Koongal, Queensland

Koongal Queensland
Rockonia Road Store in Koongal, 2022
Koongal
Coordinates	23.3694°S 150.5483°E / -23.3694; 150.5483 (Koongal (centre of suburb))
Population	4,252 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	966/km^2 (2,503/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4701
Area	4.4 km^2 (1.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	5.0 km (3 mi) NE of Rockhampton CBD 636 km (395 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Rockhampton Region
State electorate(s)	Rockhampton Keppel
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Koongal: Frenchville Frenchville Frenchville Berserker Koongal Lakes Creek The Common The Common Port Curtis

Koongal is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Koongal had a population of 4,252 people.^[1]

Geography

The suburb is located on a small section of the Fitzroy River. The Rockhampton–Emu Park Road runs through from south-west to south-east.^[3]

Koongal railway station is an abandoned railway station on the former North Rockahampton to Emu Park railway (23.3746°S 150.5529°E / -23.3746; 150.5529 (Koongal railway station (former))).^[4]

History

On Sunday 17 May 1914 Bishop George Halford dedicated the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist.^[5] The church was in Harbourne Street (approx 23.3742°S 150.5535°E / -23.3742; 150.5535 (St John the Evangelist Anglican Church)) and operated until 1977.^[6]

St Maria Goretti Catholic Church opened in 1958 at 192 Thozet Road (corner Dunbar Street, 23.3640°S 150.5447°E / -23.3640; 150.5447 (St Maria Goretti Catholic Church)).^[7][8] It closed on 19 February 2017.^[9]

Mount Archer State School opened on 25 January 1982.^[10]

In September 2000, Enid O'Toole Park was officially opened in Koongal, named in honour of a local Rockhampton woman who is credited with pioneering the roles of women in the banking sector as one of the first female bank managers in Queensland.^[11]

Koongal was one of the worst affected Rockhampton suburbs during the 2009 bushfires in the Mount Archer National Park in October 2009.^[12] A Koongal home in Poinciana Street was destroyed in the bushfire.^[13]

After an archaeological investigation, the graves of famous Australian botanist Anthelme Thozet, his son Auguste Thozet and his daughter-in-law Lucy Thozet were discovered in Koongal in 2010.^[14][15] They were located in Norris Park on what was Thozet's sprawling "Muellerville" 70-acre experimental garden.^[14][15]

In 2015, the Rockonia Road Store in Koongal sustained damage during Cyclone Marcia when its roof was torn off in the strong winds.^[16] The store was quickly repaired and promptly resumed trade.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Koongal had a population of 4,728 people.^[17]

At the 2016 census, Koongal had a population of 4.286 people.^[18]

In the 2021 census, Koongal had a population of 4,252 people.^[1]

Heritage listings

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

• Lakes Creek Hotel, 431 Lakes Creek Road (23.3757°S 150.5578°E / -23.3757; 150.5578 (Lakes Creek Hotel))^[19]

Education

Aerial view of Mount Archer State School, 2022

Despite the name, Mount Archer State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 242 Thozet Road in Koongal (23.3581°S 150.5456°E / -23.3581; 150.5456 (Mount Archer State School)).^[20][21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 650 students with 48 teachers (44 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).^[22] It includes a special education program.^[20]

There are no secondary schools in Koongal. The nearest government secondary school is North Rockhampton State High School in neighbouring Frenchville to the north-west.^[23]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Koongal (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Koongal (entry 46466)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
3. "Koongal, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
4. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
5. "THE CHURCHES". Morning Bulletin. No. 15, 470. Queensland, Australia. 23 May 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "St John's Anglican Church, Koongal (-1977)". National Redress Scheme. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
7. "Emmaus College" (PDF). Emmaus College newsletter. 17 February 2017. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
8. "Community facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
9. "Maria Goretti faith community meeting" (PDF). North Rockhampton Catholic Parish. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
10. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
11. O'Toole, Mark (8 October 2021). "Female banking pioneer passes away". CQ Today. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
12. Formosa, Amy (16 October 2010). "Couple remember horror day". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
13. Formosa, Amy (16 October 2010). "Remembering a fire we can't forget". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
14. Prangnell, Jonathan (November 2010). "Archaeological Investigation in Norris Park, Koongal, Rockhampton" (PDF). Retrieved 20 March 2022.
15. Taylor, Adrian (17 November 2010). "Founding father's grave found". The Morning Bullletin. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
16. Gately, Michelle (7 March 2015). "Store will bounce back with new lease of life after Marcia". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Koongal (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Koongal (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
19. "Lakes Creek Hotel (entry 600796)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
20. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
21. "Mount Archer State School". Mount Archer State School. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
22. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
23. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 18 December 2022.