Yaraka

Yaraka is a rural town and locality in the Longreach Region of Queensland, Australia.^[1][2] Until 2021, the town of Yaraka was part of the locality of Isisford.

Yaraka Queensland
Welcome to Yaraka sign
Yaraka
Coordinates	24°52′55″S 144°04′41″E / 24.8819°S 144.0780°E / -24.8819; 144.0780 (Yaraka (town centre))
Established	1917
Postcode(s)	4731
Elevation	210 m (689 ft)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	102 km (63 mi) SW of Isisford 162 km (101 mi) WSW of Blackall 219 km (136 mi) S of Longreach 850 km (528 mi) WSW of Rockhampton 1,126 km (700 mi) WNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Longreach Region
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Yaraka: Isisford Isisford Isisford Jundah Yaraka Isisford Jundah Jundah Isisford

Geography

Yaraka is in Central West Queensland, Australia. It was the terminus of a Yaraka branch railway line. It is located 220 kilometres (140 mi) south of Longreach, 165 kilometres (103 mi) west of Blackall and 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of the town of Isisford.

The landscape is an open Mitchell grass downs country, which provides good grazing country. Grey Range is located near Yaraka and is characterised by rocky ridges, spinifex grass and mulga.

The locality has the following mountains:

• Boundary Point (24°50′02″S 144°19′44″E / 24.8338°S 144.3289°E / -24.8338; 144.3289 (Boundary Point)) 402 metres (1,319 ft)^[3][4]
• Merry Peaks (24°55′20″S 144°04′54″E / 24.9222°S 144.0817°E / -24.9222; 144.0817 (Merry Peaks)) 368 metres (1,207 ft)^[3][5]
• Mount Brookes (24°48′12″S 144°04′40″E / 24.8032°S 144.0777°E / -24.8032; 144.0777 (Mount Brookes)) 379 metres (1,243 ft)^[3][6]
• Mount Margaret (24°57′35″S 144°05′37″E / 24.9597°S 144.0937°E / -24.9597; 144.0937 (Mount Margaret)) 356 metres (1,168 ft)^[3][7]
• Mount Remarkable (25°00′44″S 144°18′23″E / 25.0121°S 144.3064°E / -25.0121; 144.3064 (Mount Remarkable) 320 metres (1,050 ft)^[3][8][9]
• Mount Slowcombe (24°50′33″S 144°03′28″E / 24.8425°S 144.0577°E / -24.8425; 144.0577 (Mount Slowcombe)) 360 metres (1,180 ft)^[3][10][9]
• Sun Down Hill (25°02′39″S 144°15′30″E / 25.0441°S 144.2584°E / -25.0441; 144.2584 (Sun Down Hill)) 320 metres (1,050 ft)^[3][11][9]

History

 

Yaraka Railway Station in 1917 shortly after the rail link was opened. The Queensland Premier, Mr T. J. Ryan visited the new site.

The first European to pass through the area was Edmund Kennedy in 1847. In 1860, graziers began to populate the area and farm sheep and cattle. In 1910, the Queensland Government authorised the building of the 2,060-kilometre (1,280 mi) railway line in Western Queensland to support the pastoral industry. However, only a quarter of the line was built and Yaraka became the end of the Yaraka branch railway line.

Yaraka became a town when the Yaraka branch railway line from Emmet opened in April 1917.^[12] The station was called Yaraka by the Queensland Railway Department who said it was the Aboriginal name meaning "of white spear grass which grows in the district"^[13] or referring to button grass Eleusine aegyptica.^[1]

Yaraka State School opened on 5 March 1920.^[14] It was mothballed on 31 December 2008 and closed on 31 December 2009.^[15][16] It was at 11 Quilp Street (24°53′10″S 144°04′31″E / 24.8861°S 144.0754°E / -24.8861; 144.0754 (Yaraka State School (former))).^[17][9] The school's website was archived.^[18]

The town prospered for the next twenty years and in the 1930s had a population of about 100.^[19] In 1932 a journalist toured this area and described the town in the following terms.

