Hebel, Queensland
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:GeoGroupTemplate:Infobox Australian place Hebel (pronounced he-bell) is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> It is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.<ref name="globe">Template:Queensland Globe</ref> In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Hebel had a population of 62 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
Geography
Hebel is in south-west Queensland situated Template:Convert north of the border with New South Wales on the Castlereagh Highway. It is the eastern corner of the locality.<ref name="globe"/>
The Bokhara River (a non-perennial river) enters the locality from the east (Dirranbandi) and flows past the immediate north of the town and exits the locality to the south (Goodooga in New South Wales).<ref>Template:Cite QPN</ref> It is part of the Murray-Darling River system.<ref name="globe" />
In the west of the locality is the Culgoa River and the Culgoa Floodplain National Park (Template:Coord),<ref>Template:Cite QPN</ref> which extends into neighbouring Jobs Gate.<ref name="globe"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
There are a number of homesteads in the locality:<ref name="homesteads">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Balgi (Template:Coord)
- Ballandool (Template:Coord)
- Byra (Template:Coord)
- Currawillinghi (Template:Coord)
- Davirton (Template:Coord)
- Goonaroo (Template:Coord)
- Kinglebilla (Template:Coord)
- Koala (Template:Coord)
- Morley (Template:Coord)
- Tara (Template:Coord)
- Yattenbury (Template:Coord)
History
Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.<ref>Template:Cite SLQ-CC-BY</ref>
Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales.<ref>Template:Cite SLQ-CC-BY</ref>
The town was reputedly named after a German immigrant Noble Van Hebel. Hebel helped stage the coaches for Cobb and Co.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Curriwillinghi Post Office opened on 1 January 1864 (named after the Curriwillinghi pastoral station, which still exists as at 2020 at Template:CoordTemplate:Hair space<ref name="globe" />).<ref name="Post Office">Template:Cite web</ref>
Circa 1886, Hebel was established as a border township with a border customs post, Template:Convert east of Curriwillinghi pastoral station. In 1889, the Curriwillinghi Post Office was replaced by the Hebel Post Office.<ref name="Post Office" />
In 1897 a dance hall was built. It is now the general store.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
Hebel Provisional School opened on 11 April 1901. On 1 January 1909, it became Hebel State School.<ref name="qfhs">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite QldSchool</ref>
The Hebel Post office closed in 1989.<ref name="Post Office" />
During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some border crossing points had Queensland Police checkpoints to confirm eligibility to enter Queensland, while other border crossing points were closed. At Hebel, there was a police border checkpoint on the Castlereagh Highway. The border crossing on the Hebel Goodooga Road was closed by the Balonne Shire Council building an earth wall across the road, although many local people doubted its effectiveness as a barrier to entry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Hebel was the feature of ABC Back Roads Series 8, Episode 11; it was aired on 25 July 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Demographics
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Hebel and the surrounding area had a population of 149 people.<ref name="Census2006">Template:Census 2006 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Hebel had a population of 67 people.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Hebel had a population of 62 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Education
Hebel State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls in Maud Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, it had an enrolment of eleven students with two teachers (one full-time equivalent) and five non-teaching staff (two full-time equivalent).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of seven students with one teacher and five non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018">Template:Cite web</ref> However, students living in the west of Hebel would be too distant for a daily commute; the alternatives are distance education and boarding school.<ref name="globeschools">Template:Cite web</ref>
There are no secondary schools in Hebel. The nearest government secondary school is Dirranbandi State School (to Year 10) in Dirranbandi to the north-east and St George State High School (to Year 12) in St George to the north-east.<ref name="globe" /> Again, these schools are too distant for most Hebel students to attend; the alternatives are distance education and boarding school.<ref name="globeschools" />
Amenities
Balonne Shire Council operates a library in William Street.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hebel Community Hall is at 40–50 William Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="PublicRecreation">Template:Cite web</ref>
Hebel Racecourse is a Template:Convert reserve west of Henry Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
Hebel Cemetery is on the south-east edge of the town (Template:Coord).<ref name="cemeteryareas">Template:Cite web</ref>
Hebel has a general store, caravan park, hotel, and coffee shop.Template:Citation needed
Transport
There are a number of airstrips in the locality:<ref name="LandingGrounds">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Balgi airstrip (Template:Coord)
- Ballandool airstrip (Template:Coord)
- Brenda airstrip (Template:Coord)
- Byra airstrip (Template:Coord)
- Davirton airstrip (Template:Coord)
- Hebel airstrip (Template:Coord)
Attractions
The front of the Hebel Hotel featured brightly coloured art work by John Murray, which the interior furnishings are made of recycled items found in the bush.<ref name=":0" />
The Hebel Historical Circle is a walk around the town illustrates places of historic interest.<ref name=":0" />
The general store is also a cafe and restaurant; it retains its original dance floor.<ref name=":0" />
Bokhara River Campground is a Template:Convert site on James Street on the north side of town (Template:Coord).<ref name="PublicRecreation" />
Gallery
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General store, Castlereagh Highway (2021).
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Community Hall, William Street (2021).
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Local library (2021).
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Hebel State School (2021).
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Hebel State School oval (2021).
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Hebel Bicentennial Park, William Street (2021).
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Hebel Historical Circle, in the Bicentennial Park (2021).
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Historical Circle information panel example (2021).
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Artwork made from barbwire, of a person pushing a wheelbarrow, with a dog (2021).
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Hebel-Goodooga Road going south-west (2021).
