Boulia, Queensland
Template:Redirect Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox Australian place Boulia (Template:IPAc-en) is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Boulia had a population of 314 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire, population approximately 600, which covers an area of Template:Convert.
The area is best known for sightings of the Min Min lights,<ref name="TYM2001">Template:Cite book</ref> mysterious shimmering lights that appear at nightTemplate:Tone inline. The lights are said to be caused by atmospheric refraction that occurs when cold air is trapped below warmer air,<ref name="CanberraTimes2003">Template:Cite news</ref> a phenomenon known as Fata Morgana.
Geography
Boulia is in the Central West Queensland and is located approximately Template:Convert by road south of Mount Isa. Boulia is at the crossroads of a number of outback routes, including the Boulia Mount Isa Road (which goes north-west towards Mount Isa), the Selwyn Road (which goes north-east to Selwyn), the Winton Road, which goes east toward Winton), and the Boulia Bedourie Road (which goes south-west to Bedourie).<ref name="globe" /> The Donohue Highway coming from the Northern Territory joins the Boulia Mount Isa Road just outside of Boulia,<ref name="globe" /> which together with the Winton Road forms part of the Outback Way billed as "Australia's Longest Shortcut", a Template:Convert gravel-and-bitumen road which runs between Laverton in Western Australia and Winton in Queensland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boulia is in the Channel Country. All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin,<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref> and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Boulia lies on the Burke River,<ref name="globe" /> which was named after the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. The river flows from the north-east to the south-east through the locality.<ref>Template:Cite QPN</ref>
Although it is contrary to the locality boundary principles of the Queensland Government,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the locality of Boulia is an "island" entirely surrounded by the locality of Wills.<ref name="globe" />
Extensive grazing of beef cattle on native vegetation is the predominant industry.<ref name="globe" /> Boulia is at the heart of the Channel Country of western Queensland where, during rain events, channels running between the rivers and creeks of the region fill with water and spread that water over expansive areas. When it does rain heavily, the Mitchell grass plains respond magnificently and result in the Channel country around Boulia, being among the finest beef producing country in Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The town has a grid layout with 6 roads running east–west and 5 running north–south. Herbert Street is the main street where most of the civic and commercial premises are located.<ref name="globe" />
History
The town was named by surveyor Frederick Arthur Hartnell in 1882 and was derived from the name of the waterhole near the township called "bool-yo" in the Pitta Pitta language.<ref name="qpnt" />
The township was gazetted in 1879. Boulia Post Office opened on 1 July 1879.<ref name="Post Office">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boulia Provisional School opened on 7 October 1889. It became Boulia State School on 1 January 1909.<ref name="qfhs">Template:Citation</ref> In December 1937, the school building of the closed state school in Selwyn was relocated to be used as a school building in Boulia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Good Shepherd Catholic Church was built in 1955.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2019, the Boulia Outback Chapel was established in the former Anglican church building. It is part of the Baptist Church.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2019, the Boulia Outback Chapel was established in the former Anglican church building. It is part of the Baptist Church.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, the town of Boulia had a population of 205 people.<ref name="Census2006">Template:Census 2006 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Boulia had a population of 230 people.<ref name="Census2011">Template:Census 2011 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Boulia had a population of 301 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Boulia had a population of 314 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Climate
Boulia experiences a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh), with very hot, occasionally rainy summers, and very mild, dry winters with cool nights and rare frosts. Average maxima vary from Template:Convert in July to Template:Convert in December. Average annual rainfall is very low: Template:Convert, occurring within 24.1 rainfall days. Rainfall is extraordinarily erratic, as while only Template:Convert fell in 1905; Template:Convert was recorded in January 1974 alone. The town is very sunny, averaging 186.4 clear days and only 43.6 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from Template:Convert on 31 August 1906 to Template:Convert on 7 February 1915.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Events
The town hosts the Boulia Camel Races, the longest camel race (running a 1500m cup final) on the Australian camel racing circuit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Each year at Easter, the Boulia Racecourse reserve plays host to a rodeo, campdrafting, and horse racing event which is a social highlight for the district.
During August drag races are held at the Boulia Airport which attracts an enthusiastic crowd.
Facilities
Boulia has a range of public facilities open to the community. These include a public library, public hall, sports complex, racecourse, the Min Min encounter tourist centre, museum, visitor information centre, and camel races. The Boulia Shire Council operates a public library at 18 Burke Street.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
An 18-hole golf course with sand greens is located on the Boulia Winton Road. Greens fees are not charged for the use of this course and a clubhouse with bar facilities is available.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boulia has Australia's first three-dimensional zebra crossing which is based on an optical illusion. It is to improve road safety and also to be a tourist attraction. It was introduced in 2018 after Boulia Shire Council mayor Rick Britton saw similar crossings in Iceland, Malaysia, India, New Zealand and the United States on social media.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Boulia branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 61 Moonah Street.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boulia Outback Chapel is at 49 Moonah Street (Template:Coord).<ref name=":0" />
The Good Shepherd Catholic Church is at 33 Moonah Street (Template:Coord).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Education
Boulia State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Templeton Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 4 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
There are no secondary schools in Boulia.<ref name="globe" /> The nearest government secondary schools are in Mount Isa and Winton, but these are too distant for a daily commute. The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa<ref name="globe" /> offers boarding facilities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other boarding schools or distance education would be options for secondary schooling.
Mars
The name Boulia is used as a name for a crater on the planet Mars, specifically commemorating the town.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Heritage listings
Boulia has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Boulia Stone House, Pituri Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