"Yaraka: This little place is the end of the line, and enjoys the privilege of seeing one train a week. It is situated well down the Barcoo, about one hundred miles from where the rivers meet, and becomes Cooper's Creek.

No doubt people who live and work in isolated places such as this are entitled to more consideration than they receive. They certainly have courage and endurance above the average."^[20]

On Saturday 19 March 1932, a strong gale of wind during a storm blew the Church of England off its blocks and three houses lost their roof.^[21]

In the 1950s, the Yaraka railway station became a major centre for the transportation of cattle. In November 1953 over 5,442 cattle were handled which was the largest number since the line opened in 1917. It was noted that this was unusual in these country yards and that Yaraka was unsurpassed in this respect.^[22]

The line was officially closed on 14 October 2005 and has been dismantled.^[23] These days however Yaraka has become known as one of Queensland's 'vanishing towns' and its population is declining. In 2009, the school closed due to low student numbers. In 2014, the school building was gifted to the local community. In 2016 the community reopened the school with the children enrolled at Longreach School of Distance Education but locally assisted by a governess employed by the families.^[16]

In 1998, as part of his 'Pass the Hat Around' tour, Lee Kernaghan performed before an audience of 3,000 people in Yaraka, in order to raise money for a defibrillator for the medical clinic and to help the school.^[24][25]

On 10 September 2021, a new locality called Yaraka was created around the town of Yaraka, the land being excised from the locality of Isisford to avoid confusion and restore historical connections.^{[26][27][28][29]}

Education

There are no schools in Yaraka nor nearby. The nearest primary school is Isisford State School in Isisford, 102 kilometres (63 mi) to the north. The nearest secondary school is Blackall State School in Blackall, 162 kilometres (101 mi) to the north-east.^[9] Distance education and boarding schools are the alternatives. The former Yaraka State School building at11 Quilp Street (24°53′10″S 144°04′31″E / 24.8860°S 144.0754°E / -24.8860; 144.0754 (Yaraka State School (former))) is available for children undertaking distance education to study together with the assistance of a governess.^[16]

Amenities

There is a hotel providing accommodation.

Occasional services are held at the Anglican church in Quilp Street (24°53′06″S 144°04′33″E / 24.8851°S 144.0757°E / -24.8851; 144.0757 (Yaraka Anglican Church)).^[30]

Other amenities operated by the Longreach Regional Council include a community hall, showgrounds, swimming pool, tennis courts and golf course.^[31]

Attractions

Mount Slowcombe Lookout (24°50′34″S 144°03′29″E / 24.8427°S 144.0580°E / -24.8427; 144.0580 (Mount Slowcombe lookout)) is off the Emmet Yaraka Road has been described as "an ideal place to enjoy the stunning outback sunset or the glorious colours of a sunrise".^[32] The view takes in the Yanyang Range (24°54′33″S 144°05′59″E / 24.9092°S 144.0997°E / -24.9092; 144.0997 (Yanyang Range)),^[33] Mount Brookes at 379 metres (1,243 ft) above sea level (24°48′13″S 144°04′41″E / 24.8036°S 144.0781°E / -24.8036; 144.0781 (Mount Brookes))^[34] and Fort Douglas at 321 metres (1,053 ft) above sea level (24°53′51″S 143°59′56″E / 24.8975°S 143.9989°E / -24.8975; 143.9989 (Fort Douglas)),^[35] all with ever changing colours, shadows and shades. There is a sealed road and electric barbeque and picnic area at the summit. Nearby waterholes offer an abundance of bird and wildlife.^[36]

Magee's Shanty is the historic site of the shanty immortalised in Banjo Paterson's poem "A Bush Christening", There is also the ruins of the Cobb & Co pub and the lonely grave of gold miner Richard Magoffin who perished in 1885.^[37]

Yaraka Opal Field encompasses the mines within and west of the Macedon Range including Harlequin and Mount Tighe. It is known for top patterns and various types of opal in as many as eight levels. Mines include Spur, Polykettle, Cockatoo and Pretty Gully.^[38]

There are two national parks near Yaraka. Welford National Park is notable for golden-green spinifex, white-barked ghost gums and red sand dunes.^[39] A highlight of Idalia National Park are the dense Mulga woodlands and views.^[40]

