Gooroolba

Gooroolba is in the Wide Bay–Burnett region {{convert|326|km|mi}} north of the state capital Brisbane.

The Bin Bin Range loosely forms the north-eastern boundary of the locality.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

The Gooroolba Biggenden Road enters the locality from the south-west (Byrnestown) and exits to the north-east (Didcot).{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

The land use is grazing on native vegetation with some rural residential housing.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

The town's name is an abbreviation of the parish name of Gooroolballin, in turn named after the "Gooroolballan" sheep station.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25505433 |title=SKETCHER. |newspaper=The Queenslander |date=4 April 1914 |access-date=14 January 2014 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913013525/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25505433 |url-status=live }} Gooroolballan station was established by at least 1857.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60276296 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=The Empire |location=Sydney |date=15 January 1857 |access-date=14 January 2014 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613100657/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/blank |url-status=live }}

The extension of the Degilbo to Wetheron in 1906 brought the railway to Gooroolba.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19486964 |title=Degilbo to Wetheron Railway. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=26 September 1906 |access-date=14 January 2014 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613100527/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19486964 |url-status=live }} A tender was let for construction of a state school in the town in 1910.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19677992 |title=Public Works. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=1 October 1910 |access-date=14 January 2014 |page=14 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613100549/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19677992 |url-status=live }}

Gooroolba Post Office opened by June 1910 (a receiving office had been open from 1907) and closed in 1973.{{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=*Gooroolba* | access-date = 22 February 2021 | archive-date = 13 June 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220613100501/http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=%2AGooroolba%2A | url-status = live }}

Gooroolba State School opened on 18 April 1911. It closed in 1964.{{Cite QldSchool|access-date=29 May 2014}}{{cite QSA Agency|6252|Gooroolba State School|30 May 2014}}{{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}}

Mingo Crossing Provisional School opened circa July 1913 and was renamed Fleetwood Provisional School later that year. Allawah Provisional School opened on 7 July 1913. The two schools operated as half-time schools, sharing a single teacher between them. Fleetwood Provisional School closed circa 1915 with Allawah Provisional School becoming a full-time school until it closed in 1917.

In 1917, a cyclone caused significant damage to the town, destroying the public hall and partially wrecking the hotel and two private stores.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5556423 |title=GALE IN QUEENSLAND |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=25 September 1917 |access-date=14 January 2014 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613100548/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5556423 |url-status=live }}

The Gooroolba War Memorial is located near the railway crossing. Originally erected to commemorate those who served in World War I, the names of those who served in World War II were added later.{{cite web|title=Gooroolba War Memorial|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/91508-gooroolba-war-memorial|publisher=Monument Australia|access-date=5 April 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407140103/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/91508-gooroolba-war-memorial|url-status=live}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Gooroolba had a population of 12 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31216|name=Gooroolba (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Gooroolba had a population of 21 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31205|name=Gooroolba (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

There are no schools in Gooroolba. The nearest government primary schools are Coalstoun Lakes State School in Coalstoun Lakes to the south-east and Gayndah State School in Gayndah to south-west. The nearest government secondary schools are Burnett State College (to Year 12) in Gayndah and Biggenden State School (to Year 10) in Biggenden to the east.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation |author1=Roberts |author2=Gayndah and District Historical Society |first=Nancy |title=Gooroolba State School : compiled from her research notes |publication-date=1997 |publisher=Gayndah & District Historical Society Inc |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12504114 |access-date=}}

{{Commons category-inline|Gooroolba, Queensland}}

{{North Burnett Region}}

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Category:North Burnett Region

Category:Localities in Queensland