Warra, Queensland

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = town

| name = Warra

| state = qld

| image = WarraMemorialHall.JPG

| caption = Warra Memorial Hall

| coordinates = {{coord|-26.93|150.9202|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline!title|name=Warra (town centre)}}

| pop = 180

| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}

| pop_footnotes =

| established =

| postcode = 4411

| area = 196.9

| timezone = AEST

| utc = +10:00

| dist1 = 30.4

| dir1 = SW

| location1 = Jandowae

| dist2 = 35.9

| dir2 = SW

| location2 = Chinchilla

| dist3 = 45.2

| dir3 = NW

| location3 = Dalby

| dist4 = 128

| dir4 = NW

| location4 = Toowoomba

| dist5 = 256

| dir5 = WNW

| location5 = Brisbane

| lga = Western Downs Region

| stategov = Callide

| fedgov = Maranoa

| elevation=

| maxtemp =

| mintemp =

| rainfall =

| near-n = Tuckerang

| near-ne = Tuckerang

| near-e = Jimbour West

| near-se = Macalister

| near-s = Macalister

| near-sw = Kogan

| near-w = Brigalow

| near-nw = Brigalow

}}

Warra is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|36561|Warra|town in Western Downs Region|accessdate=29 December 2020}}{{cite QPN|47755|Warra|locality in Western Downs Region|accessdate=29 December 2020}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Warra had a population of 180 people.

Geography

File:Entering Warra from the west on the Warrego Highway, 2007.jpg

Warra is on the Darling Downs, a farming area in Queensland. It is on the Warrego Highway, {{convert|256|km|mi}} north west of the state capital, Brisbane.

The locality is bounded to the north by Haystack Road and Seigmeiers Road and to the south-west by the Condamine River. The town is located to the west of centre of the locality.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=22 March 2021}}

The Warrego Highway and Western railway line enter the locality from the south-east (Macalister), pass through the town, and exit to the west (Brigalow). Warra railway station serves the town ({{coord|-26.9280|150.9200|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Warra railway station}}).{{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 highway is known as Thorne Street within the town.

Haystack is a neighbourhood in the north-west of the locality on the boundary with Tuckerang ({{coord|-26.85|150.9166|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Haystack}}).{{cite QPN|15575|Haystack|locality unbounded in Western Downs Regional|accessdate=29 December 2020}}

The land use is a mixture of dry and irrigated cropping with some grazing on native vegetation.

History

File:WarraWarMemorial.JPGThe town takes its name from the Warra Warra pastoral run, which was previously called Cobble Cobble. The run was operated by Henry Dennis in the late 1840s, then by Colin McKenzie from 1848, then by Mr Thorne circa 1864. The name Warra Warra is believed to be from the Mandandanji language meaning a woman carrying a load or plenty of water.

Warra Provisional School opened on 12 April 1881. On 21 January 1889, it became Warra State School. In 1977 a pre-school was added.{{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}}

On Friday 9 November 1906, Archdeacon Edward Bush Trotter, assisted by the Reverend William Powning Glover of Dalby, laid the foundation stone for All Saints' Anglican Church.{{cite news|date=16 November 1906|title=DOWNS NEWS.|volume=XLIX|page=6|newspaper=Darling Downs Gazette|issue=916,096|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183207335|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=5 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005230656/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/183207335|url-status=live}} On Tuesday 26 March 1907, Archbishop St Clair Donaldson officially opened and dedicated the church.{{cite news|date=2 March 1907|title=OUR DALBY LETTER|volume=XLIX|page=7|newspaper=Darling Downs Gazette|issue=7,951|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article185093380|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025052/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185093380|url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=5 November 1906 |title=Dalby Items |volume=LXIII |page=4 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |issue=15,231 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19478938 |accessdate=19 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=5 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005230641/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19478938 |url-status=live }}

File:WarraChurch.JPG

In April 1907, Samuel Alexander Taylor of Logie Plains pastoral station decided to build a Presbyterian church in Warra at his own expense.{{cite news|date=10 April 1907|title=WARWICK AND DISTRICT.|volume=LXIII|page=2|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|issue=1[?]4|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19479819|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025122/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19479819|url-status=live}} It is unclear when the Presbyterian Church opened, but it was in operation by May 1908.{{Cite web|title=Presbyterian Churches On The Downs|url=http://downsfolk.wikidot.com/presbyterian-churches-on-the-downs|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Downs Folk|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524032308/http://downsfolk.wikidot.com/presbyterian-churches-on-the-downs}}{{cite news|date=2 May 1908|title=RELIGIOUS.|volume=LXIV|page=16|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|issue=15,696|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19530020|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025053/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19530020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=6 May 1908|title=Presbyterian Assembly.|page=2 (SECOND EDITION)|newspaper=The Telegraph|issue=11066|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175934644|url-status=live|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025058/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175934644}} In the 1970s, when the Uniting Church in Australia was created through amalgamation of Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches, it became Warra Uniting Church. In 2005, the church at 14 Lytton Street ({{Coord|-26.9311|150.9187|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Warra Presbyterian/Uniting Church}}) was sold into private ownership and then converted into a residence.{{Cite web |title=14 Lytton Street, Warra, Qld 4411 |url=https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-warra-129519094 |access-date=23 March 2021 |website=Realestate.com.au}}

