Barakula, Queensland

Barakula Queensland
File:Timber cutter near a large log in the Barakula district.jpg Timber cutter with a large log in Barakula
Coordinates
Population	13 (2016 census)
• Density	0.00793/km2 (0.0205/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4413
Area	1,639.4 km2 (633.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Western Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Suburbs around Barakula: Roche Creek Auburn Kragra Pelham Barakula Durah Hookswood Blackswamp Fairyland Burncluith

Barakula is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Barakula had a population of 13 people.

Barakula's postcode is 4413.

History

In 1911 the Queensland Railway Department built a tramway from Chinchilla to Wongongera (now Barakula) to transport railway sleepers made from logs taken from the state forest at Barakula and milled at the Barakula sawmill (approx ). The route of the Barakula tramway was based on an earlier plan to construct a railway line from Chinchilla to Taroom that was subsequently abandoned in favour of a railway line from Miles to Taroom. Originally established to supply sleepers for the Great Western Railway, the sawmill and the tramway operated intermittently depending on demand. The sawmill was mothballed in August 1928 but a caretaker, F. Brooks, was retained. The line reopened in 1942. The tramway operated until 1970. It was a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge tramway.

Wongongera Sawmill Provisional School opened on 25 July 1912. In 1914 it was renamed Barakula Provisional School. It closed and re-opened a number of times due to low student numbers. In 1927 it became Barakula State School. It closed on 31 December 1982. It was located within Barakula State Forest (approximately ).

In the 2016 census Barakula had a population of 13 people.

Heritage listings

Barakula has the following heritage-listed sites:

• Barakula State Forest: Waaje Fire Tower No.4