Town in Queensland, Australia
Gunalda is a rural town in the Gympie Region and a locality split between Gympie Region and Fraser Coast Region in Queensland , Australia.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] In the 2021 census , the locality of Gunalda had a population of 426 people.[ 1]
Geography
The town is 196 kilometres (122 mi) from the state capital, Brisbane .
The Bruce Highway runs through from south-west to north.[ 5]
The North Coast railway line enters the locality from the south-west (Curra ) and passes to the west of the town and exists to the north-west (Theebine ).[ 6] Previously the railway line passed through the town,[ 7] which was served by the now-dismantled Gunalda railway station (25°59′39″S 152°33′43″E / 25.9943°S 152.5620°E / -25.9943; 152.5620 (Gunalda railway station ) ).[ 8]
History
Thompson's Flat Provisional School opened on 8 August 1881. In 1889, the school was renamed Gunalda Provisional School. On 1 January 1909, it became Gunalda State School.[ 9]
Eaton Post Office opened on 1 September 1882 and was renamed Gunalda in 1883.[ 10]
The town was originally called Keelar but after the railway station was named Gunalda on 2 November 1923, the town was renamed Gunalda.[ 2]
In December 1938, the foundation stone was laid for a Catholic church. On Sunday 8 October 1939, Archbishop James Duhig officially opened and dedicated the Catholic Church of the Little Flower.[ 11]
In 1947, Christ Church Anglican was relocated from Munna Creek to 11 King Street (25°59′36″S 152°33′41″E / 25.9934°S 152.5613°E / -25.9934; 152.5613 (Christ Church Anglican ) ) in Gunalda where it retained the name Christ Church Anglican.[ 12] [ 13]
Demographics
In the 2006 census , the locality of Gunalda and the surrounding area had a population of 574 people.[ 14]
In the 2016 census , the locality of Gunalda had a population of 392 people.[ 15]
In the 2021 census , the locality of Gunalda had a population of 426 people.[ 1]
Education
Gunalda State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at King Street (25°59′34″S 152°33′37″E / 25.9927°S 152.5604°E / -25.9927; 152.5604 (Gunalda State School ) ).[ 16] [ 17] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 35 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[ 18]
There are no secondary schools in Gunalda. The nearest government secondary school is James Nash State High School in Gympie to the south-east.[ 6]
Facilities
Gunalda Cemetery is on the western end of Cotter Drive (25°59′15″S 152°33′19″E / 25.9875°S 152.5553°E / -25.9875; 152.5553 (Gunalda Cemetery ) ).[ 19]
References