:Brooweena, Queensland

The town is located in the Wide Bay–Burnett area and is {{convert|266|km|mi}} north of the state capital, Brisbane. It is on the Maryborough–Biggenden Road. The north-west of the locality includes a large portion of the Wongi National Park and the Wongi State Forest.

The name Brooweena is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning crab.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35945457|title=NOMENCLATURE OF QUEENSLAND.—60|date=7 December 1935|newspaper=The Courier-mail|access-date=25 January 2020|location=Queensland, Australia|page=12|via=Trove|archive-date=29 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729084040/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35945457|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25505199|title=SKETCHER.|date=28 March 1914|newspaper=The Queenslander|access-date=25 January 2020|location=Queensland, Australia|page=8|via=Trove|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202054051/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25505199|url-status=live}}

The town was established following the arrival of the Mungar Junction to Monto Branch Railway in 1889.

Brooweena Post Office opened on 23 December 1889.{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&country= | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080819033116/https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=qld&country= | url-status = dead | archive-date = 19 August 2008 | access-date = 10 May 2014 }}

Braemar Provisional School opened on 21 January 1901 and closed on 1 July 1935. It closed in 1922 due to low attendances. It reopened in 1924 and closed on 1 July 1935 and the students were transferred to the newly opened Woocoo State School (which closed in 1961).{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}} Braemar is the name of a pastoral property south of Brooweena.{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=24 January 2020}}

Brooweena Provisional School opened on 21 March 1904; the first teacher was Eugenie Eveline Hay. It was upgraded to a State School in 1909.{{Cite QldSchool|accessdate=2 June 2014}}{{cite QSA Agency|66|Brooweena State School|3 June 2014}}

Ballugan Provisional School opened on 12 November 1907. On 1 January 1909 it became Ballugan State School. It closed in December 1909 but reopened in August 1910. It closed permanently on 30 June 1911.File:BrooweenaWoocooHistoricChambers.JPG

In 1915, the chambers of the newly established Shire of Woocoo were constructed in the town. This small building survives to this day as part of the Early Settlers Museum operated by the Woocoo Historical Society.{{cite web|title=Woocoo Historical Society Inc|url=https://sites.google.com/site/woocoohistoricalsocietyinc/home/history-of-brooweena|publisher=Woocoo Historical Society|access-date=2 June 2014|archive-date=7 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607141255/https://sites.google.com/site/woocoohistoricalsocietyinc/home/history-of-brooweena|url-status=live}}

Elizabeth Mary Thomas née Eaton, formerly Mrs B J Nichols, donated land from the property Clifton for a church and cemetery. Subscription towards the building fund were made on the understanding that the church was dedicated in the name of St Mary to the memory of Woocoo Shire soldiers killed in action in World War I.{{cite news |date=20 May 1918 |title=WOOCOO FALLEN SOLDIERS MEMORIAL. |page=3 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser |issue=14,037 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151093295 |accessdate=23 January 2023 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=29 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729084108/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/151093295 |url-status=live }} Opening services of the St Mary's Anglican Church were held on 26 October 1919.{{cite news |date=25 October 1919 |title=TEEBAR. |page=7 |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser |issue=14,282 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152602501 |accessdate=23 January 2023 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=29 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729084042/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152602501 |url-status=live }} The church was built by Matthew Edmund Rooney of Maryborough. There is a group of three stained glass windows behind the altar. In 2019 residents and descendants of past residents attended a 100th anniversary service, and a plaque to commemorate the occasion was unveiled in the church grounds.{{Cite web |last=Murree |first=Erica |date=5 November 2019 |title=St Mary's Anglican Church celebrates 100 years of worship |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/central-and-north-burnett/st-marys-anglican-church-celebrates-100-years-of-worship/image-gallery/ad0e16b8a55bccd2403b2e38c81be57c |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=The Courier Mail}} The church is variously described as being located at Boompa, Brooweena, or Teebar.{{Cite web |last=Design |first=UBC Web |title=St Mary's Anglican Church {{!}} Churches Australia |url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/a-b-towns/directory/3697-st-maryand#39;s-anglican-church |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=www.churchesaustralia.org |language=en |archive-date=22 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231824/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/a-b-towns/directory/3697-st-maryand#39;s-anglican-church |url-status=live }}