Daiwan State School opened in 18 October 1910. In 1924, it was renamed Haystack State School. It closed in 1968.{{Cite QSA Agency|6415|Haystack State School|9 November 2023

}} In 1921, it was on the south-west corner of Haystack Noola Road and Haystack North Road in neighbouring Tuckerang ({{Coord|-26.8215|150.9182|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Daiwan / Haystack State School (former, 1921)}}).{{Cite web |date=1921 |title=County of Lytton |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-county-lytton-1921.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224221748/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-county-lytton-1921.jpg |archive-date=24 December 2022 |access-date=24 December 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map}} In 1938, it was at 1054 Haystack Road in Warra ({{Coord|-26.8471|150.9146|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Daiwan / Haystack State School (former, 1928)}}).{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Queensland Two Mile series sheet 2m81 |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m81-surv-control-1938.jpg |access-date=25 December 2022 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225050419/https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-2mile-qld-2m81-surv-control-1938.jpg |url-status=live }}

On Sunday 30 March 1913, Archbishop James Duhig blessed and officially opened St Francis Xavier Catholic Church.{{cite news|date=31 March 1913|title=NEW CHURCH OPENED|page=6|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|issue=17,226|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19874307|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025059/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19874307|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=2 April 1913|title=CATHOLIC CHURCH AT WARRA.|page=3|newspaper=The Dalby Herald|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215335572|access-date=23 March 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025112/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215335572|url-status=live}} The church was destroyed in a storm on 15 December 1980.{{Cite web|title=Memorial Bell Tower|url=https://www.whereswarra.com.au/attractions/memorial-bell-tower/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Wheres Warra|language=en|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323025055/https://www.whereswarra.com.au/attractions/memorial-bell-tower/|url-status=live}}

Braeside State School opened on 24 May 1915 and closed on 31 October 1923. On 31 January 1928, it reopened and closed permanently on 4 August 1950.File:Warra coal mine memorial.jpgBetween December 1915 and July 1919, the Queensland Labor Government operated a coal mine at Warra, one of several such State Enterprises. The mine supplied coal for the southern railways, and, by 1915, was producing 120 tons weekly which could be loaded directly into engines at the pithead. However, the mine was plagued from the start with water seepage problems, causing the original shaft to be abandoned after November 1916. The mine yielded a total 13,528 tons of coal, and the net financial result was a loss of £38,058."[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11564703 Warra Coal Mine," Queensland Times, 17 November 1926, page 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222083303/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11564703|date=22 December 2020}}. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

The Warra Honour Board was unveiled on 14 May 1917 by Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in Dalby, William Vowles.{{cite web|title=Warra War Memorial|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/92875-warra-war-memorial|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222083305/https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/92875-warra-war-memorial|archive-date=22 December 2020|access-date=3 April 2014|publisher=Monument Australia}}

Llanberris Provisional School opened on 17 November 1919 and closed on 27 April 1923.

Demographics

In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the locality of Warra had a population of 84 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC37863|name=Warra (Wambo Shire) (State Suburb)|accessdate=2009-03-31|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Warra had a population of 205 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC33025|name=Warra (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Warra had a population of 180 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32994|name=Warra (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

