Bunya Mountains is a locality split between the Western Downs Region and the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] The town of Mount Mowbullan (26.8853°S 151.5972°E / -26.8853; 151.5972 (Mount Mowbullan (town))) is located on the boundary of Bunya Mountains and the enclosed locality of Mowbullan.[3] In the 2016 census Bunya Mountains had a population of 144 people.[1]

Bunya Mountains Queensland
Bunya Mountains
Coordinates	26.8780°S 151.55°E / -26.8780; 151.55 (Bunya Mountains (centre of locality))
Population	144 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	0.3881/km2 (1.005/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4405
Area	371.0 km2 (143.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Western Downs Region South Burnett Region
State electorate(s)	Callide Nanango
Federal division(s)	Maranoa
Suburbs around Bunya Mountains: Cooranga Boyneside Alice Creek Bell Bunya Mountains Wengenville Moola Rangemore Upper Cooyar Creek Pimpimbudgee

Geography

The locality is split between the two local government areas with the smaller north-eastern part of the locality in South Burnett Region and the larger south-western part in the Western Downs Region. The north-eastern part is almost entirely within the Bunya Mountains National Park with a small portion of the south-western part also in the National Park. In contrast most of the south-western part is freehold land used for agriculture but only a very small portion of the north-eastern part as freehold land, used for residential and agricultural purposes. The Bunya Mountain Road roughly follows the split between the two local government areas[4]

The Bunya Highway passes through the western corner of the locality.[4]

The locality of Mowbullan (in the Western Downs Region) is completely enclosed by the locality of Bunya Mountains and does not form part of the national park.[4] This enclosure within another locality is unusual in Queensland and contrary to the Queensland Government's normal policies.[5]

History

The locality name comes from the mountain range, Bunya Mountains, and is a Kabi language word bonyi or bunyi, indicating the Bunya pine tree (Araucaria bidwillii).[2]

Bunya Mountains Provisional School opened on 6 October 1919 and closed on 15 December 1922.[6]

From 1923 to 1928 a 670-metre tramway for 250 metre descent from mountain top to bottom at Wengenville, used with winches, winders and flying foxes.[7] The logs were transferred to a horse-drawn tram for movement to a log dump.[8] A “not to scale” model can be seen at the natural history museum at the Dandabah camping area.[9]

In the 2016 census Bunya Mountains had a population of 144 people.[1]

See also

• List of tramways in Queensland

References