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Boulia Queensland
Entry into Boulia
Boulia
Coordinates	22°54′35″S 139°54′24″E / 22.9097°S 139.9066°E / -22.9097; 139.9066
Population	314 (2021 census)
• Density	2.025/km (5.243/sq mi)
Established	1879
Postcode(s)	4829
Elevation	161.8 m (531 ft)
Area	155.1 km (59.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	1,721 km (1,069 mi) from Brisbane 289 km (180 mi) from Mount Isa 363 km (226 mi) from Winton 812 km (505 mi) from Alice Springs, (N.T.)
LGA(s)	Boulia
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 31.7 °C 89 °F 16.6 °C 62 °F 264.3 mm 10.4 in
Localities around Boulia: Wills Wills Wills Wills Boulia Wills Wills Wills Wills

Boulia (/ˈbʊliə/) is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Boulia had a population of 314 people.

Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire, population approximately 600, which covers an area of 61,176 square kilometres (23,620 sq mi).

The area is best known for sightings of the Min Min lights, mysterious shimmering lights that appear at night. The lights are said to be caused by atmospheric refraction that occurs when cold air is trapped below warmer air, a phenomenon known as Fata Morgana.

Geography

Boulia is in the Central West Queensland and is located approximately 296 kilometres (184 mi) by road south of Mount Isa. Boulia is at the crossroads of a number of outback routes, including the Boulia Mount Isa Road (which goes north-west towards Mount Isa), the Selwyn Road (which goes north-east to Selwyn), the Winton Road, which goes east toward Winton), and the Boulia Bedourie Road (which goes south-west to Bedourie). The Donohue Highway coming from the Northern Territory joins the Boulia Mount Isa Road just outside of Boulia, which together with the Winton Road forms part of the Outback Way billed as "Australia's Longest Shortcut", a 2,800 kilometres (1,700 mi) gravel-and-bitumen road which runs between Laverton in Western Australia and Winton in Queensland.

Boulia is in the Channel Country. All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin, and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre. Boulia lies on the Burke River, which was named after the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. The river flows from the north-east to the south-east through the locality.

Although it is contrary to the locality boundary principles of the Queensland Government, the locality of Boulia is an "island" entirely surrounded by the locality of Wills.

Extensive grazing of beef cattle on native vegetation is the predominant industry. Boulia is at the heart of the Channel Country of western Queensland where, during rain events, channels running between the rivers and creeks of the region fill with water and spread that water over expansive areas. When it does rain heavily, the Mitchell grass plains respond magnificently and result in the Channel country around Boulia, being among the finest beef producing country in Australia.

The town has a grid layout with 6 roads running east–west and 5 running north–south. Herbert Street is the main street where most of the civic and commercial premises are located.

History

The town was named by surveyor Frederick Arthur Hartnell in 1882 and was derived from the name of the waterhole near the township called "bool-yo" in the Pitta Pitta language.

The township was gazetted in 1879. Boulia Post Office opened on 1 July 1879.

Boulia Provisional School opened on 7 October 1889. It became Boulia State School on 1 January 1909. In December 1937, the school building of the closed state school in Selwyn was relocated to be used as a school building in Boulia.

The Good Shepherd Catholic Church was built in 1955.

In 2019, the Boulia Outback Chapel was established in the former Anglican church building. It is part of the Baptist Church.

In 2019, the Boulia Outback Chapel was established in the former Anglican church building. It is part of the Baptist Church.

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the town of Boulia had a population of 205.

In the 2011 census, the locality of Boulia had a population of 230.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Boulia had a population of 301 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Boulia had a population of 314 people.

Climate

Boulia experiences a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh), with very hot, occasionally rainy summers, and very mild, dry winters with cool nights and rare frosts. Average maxima vary from 22.9 °C (73.2 °F) in July to 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in December. Average annual rainfall is very low: 258.3 mm (10.17 in), occurring within 24.1 rainfall days. Rainfall is extraordinarily erratic, as while only 24.1 mm (0.95 in) fell in 1905; 464.9 mm (18.30 in) was recorded in January 1974 alone. The town is very sunny, averaging 186.4 clear days and only 43.6 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −1.4 °C (29.5 °F) on 31 August 1906 to 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) on 7 February 1915.

Events

The town hosts the Boulia Camel Races, the longest camel race (running a 1500m cup final) on the Australian camel racing circuit.