File:BrooweenaWarMemorial.JPG

In 1922, the residents of the Woocoo Shire erected a war memorial outside St Mary's Church of England on the Maryborough-Biggenden Road at Teebar (now within Boompa). In 1992 the memorial was relocated to the Woocoo Historical Museum in Brooweena on the north-western corner of Lahey Street and Smith Street ({{Coord|-25.60024|152.26303|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Brooweena War Memorial}}) due to concerns about vandalism. It is now known as the Brooweena War Memorial.{{cite QHR|15744|Brooweena War Memorial|600969|accessdate=3 April 2014}}{{cite web|title=Brooweena War Memorial (Digger)|url=http://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/Pages/MemoDet.aspx?Memorial=Brooweena%20War%20Memorial%20(Digger)|publisher=Queensland War Memorial Register|access-date=3 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093645/http://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/Pages/MemoDet.aspx?Memorial=Brooweena%20War%20Memorial%20(Digger)|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Brooweena War Memorial |url=https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90869-brooweena-war-memorial- |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Monument Australia |archive-date=29 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729084049/https://monumentaustralia.org.au/search/display/90869-brooweena-war-memorial- |url-status=live }}{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brooweena+QLD+4620/@-25.6004759,152.263111,3a,23y,337.04h,91.87t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sjzs1Xrze3DOs2JsUVo4Crg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Djzs1Xrze3DOs2JsUVo4Crg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D65.48715%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x6beb3b6f9c1fcb11:0x400eef17f20eea0!8m2!3d-25.6036965!4d152.2639342!16s%2Fm%2F09g7q0w?entry=tts|title=Brooweena War Memorial|date=April 2021|access-date=30 January 2024}}

A timber mill was established in 1924, ensuring the continuing existence of the town by being its major employer. The mill was destroyed in a fire in 1988 and was rebuilt by local people. On Thursday 28 November 2013 the mill closed as it was no longer compliant with modern safety standards and the cost of modernising the mill would be millions of dollars.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Brooweena/2005/02/17/1108500202186.html|title=Brooweena|date=8 February 2004|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax|access-date=30 November 2009|archive-date=12 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412092922/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Brooweena/2005/02/17/1108500202186.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=26 November 2013|title=Robertson Brothers' sawmill closes down|url=https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/sawmill-closes-down/2095211/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Gympie Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129173005/http://www.gympietimes.com.au:80/news/sawmill-closes-down/2095211/ |archive-date=29 November 2013 }}{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Hayden|date=27 November 2013|title=Brooweena sawmill closure destroys a family of workers|url=https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/sawmill-closure-destroys-family-workers/2096773/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Fraser Coast Chronicle|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202164629/http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au:80/news/sawmill-closure-destroys-family-workers/2096773/ |archive-date=2 December 2013 }} After Robertson Bros Sawmills sold the Brooweena mill to Ken Hall, it was reopened in 2017.{{Cite news |title=Brooweena Sawmill to be given new life |work=The Courier-Mail |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/central-and-north-burnett/brooweena-sawmill-to-be-given-new-life/news-story/2ae982579bf10fe7dd1a34060381574e}}

Idalia Provisional School opened on 20 July 1931 and closed on 16 April 1939.

