Koongal is a suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] At the 2016 census, Koongal had a population of 4,286 people.[3]
Koongal Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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Koongal | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 23°22′10″S 150°32′54″E / 23.3694°S 150.5483°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 4,252 (SAL 2021)[1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4701 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Rockhampton Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Capricornia | ||||||||||||||
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The suburb is located on a small section of the Fitzroy River. The Rockhampton–Emu Park Road runs through from south-west to south-east.[4]
Koongal railway station is an abandoned railway station on the former North Rockahampton to Emu Park railway (23°22′29″S 150°33′10″E / 23.3746°S 150.5529°E).[5]
On Sunday 17 May 1914 Bishop George Halford dedicated the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist.[6] The church was in Harbourne Street (approx 23°22′27″S 150°33′13″E / 23.3742°S 150.5535°E) and operated until 1977.[7]
St Maria Goretti Catholic Church opened in 1958 at 192 Thozet Road (corner Dunbar Street, 23°21′50″S 150°32′41″E / 23.3640°S 150.5447°E).[8][9] It closed on 19 February 2017.[10]
Mount Archer State School opened on 25 January 1982.[11]
In September 2000, Enid O'Toole Park was officially opened in Koongal, named in honour of a local Rockhampton woman who is credited with pioneering the roles of women in the banking sector as one of the first female bank managers in Queensland.[12]
Koongal was one of the worst affected Rockhampton suburbs during the 2009 bushfires in the Mount Archer National Park in October 2009.[13] A Koongal home in Poinciana Street was destroyed in the bushfire.[14]
After an archaeological investigation, the graves of famous Australian botanist Anthelme Thozet, his son Auguste Thozet and his daughter-in-law Lucy Thozet were discovered in Koongal in 2010.[15][16] They were located in Norris Park on what was Thozet's sprawling "Muellerville" 70-acre experimental garden.[15][16]
At the 2011 census, the suburb recorded a population of 4,728.[17]
In 2015, the Rockonia Road Store in Koongal sustained damage during Cyclone Marcia when its roof was torn off in the strong winds.[18] The store was quickly repaired and promptly resumed trade.
At the 2016 census, Koongal had a population of 4.286 people.[3]
Koongal has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Despite the name, Mount Archer State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 242 Thozet Road in Koongal (23°21′29″S 150°32′44″E / 23.3581°S 150.5456°E).[20][21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 650 students with 48 teachers (44 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).[22] It includes a special education program.[20]
There are no secondary schools in Koongal. The nearest government secondary school is North Rockhampton State High School in neighbouring Frenchville to the north-west.[23]