:Boonarga, Queensland
{{confused|Boonara, Queensland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2017}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = suburb
| name = Boonarga
| city =
| state = qld
| image =Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, Boonarga (2006).jpg
| caption =Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, Boonarga, 2006
| coordinates = {{coord|-26.8094|150.7202|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Boonarga (centre of locality)}}
| pop = 37
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| postcode = 4413
| area = 57.6
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 19.9
| dir1 = SE
| location1 = Chinchilla
| dist2 = 77.4
| dir2 = NW
| location2 = Dalby
| dist3 = 144
| dir3 = NW
| location3 = Toowoomba
| dist4 = 272
| dir4 = WNW
| location4 = Brisbane
| lga = Western Downs Region
|stategov = Callide
| fedgov = Maranoa
| near-n = Chances Plain
| near-ne = Brigalow
| near-e = Brigalow
| near-se = Brigalow
| near-s = Hopeland
| near-sw = Hopeland
| near-w = Hopeland
| near-nw = Chinchilla
}}
Boonarga is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|47669|Boonarga|locality in Western Downs Region|accessdate=14 December 2020}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Boonarga had a population of 37 people.
Geography
The Warrego Highway and Western railway line enter the locality from the south-east (Brigalow) and exit to the north-west (Chinchilla).{{Queensland Globe|access-date=24 December 2022}}
Boonarga railway station is an abandoned station on the Western railway line ({{coord|-26.7942|150.7153|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Boonarga railway station}}).{{Cite web|date=2 October 2020|title=Railway stations and sidings - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005070354/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd|archive-date=5 October 2020|access-date=5 October 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}
History
Hill Top Provisional School opened on 20 March 1893. On 1 January 1909, it became Hill Top State School. From 1914 to 1915 it operated as a half-time school with Mulga State School (meaning the two schools shared a single teacher). In 1936, it was renamed Boonarga State School. It closed in June 1954.{{Citation | author1=Queensland Family History Society | title=Queensland schools past and present | publication-date=2010 | publisher=Queensland Family History Society | edition=Version 1.01 | isbn=978-1-921171-26-0 }} It was located on the Warrego Highway ({{Coord|-26.7909|150.7075|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Boonarga State School (former)}}).{{Cite web|date=1953|title=Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m81|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m81-admin-bdy-1953.jpg|url-status=live|access-date=10 November 2021|publisher=Queensland Government|type=Map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110074841/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m81-admin-bdy-1953.jpg |archive-date=10 November 2021 }}{{Cite web |date=1921 |title=County of Lytton |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-county-lytton-1921.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224221748/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-county-lytton-1921.jpg |archive-date=24 December 2022 |access-date=24 December 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map}}
The Cactoblastis Memorial Hall was built to celebrate the eradiction of the prickly pear in the Boonarga area through the introduction of the cactoblastis moth.{{cite news |date=15 November 1934 |title=MEMORIAL TO CACTOBLASTIS |page=10 |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23341216 |accessdate=25 December 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} Prickly pear had spread so extensively through the area that it was often not possible to walk or ride through it.{{cite news |date=8 January 1936 |title=A SURVEY & SOME OPINIONS |volume=XLVIII |page=6 |newspaper=The Sydney Mail |issue=1241 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160638219 |accessdate=25 December 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=3 October 1936 |title=Reclaiming a Lost Province—1 |page=22 |newspaper=The Courier-mail |issue=966 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37011438 |accessdate=25 December 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} The hall was built by local builder Mr Jack Schloss at a cost of {{A£|435}} and was officially opened in February 1936 by Godfrey Morgan, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.{{cite news |date=5 March 1936 |title=Northern Floods—New Church at Bundaberg Cactoblastis Honoured—Giant Footwear. |page=29 |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23381931 |accessdate=25 December 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |date=28 June 1936 |title=SCIENCE WAGES WAR ON |page=27 |newspaper=Sunday Mail |issue=323 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97965397 |accessdate=25 December 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} A gala ball was held to mark the occasion.{{cite QHR|16036|Cactoblastis Memorial Hall|601273|accessdate=1 August 2014}}{{cite news |date=6 May 1936 |title=AUSTRALIANA |page=12 |newspaper=The World's News |issue=1795 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136323930 |accessdate=25 December 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Boonarga had a population of 36 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30325|name=Boonarga (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Boonarga had a population of 37 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30323|name=Boonarga (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}
Heritage listings
Boonarga has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Education
There are no schools in Boonarga. The nearest government primary schools are Brigalow State School in neighbouring Brigalow to the south-east and Chinchilla State School in neighbouring Chinchilla to the north-west. The nearest government secondary school is Chinchilla State High School in Chinchilla.
Amenities
Boonarga Cactoblastis Memorial Hall is on the Warrego Highway ({{Coord|-26.7952|150.7155|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Cactoblastis Memorial Hall}}).{{Cite web|title=Community Halls|url=https://www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/facilities-and-services/community-facilities/community-halls/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-10|website=Western Downs Regional Council|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303151727/http://www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/facilities-and-services/community-facilities/community-halls/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Boonarga, Queensland}}
{{Western Downs Region}}
{{Darling Downs}}