:Tolga, Queensland

Tolga is located on the Atherton Tableland. The Kennedy Highway traverses the locality from the north-west to the south of the locality, passing through the town which is in the southern part of the locality.{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=26 February 2018}} To the north-west of the town is a large residential development which is marketed under the names of Tandara, Rangeview and Panorama Views.{{cite web|title=Panorama Views, Atherton Tableland|url=http://www.panoramaviews.com.au/|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225232904/http://www.panoramaviews.com.au/|archive-date=25 February 2018|url-status=live}}

Mapee is a neighbourhood within the centre of the locality ({{coord|-17.1901|145.4677|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Mapee}}).{{cite QPN|39192|Mapee|locality unbounded in Tablelands Regional|accessdate=19 September 2020}} Yadjin is a neighbourhood in the south-east of the locality ({{coord|-17.2166|145.5|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Yadjin}}).{{cite QPN|38346|Yadjin|locality unbounded in Tablelands Regional|accessdate=19 September 2020}}

The Barron River forms the north-east boundary of the locality. The south-western boundary of the locality is the Great Dividing Range which creates the drainage divide that separates the drainage basin of the Barron River (which flows to the Coral Sea) from that of the Mitchell River (which flows to the Gulf of Carpentaria).

The northern and eastern parts of Tolga are relatively flat land used for growing crops. The western parts are more mountainous (creating the drainage divide) and are mostly undeveloped. Bones Knob is a peak to the west of the town ({{coord|-17.2166|145.4441|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Bones Knob}}) at {{Convert|962|m||abbr=}} above sea level.{{cite QPN|3545|Bones Knob|peak in Tablelands Regional|accessdate=19 September 2020}}

The Tolga Scrub on the southern side of town (within the locality of Atherton, {{Coord|-17.2367|145.4794|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Tolga Scrub}}) is one of the last remaining areas of Mabi rainforest on the Atherton Tableland. It is the most drought resistant type of rainforest in Australia. The Tolga Scrub is {{convert|2|km|mi}} long and 100 metres wide.{{cite web|url=https://www.tolgabathospital.org/about_tolgascrub.htm|title=The Tolga Scrub|website=Tolga Bat Hospital|access-date=8 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606112637/http://www.tolgabathospital.org/about_tolgascrub.htm|archive-date=6 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}

Bones Knob is thought to be named after a young Aboriginal man known as "Bones", mention in a letter written in February 1879 by Alexander Douglas of the Native Mounted Police to Inspector Stuart of the Queensland Police.

The town was originally called Martin Town after sawmillers George and Robert Martin, and grew out of a Cobb and Co staging post at Rocky Creek.{{cite web|title=My Heritage Australia, family tree, Genealogy – Family Search|url=http://www.heritageaustralia.com.au/search.php?state=QLD®ion=34&view=1360|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724021950/http://heritageaustralia.com.au/search.php?state=QLD®ion=34&view=1360|archive-date=24 July 2008|access-date=2009-06-06|df=dmy-all}}

Martintown Provisional School opened on 10 October 1895. It was renamed Tolga Provisional School in 1905. On 1 January 1909, it became Tolga State School.{{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}} The school celebrated its centenary in 1995.{{Citation |author1=Snelling, Judy |title=Tolga State School centenary 1895-1995 |date=1995 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8464486 |access-date=3 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710003913/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8464486 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |url-status=live |publisher=The School}}

The town's name was changed to Tolga in 1903 when Tablelands railway line was extended from Mareeba to Atherton and the local railway station was to be called Tolga, a name thought to be derived from the Aboriginal word for either place where the scrub begins or red volcanic soil. The line opened on 10 August 1903.{{cite book|last=Kerr|first=John|title=Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways|date=1990|publisher=Boolarong Publications|isbn=978-0-86439-102-5|page=225}} A branch line from Tolga to Yungaburra was built, opening on 15 March 1910, which was subsequently extended in stages to Millaa Millaa by 19 December 1921. The line between Atherton and Mareeba became non-operational on 1 July 2011 and was officially closed on 15 March 2013.{{Cite web|title=Northern Queensland Diagrams|url=http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/AccessandRegulation/Documents/Northern%20Queensland%20Line%20Diagrams.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425033840/http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/AccessandRegulation/Documents/Northern%20Queensland%20Line%20Diagrams.pdf|archive-date=25 April 2014|access-date=5 October 2020|website=Queensland Rail|page=15}} Tolga railway station was between the Kennedy Highway and Lawson Street ({{Coord|-17.2208|145.4797|type:landmark_region:AU_QLD|display=|name=Tolga railway station}}).{{Cite QPN|34742|Tolga|railway station in the Tablelands Region|access-date=5 October 2020}}

Mapee takes its name from its railway station, assigned by the Queensland Railways Department on 11 January 1915. It is an Aboriginal word meaning tree kangaroo.

