit]In the 2016 census, Balcomba had a population of 16 people.[10]
In the 2021 census, Balcomba had a population of 29 people.[1]
Economy
[edit]There are a number of homesteads in the locality:[11]
- Santa Fe (23°07′25″S 149°32′57″E / 23.1236°S 149.5491°E)
- Leura (23°10′22″S 149°34′32″E / 23.1729°S 149.5756°E)
- Balcomba (23°24′28″S 149°37′49″E / 23.4079°S 149.6303°E)
Education
[edit]There are no schools in Balcomba. The nearest government primary school is Duaringa State School in neighbouring Duaringa to the south; however, it would be too distant for students in the north of Balcomba. There are no nearby secondary schools. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.[12]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Balcomba (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Balcomba – locality in Central Highlands Region (entry 46912)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ "Balcomba – locality in Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda (entry 49301)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "HISTORY IN PLACE NAMES". Morning Bulletin. No. 27, 642. Queensland, Australia. 2 February 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 4 April 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SALE OF BALCOMBA STATION". The Capricornian. Vol. 31, no. 44. Queensland, Australia. 4 November 1905. p. 40. Retrieved 4 April 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ McDonald, Lorna L., "James Lockie Wilson (1880–1956)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 17 September 2024, retrieved 4 April 2025
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Balcomba (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Homesteads - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
