Hebel, Queensland

Hebel is in south-west Queensland situated {{convert|4|km|mi|0}} north of the border with New South Wales on the Castlereagh Highway. It is the eastern corner of the locality.

The Bokhara River (a non-perennial river) enters the locality from the east (Dirranbandi) and flows past the immediate north of the town and exits the locality to the south (Goodooga in New South Wales).{{Cite QPN|3495|Bokhara River|river in the Balonne Shire|accessdate=10 May 2020}} It is part of the Murray-Darling River system.

In the west of the locality is the Culgoa River and the Culgoa Floodplain National Park ({{Coord|-28.9164|147.0111|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Culgoa Floodplain National Park (centre point)}}),{{Cite QPN|39439|Culgoa Floodplain National Park|national park in Shire of Balonne|accessdate=11 May 2020}} which extends into neighbouring Jobs Gate.{{Cite web|title=Culgoa Floodplain National Park – Nature, culture and history|url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/culgoa-floodplain/culture.html|website=Department of Environment and Science|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=2020-05-10|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203081546/https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/culgoa-floodplain/about/culture|url-status=live}}

There are a number of homesteads in the locality:{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Homesteads – Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/b27874c1-ccb9-463d-a26f-706abcc0ab79|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124212526/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/b27874c1-ccb9-463d-a26f-706abcc0ab79|archive-date=24 November 2020|access-date=24 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}

• Balgi ({{coord|-28.8425|147.7937|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Balgi (homestead)}})
• Ballandool ({{coord|-28.9716|147.6455|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Ballandool (homestead)}})
• Byra ({{coord|-28.9785|147.2175|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Byra (homestead)}})
• Currawillinghi ({{coord|-28.9377|147.7560|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Currawillinghi (homestead)}})
• Davirton ({{coord|-28.8340|147.4729|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Davirton (homestead)}})
• Goonaroo ({{coord|-28.9425|147.8462|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Goonaroo (homestead)}})
• Kinglebilla ({{coord|-28.8166|147.4779|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kinglebilla (homestead)}})
• Koala ({{coord|-28.9668|147.7713|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Koala (homestead)}})
• Morley ({{coord|-28.8832|147.6134|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Morley (homestead)}})
• Tara ({{coord|-28.9821|147.2720|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Tara (homestead)}})
• Yattenbury ({{coord|-28.8968|147.6996|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Yattenbury (homestead)}})

Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/175|title=Yuwaalaraay|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=23 January 2020}}

Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/176|title=Yuwaalayaay|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=23 January 2020}}

File:StateLibQld 1 113624 Hebel Post Office, ca. 1920.jpg

The town was reputedly named after a German immigrant Noble Van Hebel. Hebel helped stage the coaches for Cobb and Co.{{Citation|author1=Balonne (Qld.). Council|title=Window of the west : The Balonne Shire|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12506961|publication-date=1996|publisher=Balonne Shire Council|access-date=10 May 2020|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203081542/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12506961|url-status=live}}

Curriwillinghi Post Office opened on 1 January 1864 (named after the Curriwillinghi pastoral station, which still exists as at 2020 at {{Coord|-28.9317|147.7672|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Curriwillinghi pastoral station}}{{Hair space}}).{{Cite web|title=Post Office List|url=https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&country=|last=Premier Postal History|publisher=Premier Postal Auctions|access-date=10 May 2014|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515223132/http://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&country=|url-status=live}}

Circa 1886, Hebel was established as a border township with a border customs post, {{Convert|3|mi||abbr=}} east of Curriwillinghi pastoral station. In 1889, the Curriwillinghi Post Office was replaced by the Hebel Post Office.

In 1897 a dance hall was built. It is now the general store.{{Cite web|title=Hebel|url=https://www.southernqueenslandcountry.com.au/destinations/hebel|date=2020|website=Southern Queensland Country Tourism|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510160255/https://www.southernqueenslandcountry.com.au/destinations/hebel|archive-date=10 May 2020|access-date=2020-05-10}}

File:StateLibQld 2 197863 Celebrations at Hebel State School, 1901.jpg

Hebel Provisional School opened on 11 April 1901. On 1 January 1909, it became Hebel 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}}{{Cite QldSchool|accessdate=18 April 2019}}

The Hebel Post office closed in 1989.

