Coppabella, Queensland

Coppabella is a rural locality in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] It was established by Queensland Railways to accommodate train crew and railway maintenance staff. In the 2021 census, Coppabella had a population of 594 people.^[1]

Coppabella Queensland
Coal Train next to Peak Downs Highway, Coppabella, 2004
Coppabella
Coordinates	21.9408°S 148.2744°E / -21.9408; 148.2744
Population	594 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.7452/km2 (1.9301/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4741
Area	797.1 km2 (307.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	48 km (30 mi) ENE of Moranbah 145 km (90 mi) SW of Mackay 234 km (145 mi) N of Emerald 1,005 km (624 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Isaac Region
State electorate(s)	Burdekin
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Coppabella: Burton Kemmis Strathfield Moranbah Coppabella Oxford Winchester Dysart Valkyrie

Geography

Coppabella is in the Galilee Basin mining area. The Peak Downs Highway passes through the locality from north-east to south-west. The Goonyella railway line also passes through the area, with branch lines to service the mines.^[3] Two active mines in the area are the Millenium coal mine and Moorvale coal mine, both owned and operated by Peabody Energy.^[4][5]

History

The locality takes its name from the local railway station, which in turn was named by Queensland Railways Department in September 1971, reportedly using an Aboriginal word meaning a crossing place.^[2]

Coppabella State School opened on 29 January 1980.^[6][7]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Coppabella had a population of 466 people.^[8]

In the 2021 census, Coppabella had a population of 594 people.^[1]

Education

Coppabella State School is a government co-educational primary school (P-6) in Mathieson Street. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 14 students with 2 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (2 equivalent full-time).^[9] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 17 students with 2 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).^[10]

There is no secondary school in Coppabella; the nearest is Moranbah State High School in Moranbah.^[11]