Yadjin takes its name from its railway station name, assigned by the Queensland Railways Department on 26 June 1922, an Aboriginal word meaning grass pocket.

During World War II in 1943 the Australian Army established their largest storage and repair centre to the west of the town centred on Griffin Road and Tate Road to support the War in the Pacific. It was known as the 13 Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot and was operated by the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps under the command of lieutenant colonel LW Gale with a staff of about 1000 including 200 from the Australian Women's Army Service. The complex had about 150 buildings, including 18 large igloo storage shed. The complex stored, repaired and maintained Army vehicles and vehicle parts, weapons and ammunition, and clothing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/places/?id=1604|title=13 Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot: Tolga Advanced Ordnance Depot|date=30 June 2014|website=Queensland World War II historic places|publisher=Queensland Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226004729/https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/places/?id=1604|archive-date=26 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=26 February 2018}}

Most buildings on the site were removed in 1946 after the war had ended with one building being relocated to the Atherton Hospital for the use of the Queensland Country Women's Association. On Friday 29 November 1946, three Army personnel were working to remove cordite from the shells in the ammunition dump when the cordite ignited in a blinding flash. The three men were severely burned in the explosion but managed to crawl over a mile to their headquarters. Although they were rushed to the Atheron hospital, the three men died and were buried at the Atherton War Cemetery.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18004871|title=Three Deaths Follow Cordite Blast|date=2 December 1946|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 February 2018|issue=33,991|location=New South Wales, Australia|page=1|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=10 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710003913/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18004871|url-status=live}}

In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the town of Tolga had a population of 843 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL355800|name=Tolga (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=25 June 2011|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of Tolga had a population of 2,426 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31645|name=Tolga (SSC)|accessdate=8 June 2016|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Tolga had a population of 2,718 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32869|name=Tolga (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Tolga had a population of 3,177 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32840|name=Tolga (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

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

• Bones Knob Radar Station, Bowcock Road{{cite QHR|29442|WWII RAAF 220 Radar Station|602741|accessdate=14 July 2013}}
• Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex, Kennedy Highway{{cite QHR|16552|Rocky Creek World War Two Hospital Complex (former)|601815|accessdate=14 July 2013}}

Tolga State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at Main Street ({{coord|-17.2232|145.4775|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Tolga 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 |title=Tolga State School |url=https://www.tolgass.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-date=1 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401230052/https://tolgass.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-17.2230723,145.4776308,3a,25.7y,194.99h,91.6t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s183wEK2YEk6yJVsNTTz5fA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-1.6009527647046156%26panoid%3D183wEK2YEk6yJVsNTTz5fA%26yaw%3D194.98971140249387!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMwMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D|access-date=7 March 2025|title=Tolga State school|SV=yes|date=September 2021}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 328 students with 24 teachers (20 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (10 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=dead }} In 2023, the school had an enrolment of 316 students with 24 teachers (21 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).{{Cite web |title=Tolga State School: Annual Report 2023 |url=https://tolgass.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/annualreports/annual-report-2023.pdf |access-date=12 October 2024 |pages=2,6 |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003211045/https://tolgass.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/annualreports/annual-report-2023.pdf |url-status=live }}

There is no government secondary school in Tolga. The nearest government secondary school is Atherton State High School in neighbouring Atherton to the south.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=12 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status=live }}

There are also non-government schools in Atherton.

The Tolga branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the QCWA Hall at 60 Main Street ({{Coord|-17.22288|145.47920|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Tolga QCWA Hall}}).{{Cite web|url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|title=Branch Locations|publisher=Queensland Country Women's Association|access-date=26 December 2018|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-17.2230515,145.4791231,3a,48y,41.03h,88.88t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWn0xbx3xUtgkK_LfR7rVAw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D1.1201804998157598%26panoid%3DWn0xbx3xUtgkK_LfR7rVAw%26yaw%3D41.03079159958877!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMwMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D|access-date=7 March 2025|title=Tolga QCWA Hall|SV=yes|date=September 2021}}

Tolga Markets are held at the Tolga Racecourse from 7am to 12pm on the first Sunday of each month. Local produce, hand crafted items, clothing, tools and food are commonly found for sale. It is considered the second most popular market held on the Atherton Tableland, only slightly smaller than the Yungaburra Markets.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web|url=https://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/tolga|title=Tolga|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|website=Queensland Places}}
• {{cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-tolga-1977.jpg |title=Town map of Tolga, 1977|publisher=Queensland Government}}

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Category:Populated places in Far North Queensland

Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Tablelands Region

Category:Localities in Queensland