Other attractions are fishing, exploring, wild life, and geology.^[41]

There are free caravan sites with water and electricity near the Yaraka Community Hall.^[42]

Climate

Climate statistics include:

• Summer Average (day): Min temp=35.8⁰, Max temp=37.1⁰
• Summer Average (night): Min temp=21.9⁰, Max temp=22.9⁰
• Winter Average (day): Min temp=22.5⁰, Max Temp=25.1⁰
• Winter Average (night): Min temp=6.5⁰, Max Temp=7.9⁰
• Average annual rainfall: 451mm

References

1. "Yaraka – town in Longreach Region (entry 38459)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
2. "Yaraka – locality in the Longreach Region (entry 52077)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
3. "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
4. "Boundary Point – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 4074)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
5. "Merry Peaks – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 21689)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "Mount Brookes – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 4674)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
7. "Mount Margaret – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 20957)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
8. "Mount Remarkable – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 28369)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
9. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
10. "Mount Slowcombe – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 31182)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
11. "Sun Down Hill – mountain in Longreach Region (entry 32810)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
12. "Mems, from Blackall". The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 1317. Queensland, Australia. 14 April 1917. p. 7. from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "NOTES AND COMMENTS". The Queenslander. No. 2610. Queensland, Australia. 7 October 1916. p. 33. from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
14. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
15. "Queensland state school - centre closures" (PDF). Queensland Government. 20 August 2013. (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
16. Moore, Blythe (22 January 2016). "Yaraka students back in the classroom". ABC News. from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
17. "Town of Yaraka" (Map). Queensland Government. 1969. from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
18. . 21 July 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
19. Queensland Museum, 2003 "Discovery guide to outback Queensland", p. 174.
20. "WESTERN DISTRICT". The Worker. Vol. 43, no. 2139. Queensland, Australia. 4 May 1932. p. 17. from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
21. "DISTRICT RAINFALLS". The Evening News. No. 3282. Queensland, Australia. 21 March 1932. p. 8. from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
22. "RECORD TRUCKINGS AT YARAKA". The Longreach Leader. Vol. 31, no. 1924. Queensland, Australia. 18 December 1953. p. 10. from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
23. "Jericho Blackall Yaraka branch closing". Railpage. from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
24. "Hon. PETER BEATTIE - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Pass the Hat Around Concert Tour" (PDF). Hansard, Queensland Government. 12 November 1998. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
25. "Lee Kernaghan – 2008 Australian of the Year". Sporting Shooters Association of Australia. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
26. "Recent place name decisions: Job number 19-027: Yaraka". Queensland Government. 10 September 2021. from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
27. "Proposed Locality Names and Boundaries: Isisford and Yaraka" (PDF). Queensland Government. 14 May 2021. (PDF) from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
28. "Locality Boundaries of Isisford and Yaraka" (PDF). Queensland Government. 10 September 2021. (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
29. Prosser, Dan (21 September 2021). "Emus put this outback town on the map. Now locals want their own postcode". ABC News. from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
30. "Parish of Barcoo". Anglican Church of Central Queensland. from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
31. "Council to close most remaining public facilities amid national shutdown". Longreach Regional Council. from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
32. "Mt Slowcombe Lookout". Tourism & Events Queensland. from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
33. "Yanyang Range – range in the Longreach Region (entry 38448)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
34. "Mount Brookes – mountain in the Longreach Region (entry 4674)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
35. "Fort Douglas – mountain in the Shire of Barcoo (entry 12928)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
36. "Things to do | Yaraka". Yaraka: On the outer Barcoo. from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
37. "Magee's Shanty". Barcoo Way. 29 March 2018. from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
38. . Opals Online. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
39. "Welford National Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 14 August 2007. from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
40. "Idalia National Park". Parks and forests. Queensland Government. 7 October 2021. from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
41. "Things to do | Yaraka". from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
42. "Yaraka". Longreach Region Tourist Information. from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yaraka.

• "Town map of Yaraka". Queensland Government. 1969.