Balberra
Queensland
Balberra is located in Queensland
Balberra
Balberra
Coordinates21°17′55″S 149°08′28″E / 21.2986°S 149.1411°E / -21.2986; 149.1411
Population457 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density7.419/km2 (19.21/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4740
Area61.6 km2 (23.8 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Mirani
Federal division(s)Capricornia
Suburbs around Balberra:
Sandiford Chelona Dunrock
Coral Sea
Homebush
Oakenden		 Balberra Alligator Creek
Sunnyside Sunnyside Munbura

Balberra is a coastal locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, Balberra had a population of 457 people.[1]

Geography

The northern boundary of the locality is Sandy Creek, the southern boundary is Bell Creek and Alligator Creek, and the western boundary is B L Creek. The eastern tip of the locality is at the joint mouth of Sandy Creek and Alligator Creek as they flow into the Coral Sea.[3]

The Bruce Highway passes through the locality from the north (Chelona) to the south east (Alligator Creek). The North Coast railway line passes through the locality to the west of the highway; Balberra railway station serves the locality.[3][4]

The predominant land use is growing crops, particularly sugar cane. There is a network of cane tramways in the locality to transport the harvested cane to the sugar mills.[3]

History

The locality appears to take its name from the Balberra railway station, which in turn was named in 1913 by J. Strachan, the Mackay railway traffic manager in the Queensland Railways Department, and takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning creek.[4][5][6][7]

Education

There are no schools in Balberra. The nearest primary schools are in the neighbouring localities of Chelona and Alligator Creek. The nearest secondary schools are in Mackay and Sarina.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Balberra (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Balberra – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46757)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Balberra – railway station in the Mackay Region (entry 1291)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  5. ^ "SKETCHER". The Queenslander. No. 2454. Queensland, Australia. 28 March 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS". The Northern Miner. Queensland, Australia. 31 October 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "District Place Names". Daily Mercury. Vol. 56, no. 562. Queensland, Australia. 9 December 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 7 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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