Ooralea is a southern suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Ooralea had a population of 3,691 people.[1]

Ooralea
MackayQueensland
Ooralea is located in Queensland
Ooralea
Ooralea
Map
Coordinates21°10′42″S 149°08′36″E / 21.1783°S 149.1433°E / -21.1783; 149.1433 (Ooralea (centre of suburb))
Population3,691 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density671/km2 (1,738/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4740
Area5.5 km2 (2.1 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Mirani
Federal division(s)Capricornia
Suburbs around Ooralea:
Racecourse Racecourse West Mackay
Racecourse Ooralea Paget
Te Kowai Bakers Creek Bakers Creek

Geography

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Ooralea is an outer suburb of Mackay. The Peak Downs Highway bounds the suburb to the north and the Bruce Highway bounds the suburb to the east.[3]

Although a suburb, Ooralea is only partially used for residential housing with the rest still used for farming sugarcane.[3] The Mackay Regional Council anticipates further suburban development in this suburb.[4]

The Mackay Harness Racing Club operates the Ooralea Racecourse in the north-east corner of the suburb (21°10′04″S 149°09′01″E / 21.1679°S 149.1502°E / -21.1679; 149.1502 (Ooralea Racecourse)). A number of streets near the racecourse are named for champion thoroughbreds such as Makybe Diva Drive, Phar Lap Parade, Gunsynd Street and Bernborough Avenue.[3]

Central Queensland University operates its Mackay campus at Ooralea bounded by Boundary Road and University Drive (21°10′35″S 149°08′32″E / 21.1765°S 149.1421°E / -21.1765; 149.1421 (Mackay campus, Central Queensland University)).[5][6][3]

History

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Ooralea railway station overturned by the 1918 Mackay cyclone

Ooralea was originally known as Planlands after the Planlands railway station on the now defunct Mackay railway line which ran parallel to the Peak Downs Highway. The railway station was opposite the race track (21°09′58″S 149°08′54″E / 21.1661°S 149.1483°E / -21.1661; 149.1483 (Ooralea railway station (former))); it no longer exists.[4][7][8]

The Ooralea railway station was named by J. Strachan, the Mackay railway traffic manager in the Queensland Railways Department.[9]

Demographics

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In the 2016 census, Ooralea had a population of 3,366 people.[10]

In the 2021 census, Ooralea had a population of 3,691 people.[1]

Education

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There are no schools in Ooralea. The nearest government primary schools are Mackay West State in neighbouring West Mackay to the north-east and Dundula State School in neighbouring Bakers Creek to the south. The nearest government secondary school is Mackay State High School in South Mackay to the north-east.[3]

Amenities

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There are a number of parks in the area:

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ooralea (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ "Ooralea – suburb in Mackay Region (entry 49126)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Ooralea (Planlands)". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Mackay". CQUniversity Australia. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Ooralea". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  8. ^ "8755-424 Mackay" (Map). Queensland Government. 1977. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ooralea (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  11. ^ a b c d e "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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  • "Ooralea". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.