Economy

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}}

Barooga ({{coord|-26.9551|150.9820|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Barooga (homestead)}})
Caramar ({{coord|-26.9566|150.9801|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Caramar (homestead)}})
Clover-Lea ({{coord|-26.8504|150.8952|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Clover-Lea (homestead)}})
Coolden ({{coord|-26.9619|150.9699|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolden (homestead)}})
David Downs ({{coord|-26.9704|150.9075|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=David Downs (homestead)}})
Devonia ({{coord|-26.8763|150.9938|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Devonia (homestead)}})
Ferndale ({{coord|-26.8550|150.8892|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Ferndale (homestead)}})
Glengrove ({{coord|-26.8603|150.9139|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Glengrove (homestead)}})
Glennesk ({{coord|-26.8476|150.9186|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Glennesk (homestead)}})
Gracevale ({{coord|-26.8809|150.8885|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Gracevale (homestead)}})
Grasslands ({{coord|-26.8780|150.9032|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Grasslands (homestead)}})
Jinghi Jinghi ({{coord|-26.8750|150.8712|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Jinghi Jinghi (homestead)}})
Kareelah ({{coord|-26.9508|150.9531|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Kareelah (homestead)}})
Logie ({{coord|-26.9807|150.9258|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Logie (homestead)}})
Maudlands ({{coord|-26.8621|150.8912|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Maudlands (homestead)}})
Maylingup ({{coord|-26.9420|150.8903|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Maylingup (homestead)}})
Mylin Park ({{coord|-26.9434|150.9732|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mylin Park (homestead)}})
Parkina ({{coord|-27.0076|150.9770|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Parkina (homestead)}})
Rakaia ({{coord|-26.8801|150.9647|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Rakaia (homestead)}})
Renbar ({{coord|-26.8729|150.9756|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Renbar (homestead)}})
The Mead ({{coord|-26.9770|150.9876|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=The Mead (homestead)}})
Trumpeters Corner ({{coord|-26.8659|151.0119|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Trumpeters Corner (homestead)}})
Vickeries ({{coord|-26.8853|150.9554|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Vickeries (homestead)}})
Warruga ({{coord|-26.9502|150.9525|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Warruga (homestead)}})
Waverley ({{coord|-27.0012|150.9773|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Waverley (homestead)}})
Windale ({{coord|-26.9400|150.9650|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Windale (homestead)}})
Winya Park (abandoned) ({{coord|-26.8498|150.9341|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Winya Park (abandoned homestead)}})
Wruwallin ({{coord|-26.8951|150.8812|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Wruwallin (homestead)}})
Wywurrie ({{coord|-26.8883|150.9097|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Wywurrie (homestead)}})

Education

File:Warra State School classrooms, 2019 01.jpg

File:Resource centre, Warra State School, 2024.jpg

Warra State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Robinson Street ({{coord|-26.9302|150.9176|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Warra 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=Warra State School|url=https://warrass.eq.edu.au|url-status=live|access-date=23 March 2021|archive-date=18 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318103655/https://warrass.eq.edu.au/}} In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 10 students with 3 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 2016|url=https://warrass.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/0386_Warra_SS_sar2016.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919021132/https://warrass.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/0386_Warra_SS_sar2016.pdf|archive-date=19 September 2017|access-date=19 September 2017|website=Warra State School}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 11 students with 3 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 3 non-teaching staff (1 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=live}} In 2023, the school had an enrolment of 6 students.{{Cite web |title=Warra State School: Annual Report 2023 |url=https://warrass.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/annualreports/annual-report-2023.pdf |access-date=6 October 2024 |website=Warra State School |page=2}}

There is no secondary school in Warra. The nearest government secondary schools are Jandowae State School (to Year 10) in Jandowae to the north-east, Chinchilla State High School (to Year 12) in Chinchilla to the north-west and Dalby State High School in Dalby to the south-east.

Amenities

The Warra Memorial Hall is at 8-10 Thorne Street ({{Coord|-26.9296|150.9187|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Warra Memorial Hall}}).{{Cite web|title=Community Halls|url=https://www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/facilities-and-services/community-facilities/community-halls/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Western Downs Regional Council|language=en-AU|archive-date=8 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208235530/https://www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/facilities-and-services/community-facilities/community-halls/}}

All Saints Anglican Church is in Lytton Street ({{Coord|-26.9297|150.9178|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=All Saints Anglican Church}}). Being the only church now in Warra, the church is used for Catholic and Uniting church services in addition to the Anglican services.{{Cite web|last=|title=Dalby Local Brochure|url=https://issuu.com/ourwesterndowns/docs/dalby_local_brochure|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Issuu|language=en|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319104735/https://issuu.com/ourwesterndowns/docs/dalby_local_brochure}}

Attractions

A bell tower with the original bell and cross from St Francis Xavier Catholic Church stands on the site of the church just west of the town on the Warrego Highway ({{Coord|-26.9272|150.9168|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=St Francis Xavier Catholic Church (former)}}). A plaque commemorates the church.

Notable residents

Aboriginal boxing legend Jerry Jerome commenced his boxing career in Warra.{{Cite web|date=9 February 2021|title=Jerry Jerome (Aboriginal boxer) 1874-1943|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/jerry-jerome-aboriginal-boxer-1874-1943|access-date=7 February 2021|work=John Oxley Library Blog|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209015659/https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/jerry-jerome-aboriginal-boxer-1874-1943|url-status=live}}

Miscellaneous

The name Warra has been used as a name for a crater on the planet Mars, without specifically commemorating the town.[http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120525202317/http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories |date=25 May 2012 }}, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, USGS Astrogeology Science Center, NASA

References

External links

{{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/warra|title=Warra|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-warra-1974.jpg|title=Town map of Warra|date=1974|publisher=Queensland Government}}

Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Towns in the Darling Downs

Category:Western Downs Region

Category:Localities in Queensland