Wallumbilla, Queensland


Wallumbilla is a town and locality in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Wallumbilla had a population of 388 people for the locality with 191 people living in the town itself.

Geography

Wallumbilla is situated on the Warrego Highway, five hours by road west from Brisbane, just east of Roma in South West Queensland.
To the north of Wallumbilla the Great Dividing Range passes roughly ESE to NNW. The town is sandwiched between Wallumbilla & Middle Creeks as they flow south toward the Condamine/Balonne River.
Wallumbilla is on the Western railway line and was served by the now non-operational Wallumbilla railway station.

History

The name Wallumbilla was the name of a pastoral run leased by Charles Coxen, The name is presumed to come from the indigenous Mandandanji language and reportedly means wallu=plenty and billa=jew fish.
Wallumbilla Provisional School opened on 25 October 1893, becoming Wallumbilla State School on 1 September 1894.
At the, Wallumbilla had a population of 285.
In the 2011 census, Wallumbilla had a population of 262 people.

Heritage listings

Wallumbilla has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Wallumbilla's Calico Cottage, open seven days a week, is the town's Visitor Information Centre. As well as this, Calico Cottage sells locally produced arts and crafts along with refreshments.
The town also contains three churches, as well as a Masonic Hall. Other amenities include a hotel/pub, a news agency, and a petrol station.
Wallumbilla has a heritage complex and visitor information centre. A Public Library operates in Wallumbilla in George Street.
The Wallumbilla branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 15 College Street.

Education

Wallumbilla State School is a primary and secondary school for boys and girls operated by the Queensland Government at 22 High Street. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 106 students with 15 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff. Most of these students hail from properties surrounding town, as well as the high school students who attended primary school in the neighbouring town of Yuleba. The nearest state high schools offering Years 11 and 12 of secondary school are in Roma and Miles.

Economy

Traditionally Wallumbilla's main industries were dairy and beef cattle, now the main industries are cropping and beef cattle. The main crops include sorghum and wheat.
Locals believe that if not for the discovery of gas at nearby hub Roma, Wallumbilla would have flourished into a similar hub, as the discovery of gas in 1908 near Roma preluded the Wallumbilla cattle sale yards to move up to Roma, accentuating its growth.
A major gas hub is in preparation for Wallumbilla, planned to start operation in 2014.