Jondaryan, Queensland

Jondaryan is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Jondaryan had a population of 414 people.^[1]

Jondaryan Queensland
Jondaryan Memorial Park, service road and public hall, 2014
Jondaryan
Coordinates	27.3719°S 151.5902°E / -27.3719; 151.5902 (Jondaryan (town centre))
Population	414 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	2.1005/km2 (5.440/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4403
Elevation	385 m (1,263 ft)
Area	197.1 km2 (76.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	39.9 km (25 mi) SE of Dalby 43.1 km (27 mi) NW of Toowoomba CBD 171 km (106 mi) W of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Condamine
Federal division(s)	Groom
Localities around Jondaryan: Bowenville Malu Brymaroo Muldu Formartin West Prairie Jondaryan Acland Devon Park Oakey Mount Moriah Evanslea Yargullen Aubigny

Geography

The Western railway line passes through the locality. The now-closed Jondaryan railway station (27.3679°S 151.5921°E / -27.3679; 151.5921 (Jondaryan railway station (former))) served the town, while the Malu railway station on the boundary of the localities of Jondaryn and Malu is still operational (27.3486°S 151.5613°E / -27.3486; 151.5613 (Malu railway station)).^[4][5]

History

The name Jondaryan derives from pastoral run name first used 1841 by Henry Dennis. It is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning a long way off. The town was surveyed in June 1871 by surveyor G.T. Weale.^[2]

Jondaryan Post Office opened on 1 March 1867.^[6]

H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh stayed overnight in Jondaryan, then the terminus of the railway line, on 26 February 1868.^[7]

Jondaryan Provisional School opened on 12 February 1872. On 31 January 1876, it became Jondaryan State School.^[8]

In June 2015, the closed St Jude's Anglican church was relocated from Acland to the Jondaryan Woolshed to be used as a wedding chapel.^[9][10][11]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Jondaryan had a population of 385 people.^[12]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Jondaryan had a population of 414 people.^[1]

Heritage listings

Jondaryan has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Jondaryan Homestead, Evanslea Road (27.4009°S 151.5753°E / -27.4009; 151.5753 (Jondaryan Homestead))^[13]
• Jondaryan Woolshed, Evanslea Road (27.3941°S 151.5716°E / -27.3941; 151.5716 (Jondaryan Woolshed))^[14]
• St Anne's Anglican Church, Evanslea Road (27.3798°S 151.5864°E / -27.3798; 151.5864 (St Anne's Anglican Church))^[15]

Education

Jondaryan State School, 2022

Jondaryan State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Scott Road (27.3730°S 151.5858°E / -27.3730; 151.5858 (Jondaryan State School)).^[16][17] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 47 students with 4 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 6 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).^[18]

The nearest government secondary school is Oakey State High School in Oakey 16.8 km (10.4 mi) to the east.^[19]

Facilities

Library services in Jondaryan are provided by the Toowoomba Regional Council's mobile library service. The van visits Jondaryan State School ^[17] on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.^[20]

The Jondaryan Rural Fire Brigade Station provides Rural Fire Services to both the Jondaryan and the broader community, on a voluntary per-call basis.^[21]

Attractions

The Jondaryan Woolshed is a tourist attraction at 264 Jondaryan Evanslea Road.^[22]

Events

Jackie Howe Festival is held at the Woolshed at Jondaryan every year during the first weekend in September.^[23] At the festival the shearing shed comes to life under steam power.^[23] The old Australian Heritage Festival with its working historic farm machinery is now included in the Jackie Howe Festival.^[23] A major wool fashion show is a part of the Jackie Howe Festival.^[23] The best of Australian traditional country foods are featured at the festival.^[23]