Bungunya is located immediately north of the Macintyre River, which is the border between Queensland and New South Wales. The WeirRiver flows from east to west through the northern part of the locality. Other creeks flow from east to west through other parts of the locality. All of these rivers and creeks ultimately flow into the Barwon River in New South Wales. The town is located in the approximate centre of the locality. The Barwon Highway passes from east to west through the middle of the locality, immediately to the north of the town. The Meandarra – Talwood Road runs north from the Barwon Highway through the centre of the northern part of the locality. The South Western railway line also passes from east to west through the locality, but to the immediate south of the town. The locality was once served by the former Bungunya railway station in the town and by the former Welltown railway station in the east of the locality. The land is very flat, approximately 180 metres above sea level, and is extensively developed for agriculture.
History
The name Bungunya is allegedly an Aboriginal word, meaning a high or safe living place. The language and dialect is unknown but it may be an imported name from Victoria. Gamilaraay is a language from South-West Queensland and North-West New South Wales. The Gamilaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Balonne Shire Council, including the towns of Dirranbandi, Thallon, Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree, Tamworth and Coonabarabran in NSW. Bungunya Provisional School opened on a half-time basis in 1916, sharing the teacher with Glengower Provisional School. It became a full-time school in 1918 and a state school soon after. Bungunya was once a busy railway centre from which thousands of bales of wool were transported from local sheep stations following the shearing season. In the 2011 census, Bungunya had a population of 189 people. In the, Bungunya had a population of 75 people.
Education
Bungunya State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at George Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 22 students with 3 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff.
