| Watalgan Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Watalgan | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 24°38′52″S152°00′50″E / 24.6477°S 152.0138°E /-24.6477; 152.0138 (Watalgan (centre of locality)) | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 38 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.735/km2 (1.904/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4670 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 51.7 km2 (20.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Bundaberg Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Burnett | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Flynn | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Watalgan is a rurallocality in theBundaberg Region,Queensland, Australia.[2] In the2021 census, Watalgan had a population of 38 people.[1]
TheNorth Coast railway line enters the locality from the west (Mullett Creek) and exits to the west (Rosedale).[3] Historically, the locality was served by the Watalgan railway station, but, following a realignment of the railway line in 1996,[4] it is now an abandoned railway station on a dismantled section of the line (24°38′50″S152°01′31″E / 24.6473°S 152.0252°E /-24.6473; 152.0252 (Watalgan railway station)).[5]
Rosedale Road enters the locality from the west (Mullett Creek) and exits to the west (Rosedale).[3]
Littabella Conservation Park is in the west and south of the locality, extending into neighbouring Rosedale. There are a number of sections of the Watalgan State Forest in the east and south of the locality, extending into neighbouring Mullett Creek. Apart from these protected areas, the land use is predominantlygrazing on native vegetation.[6]
The locality takes its name from the former Watalgan railway station, which was named by theQueensland Railways Department on 18 August 1913, after the Watalgan Range, a name believed to be of Aboriginal origin.[2]
Watalgan Provisional School opened on 7 February 1927. In August 1933, it became Watalgan State School. It closed on 13 May 1963.[7][8] It was located approx24°38′42″S152°01′34″E / 24.64488°S 152.02613°E /-24.64488; 152.02613 (Watalgan State School (former)),[9] but the land parcel no longer exists due to the realignment of the railway line in 1996.[4]
In the2016 census, Watalgan had a population of 38 people.[10]
In the2021 census, Watalgan had a population of 38 people.[1]
There are no schools in Watalgan. The nearest government primary schools areRosedale State School in neighbouringRosedale to the west, Winfield State School in neighbouringWinfield to the north, and Yandaran State School inYandaran to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Rosedale State School (to Year 12).[11]