During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some border crossing points had Queensland Police checkpoints to confirm eligibility to enter Queensland, while other border crossing points were closed. At Hebel, there was a police border checkpoint on the Castlereagh Highway. The border crossing on the Hebel Goodooga Road was closed by the Balonne Shire Council building an earth wall across the road, although many local people doubted its effectiveness as a barrier to entry.{{Cite web|date=19 December 2021|title=Road Status Update for South West|url=https://data.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/htmlreports/district-South_West.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218232704/https://data.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/htmlreports/district-South_West.html|archive-date=18 December 2021|access-date=19 December 2021|website=Department of Transport and Main Roads}}{{Cite web|date=2020-04-03|title=Queensland border restrictions in South West|url=https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/southwest/2020/04/03/queensland-border-restrictions-in-south-west/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218232801/https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/southwest/2020/04/03/queensland-border-restrictions-in-south-west/|archive-date=18 December 2021|access-date=2021-12-18|website=South West|publisher=Queensland Police}}{{Cite news|date=2021-08-08|title=This mound is all the border protection this town's got and it was hardly dirt cheap|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-09/hebel-dirt-mound-among-piles-of-debt-for-border-shires/100353546|access-date=2022-01-24|archive-date=31 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231065848/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-09/hebel-dirt-mound-among-piles-of-debt-for-border-shires/100353546|url-status=live}}

Hebel was the feature of ABC Back Roads Series 8, Episode 11; it was aired on 25 July 2022.{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Kevin |date=2022-07-24 |title=HEATHER EWART travels to the tiny Queensland town of HEBEL – This week on BACK ROADS |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/07/25/heather-ewart-travels-to-the-tiny-queensland-town-of-hebel-this-week-on-back-roads/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=TV Blackbox}}{{Cite news |date=2022-07-24 |title=Pub aficionado Heather Ewart's favourite back roads watering holes|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/heather-ewart-top-10-country-pubs/101239402 |access-date=2022-07-25}}

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In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the locality of Hebel and the surrounding area had a population of 149 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC36231|name=Hebel (Balonne Shire) (State Suburb)|accessdate=2008-05-04|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Hebel had a population of 67 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31325|name=Hebel (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Hebel had a population of 62 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31313|name=Hebel (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

Hebel State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls in Maud Street ({{coord|-28.9709|147.7910|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Hebel State School}}).{{cite web|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|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|title=Hebel State School|url=https://www.hebelss.eq.edu.au|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326125144/https://hebelss.eq.edu.au/|archive-date=26 March 2020|url-status=live}} In 2015, it had an enrolment of eleven students with two teachers (one full-time equivalent) and five non-teaching staff (two full-time equivalent).{{Cite web|title=2015 School Annual Report (Amended)|url=https://hebelss.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/Hebel%20State%20School%20Annual%20Report%202015%20Amended.pdf|publisher=Hebel State School|access-date=29 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202055133/https://hebelss.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/Hebel%20State%20School%20Annual%20Report%202015%20Amended.pdf|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of seven students with one teacher and five 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|publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority|access-date=28 January 2020|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}} However, students living in the west of Hebel would be too distant for a daily commute; the alternatives are distance education and boarding school.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

There is no secondary school in Hebel. The nearest secondary school is Dirranbandi State School (to Year 10) in Dirranbandi to the north-east and St George State High School (to Year 12) in St George to the north-east. Again, these schools are too distant for most Hebel students to attend; the alternatives are distance education and boarding school.