New council chambers were opened in Brooweena on 14 April 1962 by Jack Pizzey, the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Isis.{{Citation | author1=Woocoo (Qld.). Council | title=Official opening of the new council chambers at Brooweena by the Hon. J. C. A. Pizzey on Saturday, 14th April, 1962 | publication-date=1962 | publisher=Woocoo Shire Council | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12520635 | access-date=3 June 2014 | archive-date=30 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130092116/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12520635 | url-status=live }}

The town set an unofficial record in 2009 when 134 people simultaneously played the lagerphone.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2009/06/09/2593526.htm|title=Unofficial lagerphone record set in Brooweena|date=9 June 2009|work=ABC Wide Bay|publisher=Australian Brooadcasting Corporation|access-date=30 November 2009|archive-date=3 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403222314/http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2009/06/09/2593526.htm|url-status=live}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of Brooweena and surrounds had a population of 263 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC30247|name=Brooweena (SSC)|accessdate=2 June 2014|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Brooweena had a population of 104 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30394|name=Brooweena (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Brooweena had a population of 91 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30392|name=Brooweena (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

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

• Brooweena-Woolooga Road: War Memorial Bridge{{cite QHR|15743|War Memorial Bridge|600968|accessdate=7 July 2013}}
• Smith Crescent: Brooweena War Memorial{{cite QHR|15744|Brooweena War Memorial|600969|accessdate=7 July 2013}}

File:TeebarAnglicanChurch.JPG

Additionally, Fraser Coast Regional Council has placed the following sites on its Local Heritage Register.-

• Brooweena Sawmill at Corfield Street Brooweena{{Cite web |date=20 October 2021 |title=Local Heritage Register v6 |url=https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Fraser Coast Regional Council |at=Place ID 87 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312005359/https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |url-status=live }}
• Mount Joseph Three Rail Fence at Brooweena Woolooga Road Brooweena{{Cite web |date=20 October 2021 |title=Local Heritage Register v6 |url=https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Fraser Coast Regional Council |at=Place ID 90 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312005359/https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |url-status=live }}
• Woocoo Historical Society at Smith Crescent Brooweena{{Cite web |date=20 October 2021 |title=Local Heritage Register v6 |url=https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Fraser Coast Regional Council |at=Place ID 91 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312005359/https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |url-status=live }}
• St Mary's Church and Cemetery at Maryborough Biggenden Road Brooweena{{Cite web |last= |date=20 October 2021 |title=Local Heritage Register v6 |url=https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |access-date=22 January 2023 |website=Fraser Coast Regional Council |at=Place ID 93 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312005359/https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2323/local-heritage-register |url-status=live }}

File:Brooweena State School, 2024.jpg

Brooweena State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Lahey Street ({{coord|-25.5989|152.2610|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Brooweena State School}}).{{cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=State and non-state school details |url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |archive-date=21 November 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018 |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-29 |title=Brooweena State School |url=https://brooweenass.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Brooweena State School |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031132341/https://brooweenass.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }} In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 12 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).{{cite web |title=ACARA School Profile 2017 |url=http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122010027/http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 14 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).{{cite web |title=ACARA School Profile 2018 |url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |access-date=28 January 2020 |publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |url-status=live }}

There are no secondary schools in Brooweena. The nearest government secondary schools are Aldridge State High School (to Year 12) in Maryborough to the east, Isis District State High School (to Year 12) in Childers to the north, and Biggenden State School (to Year 10) in Biggenden to the north-west.{{cite web|title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments|url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/|website=Queensland Globe|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=30 January 2024|archive-date=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Gauld |first1=Gail |url=https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/11l3i0/alma997634894702061 |title=Brooweena State School Centenary 1904-2004 |last2=Dombrow |first2=Alice |publisher=Brooweena State School Centenary Committee |year=2004 |isbn=0646430947}} —includes information on other schools: Braemar, Woocoo, Teebar East, Teebar West, Boompa, Idahlia, Dunmora, Musket Flat, Bowling Green, Aramara North, Aramara, and Gungaloon.

{{Commons category|Brooweena, Queensland}}

• {{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/woocoo-shire|title=Woocoo Shire|website=Queensland Places|publisher=University of Queensland}}
• {{cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-brooweena-1977.jpg|title=Town map of Brooweena|date=1977|publisher=Queensland Government}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/Photos/Brooweena_Anglican-Woocoo/|title=Broowena St Mary's Anglican cemetery}}

{{Fraser Coast Region}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Wide Bay–Burnett

Category:Fraser Coast Region

Category:Localities in Queensland