Barratta, Queensland

Barratta Creek rises in the locality and runs north through Jerona to the Coral Sea, while Barramundi Creek also rises and runs to the north-west.{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Barratta+QLD+4809/@-19.5635734,147.0848791,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6bd6168f7659c7fb:0x400eef17f208770!8m2!3d-19.5932685!4d147.2915263 |title=Barratta, Queensland |access-date=14 August 2021}}

The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the east (Brandon) and exits to the west (Horseshoe Lagoon).

The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the east (Brandon) and exits to the west (Horseshoe Lagoon), but runs approx {{Convert|5|km}} north and parallel to the highway.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=17 November 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}} The locality is served by Barratta railway station is a railway station ({{coord|-19.5273|147.2110|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Barratta railway station}}) and was formerly served by the now-abandoned Lochinvar railway station ({{coord|-19.5227|147.2716|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Lochinvar railway station (former)}}).{{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}}

The land use is divided between grazing on native vegetation in the north of the locality and growing sugarcane in the south of the locality. Cane tramways pass through the south of the locality to transport the harvested sugarcane to the Pioneer sugar mill.

In 1881, the success of sugarcane growing in the Burdekin district and the navigability of Barratta Creek from the Coral Sea via Bowling Green Bay resulted in a proposal to establish a town and a port along Barratta Creek.{{cite news |date=19 November 1881 |title=The North-east Coast in its Relation to the Sugar Industry. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20711130 |accessdate=18 November 2024 |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |page=663 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XX |issue=326}} In 1885, the Queensland Government had surveyed a town site called Noondoo and offered over 100 town lots for sale.{{cite news |date=12 September 1885 |title=Classified Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19800432 |accessdate=18 November 2024 |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |page=426 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XXVIII |issue=520}} On 25 September 1897, the town's name was changed to Baratta by notification in the Queensland Government Gazette and then to Barratta (two "r"s) on 21 March 1902. Barratta is believed to be an Aboriginal name for the chain of lagoons in the area. However, no port was established and the town did not develop. The town remains officially in existence,{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Town of Barratta |url=https://apps.information.qld.gov.au/data/v2/HistoricalMaps/StaticMap/cadastral/cad-map-town-barratta-1979/original |access-date=18 November 2024 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map}} but, as at 2024, is being used as grazing land.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=17 November 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

In February 1918, extensive flooding in the region affected Barratta Creek with over {{Convert|2|ft}} of water flowing over the railway bridge crossing the creek.{{cite news |date=23 February 1918 |title=STIRRING TALE OF THE NORTH. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22358631 |accessdate=18 November 2024 |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=2687}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Barratta had a population of 69 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30173|name=Barratta (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Barratta had a population of 85 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30172|name=Barratta (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

There are no schools in Barratta. The nearest government primary schools are:{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=18 November 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

• Brandon State School in neighbouring Brandon to the east
• Maidavale State School in neighbouring Airville to the south-east
• Airville State School in neighbouring Airville to the south-east
• Clare State School in Clare to the south
• Giru State School in Giru to the west

The nearest government secondary school is Ayr State High School in Ayr to the east.

{{reflist}}

• [https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-barratta-1979.jpg Town map of Barratta, 1979]

{{Shire of Burdekin}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Shire of Burdekin

Category:Localities in Queensland