File:The Hebel Hotel, 2017.jpg

Balonne Shire Council operates a library in William Street.{{Cite web |title=Library location and hours |url=http://www.balonne.qld.gov.au/library-locations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023214916/http://www.balonne.qld.gov.au/library-locations |archive-date=23 October 2017 |access-date=8 May 2017 |publisher=Balonne Shire Council}}{{Cite web |title=Hebel Library |url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/balonne/hebel_library |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202031540/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/balonne/hebel_library |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=29 January 2017 |website=Public Libraries Connect |publisher=State Library of Queensland}}

Hebel Community Hall is at 40–50 William Street ({{coord|-28.9730|147.7952|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Hebel Community Hall|display=}}).{{Cite web |date=20 November 2020 |title=Land for public recreation – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122211519/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |access-date=22 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}

Hebel Racecourse is a {{convert|24|ha|adj=on||abbr=}} reserve west of Henry Street ({{coord|-28.9761|147.7903|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Hebel Racecourse|display=}}).

Hebel Cemetery is on the south-east edge of the town ({{coord|-28.9764|147.7971|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Hebel Cemetery}}).{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Cemetery Areas – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/2baca5c3-a111-4fbc-86c9-3b896884438b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115100513/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/2baca5c3-a111-4fbc-86c9-3b896884438b |archive-date=15 November 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}

Hebel has a general store, caravan park, hotel, and coffee shop.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

There are a number of airstrips in the locality:{{Cite web|date=22 October 2020|title=Heliports and landing grounds – Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/1646c12e-0c31-42d3-a156-9891b01e938a|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116140611/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/1646c12e-0c31-42d3-a156-9891b01e938a|archive-date=16 November 2020|access-date=3 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}

• Balgi airstrip ({{coord|-28.8494|147.7999|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Balgi Station airstrip|display=}})
• Ballandool airstrip ({{coord|-28.9646|147.6450|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Ballandool Station airstrip|display=}})
• Brenda airstrip ({{coord|-28.8300|147.4161|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Brenda Station airstrip|display=}})
• Byra airstrip ({{coord|-28.9749|147.1941|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Byra Airstrip}})
• Davirton airstrip ({{coord|-28.8279|147.4808|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Davirton airstrip|display=}})
• Hebel airstrip ({{coord|-28.9788|147.8165|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Hebel airstrip|display=}})

The front of the Hebel Hotel featured brightly coloured art work by John Murray, which the interior furnishings are made of recycled items found in the bush.

The Hebel Historical Circle is a walk around the town illustrates places of historic interest.

The general store is also a cafe and restaurant; it retains its original dance floor.

Bokhara River Campground is a {{convert|0.84|ha||adj=on|abbr=}} site on James Street on the north side of town ({{coord|-28.9694|147.7967|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Bokhara River Campground|display=}}).

{{wide image|AU-Qld-Hebel-panorama-2021.jpg|900px|align-cap=center|Centre of town intersection, looking north (2021).}}

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-general store-2021.jpg|General store, Castlereagh Highway (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-community hall-2021.jpg|Community Hall, William Street (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-library-2021.jpg|Local library (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-state school-2021.jpg|Hebel State School (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-state school oval-2021.jpg|Hebel State School oval (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-Bicentennial Park-2021.jpg|Hebel Bicentennial Park, William Street (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-historical circle-2021.jpg|Hebel Historical Circle, in the Bicentennial Park (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-example information panel-2021.jpg|Historical Circle information panel example (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-barbwire street art-2021.jpg|Artwork made from barbwire, of a person pushing a wheelbarrow, with a dog (2021).

File:AU-Qld-Hebel-road south-west-2021.jpg|Hebel-Goodooga Road going south-west (2021).

{{reflist}}

• {{Citation|author1=Whitcomb|first=Mike|title=Hebel hallmarks : a local history|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8455361|publication-date=1989|publisher=The Author}}

{{commons category|Hebel, Queensland}}

• {{cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-hebel-1973.jpg|title=Town map of Hebel|date=1973|publisher=Queensland Government}}

{{Shire of Balonne}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Shire of Balonne

Category:Localities in Queensland