Benarkin

Benarkin is located on the Balfour Range approximately {{convert|3.5|km|mi}} east of Blackbutt and is by-passed by the D'Aguilar Highway.{{cite web|title=Our school|url=https://benarkinss.eq.edu.au/Ourschool/Pages/Ourschool.aspx|publisher=Benarkin State School|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051945/https://benarkinss.eq.edu.au/Ourschool/Pages/Ourschool.aspx|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The Benarkin State Forest is located to the east and south of the town.

The locality was originally called Well Holes.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-11-04 |title=Take A Tour Around Taromeo |url=https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2015/11/04/take-a-tour-around-taromeo/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=southburnett.com.au |language=en-AU}} The current locality name of Benarkin takes its name from Benarqui from the Dungibara language which refers to the blackbutt tree (Eucalyptus pilularis) which are common in the district.{{Cite QPN|46191|Benarkin|locality|accessdate=21 January 2017}} When the Blackbutt railway station was built to serve the town of Blackbutt, it was some distance from the town, so it was decided to name the railway station Bernakin in 1910{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19661807 |title=Naming Railway Stations. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |date=24 December 1910 |access-date=12 March 2020 |page=4 |via=Trove }} and this name was then used for the settlement that grew up around the railway station. Because of the close proximity ({{convert|3.5|km|mi|1}} apart) and intertwined history of the two towns, they are often referred to as the twin towns of Blackbutt-Benarkin.{{cite QPN|40974|Benarkin|town|accessdate=12 July 2013}}File:Benarkin School, new building, old tent, 1913.JPG

Macnamara's Camp Provisional School opened on 4 July 1910 but in November 1910 it was moved to Well Holes and renamed Well Holes Provisional School. In 1911, it was renamed Benarkin Provisional School. The school was operating from a tent.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113054707 |title=Our Mutdapilly District Letter. |newspaper=The Queensland Times |date=11 April 1912 |access-date=29 May 2014 |page=6 Edition: DAILY |publisher=National Library of Australia}} In March 1913 a building was constructed and it became Benarkin State School on 1 April 1913.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19866448 |title=EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=22 March 1913 |access-date=29 May 2014 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} It closed in 1920, but reopened on 4 September 1935.{{Cite QldSchool|accessdate=18 April 2019}}{{cite QSA Agency|3671|Benarkin State School|29 May 2014}}

Benarkin Post Office opened by March 1911.{{Cite web | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Phoenix Auctions | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=*Benarkin* | access-date = 21 March 2021 }}

On 11 November 1996, a memorial was established to jointly commemorate the soldiers who took part in the Battle of Hill 60 at Gallipoli in World War I and the pioneer forestry workers of the district. The memorial is located on Hill 60 Road in the Benarkin State Forest ({{coord|-26.876073|152.161796|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Benarkin State Forest Hill 60 Memorial}}).{{cite web|title=Benarkin State Forest Hill 60 Memorial|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/90543-benarkin-state-forest-hill-60-memorial|publisher=Monument Australia|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052931/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/90543-benarkin-state-forest-hill-60-memorial|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

On 1 February 2018, Benarkin's postcode changed from 4306 to 4314.{{Cite web|date=2017-11-17|title=Blackbutt To Get New Postcode|url=https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2017/11/17/blackbutt-to-get-new-postcode/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517113515/https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2017/11/17/blackbutt-to-get-new-postcode/|archive-date=17 May 2018|access-date=2021-07-05|website=southburnett.com.au|language=en-AU}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the localities of Benarkin and Blackbutt had a combined population of 1,055 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC30148|name=Benarkin (Gazeeted Locality)|accessdate=5 April 2014|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Benarkin had a population of 61 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30233|name=Benarkin (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Benarkin had a population of 61 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30231|name=Benarkin (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

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

• Taromeo Homestead, off D'Aguilar Highway ({{coord|-26.8174|152.1524|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=Taromeo Homestead}}){{cite QHR|15896|Taromeo Homestead complex and cemetery|601123|accessdate=12 July 2013}}

File:Benarkin State School, 2024.jpg

Benarkin State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Scott Street ({{coord|-26.8844|152.1417|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Benarkin State School}}).{{cite web|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|title=State and non-state school details|date=9 July 2018|publisher=Queensland Government|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}}{{cite web|url=https://benarkinss.eq.edu.au/|title=Benarkin State School|access-date=21 March 2021}} In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 6 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).{{cite web|url=http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0|title=ACARA School Profile 2017|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}}

There is no secondary school in Benarkin, the nearest are in Nanango, Toogoolawah and Kilcoy.{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=24 January 2020}}

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail passes through Benarkin, following the route of the former railway line. It is for walking and cycling, no motorised vehicles are permitted.{{cite web|title=Moore to Blackbutt|url=http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bvrt/moore-blackbutt.html|work=Brisbane Valley Rail Trail|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531202557/http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bvrt/moore-blackbutt.html|archive-date=31 May 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation | author1=Benarkin State School | title=From well holes to Benarkin | publication-date=2006 | publisher=Benarkin State School | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/163413118 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Rucker, Audrey | title=Benarkin State School jubilee 1910–1985 : some history of the district and the school | publication-date=1984 | publisher=Benarkin State School | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8414983 }}

{{Commons category|Benarkin, Queensland}}

• {{cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-benarkin-1974.jpg|title=Town map of Benarkin|date=1974|publisher=Queensland Government}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/Photos/Blackbutt_Benarkin-Nanango/|title=Blackbutt-Benarkin cemetery}}

{{South Burnett Region}}

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Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:South Burnett Region

Category:Localities in Queensland