Each year at Easter, the Boulia Racecourse reserve plays host to a rodeo, campdrafting, and horse racing event which is a social highlight for the district.

During August drag races are held at the Boulia Airport which attracts an enthusiastic crowd.

Facilities

Boulia has a range of public facilities open to the community. These include a public library, public hall, sports complex, racecourse, the Min Min encounter tourist centre, museum, visitor information centre, and camel races. The Boulia Shire Council operates a public library at 18 Burke Street.

An 18-hole golf course with sand greens is located on the Boulia Winton Road. Greens fees are not charged for the use of this course and a clubhouse with bar facilities is available.

Boulia has Australia's first three-dimensional zebra crossing which is based on an optical illusion. It is to improve road safety and also to be a tourist attraction. It was introduced in 2018 after Boulia Shire Council mayor Rick Britton saw similar crossings in Iceland, Malaysia, India, New Zealand and the United States on social media.

The Boulia branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 61 Moonah Street.

Boulia Outback Chapel is at 49 Moonah Street (22°54′38″S 139°54′30″E / 22.9105°S 139.9082°E / -22.9105; 139.9082 (Boulia Outback Chapel)).

The Good Shepherd Catholic Church is at 33 Moonah Street (22°54′37″S 139°54′36″E / 22.9102°S 139.9101°E / -22.9102; 139.9101 (Good Shepherd Catholic Church)).

Education

Boulia State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Templeton Street (22°54′30″S 139°54′39″E / 22.9084°S 139.9109°E / -22.9084; 139.9109 (Boulia State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 4 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).

There are no secondary schools in Boulia. The nearest secondary schools are in Mount Isa and Winton, but these are too distant for a daily commute. The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa offers boarding facilities. Other boarding schools or distance education would be options for secondary schooling.

Mars

The name Boulia is used as a name for a crater on the planet Mars, specifically commemorating the town.

Heritage listings

Boulia has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Pituri Street: Boulia Stone House

See also

• Boulia Airport

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Boulia (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. ^ "Boulia (town) (entry 3993)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
3. "Boulia (locality) – 12 September 2015 (entry 42339)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government.
4. Tim the Yowie Man (2001). "Spook of the Min Min Light". The adventures of Tim the Yowie Man cryptonaturalist. Sydney, Australia: Random House Australia. p. 256. ISBN 174051078X.
5. "Science logic spoils outback mystery". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australia. 22 April 2003.
6. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
7. "Australia's Longest Shortcut". The Outback Way. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
8. FitzSimons, Trish (2010). "Channel Country". Queensland Historical Atlas. University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
9. "Burke River – watercourse in the Boulia Shire (entry 5353)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
10. "How places are named: Defining boundaries and extent: Locality boundaries". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
11. "A Review of the Structure and Dynamics of the Australian Beef Cattle Industry" (PDF). www.agriculture.gov.au. June 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
12. "The Channel Country Grasslands". OBE Organic. 2014. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
13. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
14. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
15. "BOULIA NOTES". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LIX, no. 309. Queensland, Australia. 27 December 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "Our History". Good Shepherd Catholic Parish of Mount Isa. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
17. ^ "Boulia Outback Chapel". Boulia Chapel. Archived from the original on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Boulia (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Boulia (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
20. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Boulia (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
21. "Boulia Airport Climate (1886-2024)". FarmOnline Weather. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
22. "Boulia Airport Climate Statistics (1886-2024)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
23. "Boulia Camel Races 19–21 July 2019". Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
24. "Directory of Public Libraries". Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
25. "Boulia". Centre for the Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
26. Bhole, Aneeta (29 May 2018). "Outback town takes a 3D approach to slowing motorists at pedestrian crossings". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
27. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
28. "Our Community". Good Shepherd Catholic Parish of Mount Isa. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
29. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
30. "Boulia State School". Retrieved 28 February 2021.
31. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
32. "Residential Campus" (PDF). Spinifex State College. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
33. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". Astrogeology Research Program, NASA. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
34. "Boulia Stone House (entry 600039)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

External links

• Shire website
• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Boulia and Boulia Shire
• Town map of Boulia, 1974

• Towns in Queensland
• Shire of Boulia
• 1879 establishments in Australia
• Populated places established in 1879
• Localities in Queensland