Download coordinates as:
| Karara Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Karara State School | |||||||||||||||
  Karara | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 28°12′29″S151°33′56″E / 28.2080°S 151.5655°E /-28.2080; 151.5655 (Karara (town centre)) | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 128 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.3625/km2 (0.939/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4352 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 477 m (1,565 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 353.1 km2 (136.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Southern Downs Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Southern Downs | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Karara (/kərærə/) is a rural town andlocality in theSouthern Downs Region,Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the2021 census, the locality of Karara had a population of 128 people.[1]
The town is on theDarling Downs on theCunningham Highway, 208 kilometres (129 mi) south west of the state capital,Brisbane. The highway passes through the locality from the east to the south-west. TheToowoomba–Karara Road (State Route 48) connects the highway through to the north of the locality toLeyburn and ultimately through toToowoomba. TheSouth Western railway line passes through the locality roughly parallel and to the north of the highway with the locality served by two railway stations:
Both the line and Karara railway station are no longer in active use.[5]
TheDurakai State Forest occupies the southern and eastern areas within the locality; otherwise it is freehold land predominantly used for farming apart from a small urban centre. There are a number of creeks running south to north through the locality which is in thedrainage basin of theCondamine River.[5]
The nameKarara is believed to be an Aboriginal name for Canal Creek.[3]
The South Western railway line fromWarwick to Karara was opened in 1904.[6]
Karara State School opened on 20 July 1908.[7][8]
Karara Post Office opened on 1 July 1927 (areceiving office had been open from 1909) and closed in 1990.[9]
In the2006 census, the locality of Karara and the surrounding area had a population of 140 people.[10]
In the2011 census, the locality of Karara had a population of 278 people.[11]
In the2016 census, the locality of Karara had a population of 123 people.[12]
In the2021 census, the locality of Karara had a population of 128 people.[1]
TheSouthern Downs Regional Council operates amobile library service which visits the Recreation Reserve.[13]
The Karara branch of theQueensland Country Women's Association meets at the Karara Public Hall at 33 School Street.[14]
Karara State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Karara School Road (28°12′13″S151°33′55″E / 28.2037°S 151.5652°E /-28.2037; 151.5652 (Karara State School)).[15][16] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 5 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).[17] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 8 students with 2 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[18]
There are no secondary schools in Karara. The nearest government secondary schools areWarwick State High School (to Year 12) inWarwick to the east,Inglewood State School (to Year 10) inInglewood to the south-west, Millmerran State School (to Year 10) inMillmerran to the north-west, Clifton State High School (to Year 12) inClifton to the north-east, and Allora State School (to Year 10) inAllora to the north-east.[5]
