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]

Koongal
Queensland
Rockonia Road Store in Koongal, 2022
Koongal is located in Queensland
Koongal
Koongal
Map
Coordinates23°22′10″S 150°32′54″E / 23.3694°S 150.5483°E / -23.3694; 150.5483 (Koongal (centre of suburb))
Population4,252 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density966/km2 (2,503/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4701
Area4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Rockhampton Region
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Capricornia
Suburbs around Koongal:
Frenchville Frenchville Frenchville
Berserker Koongal Lakes Creek
The Common The Common Port Curtis

Geography

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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°22′29″S 150°33′10″E / 23.3746°S 150.5529°E / -23.3746; 150.5529 (Koongal railway station (former))).[4]

History

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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°22′27″S 150°33′13″E / 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°21′50″S 150°32′41″E / 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

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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

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

Education

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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°21′29″S 150°32′44″E / 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

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  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Prangnell, Jonathan (November 2010). "Archaeological Investigation in Norris Park, Koongal, Rockhampton" (PDF). Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  15. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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.