The locality of Kogan is shaped like an upside-down U with the locality of Beelbee almost enclosed by Kogan. The town of Kogan is in the north-west of the locality. From the town there are four arterial roads:
Kogan Condamine Road towards the north-west to Montrose and eventually to Condamine
In the north-east of the locality, the Condamine River flows from south to north along Kogan's boundary with Warra, while Wilkie Creek flowing from south to north forms Kogan's boundary with Macalister. Wambo Creek flows from south to north-west through the south-western part of the locality and is eventually a tributary of the Condamine River. Kogan Creek flows from south to north through the locality passing through the township of Kogan; it is also a tributary of the Condamine River. The lower flatter land in Kogan is used for grazing, while higher peaks of approx 400metres remain as bushland. Most of Kogan is freehold land with the exceptions of Dalby State Forest, Braemer State Forest, both in the eastern part of the locality. Geologically, Kogan is part of the Surat Basin.
History
The name Kogan derives from an early pastoral run called Kogan Creek owned variously by J.E. Barney, Joseph King, and Colin J. McKenzie. The name probably comes from Kogai, one of the Aboriginal tribes from the district. It was a changing station on the Dalby-Roma coach route prior to the construction of the Western railway line. It had a hotel, the Kogan Inn, at that time, but this closed after the demise of the coach route. Kogan Provisional School opened on 4 October 1897 and closed about 1899. It reopened in 1905 and became Kogan State School in 1910. Kogan North State School opened on 18 June 1936 and closed on 30 April 1944. The Wilkie Creek coal mine commenced operation in 1994. It was bought by Peabody Energy in 2002. In the 2011 census, Kogan had a population of 355 people.
Kogan State School is a government co-educational primary school at High Street. In 2015, there were 47 students enrolled with 3 teachers. It opened in October 1897.
Australian painter Hugh Sawrey spent many years in the Kogan area. He often painted murals on local buildings to pay his bills. He first visited the town after he returned from military service in World War II, seeking work on cattle stations. He painted murals for the lounge of the Kogan Hotel and the ceiling of the Kogan post office. In 2009 a documentary was made about Sawrey titled Banjo Paterson with a Paintbrush. On 3 October 2009, the documentary premiered at the Art at Kogan festival in the presence of the Queensland Governor, Penelope Wensley. Sawrey is commemorated in Kogan with a sculpture and walkway. The sculpture titled Bush Friendship is on the Kogan-Condamine Road and features Sawrey with his friend Nelson "Darkie" Dwyer, the former publican in Kogan. It is a lifesize sculpture in bronze and depicts the two men sitting across a table from one another, playing cards. The sculpture forms part of the Hugh Sawrey Walk of Fame, which was funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Q150 celebrations. A sculpture of a horse with a rugged stockman on his back and the whip cutting up above his head forms the entrance to the Kogan Community Centre.
