Kalunga, Queensland

Kalunga is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Kalunga had a population of 103 people.^[1]

Kalunga Queensland
Kalunga
Coordinates	17.4391°S 145.3666°E / -17.4391; 145.3666 (Kalunga (centre of locality))
Population	103 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	1.782/km2 (4.615/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4887
Area	57.8 km2 (22.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.3 km (6 mi) S of Herberton 27.7 km (17 mi) SW of Atherton 105 km (65 mi) SW of Cairns 345 km (214 mi) NNW of Townsville 1,813 km (1,127 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Tablelands Region
State electorate(s)	Hill
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Kalunga: Watsonville Watsonville Herberton Silver Valley Kalunga Wondecla Kaban Kaban Wondecla

Geography

The Great Dividing Range loosely forms the northern boundary of the locality. The Wild River forms a small part of the eastern boundary before flowing through to the south-west. Basalt Creek forms the south-western boundary before joining the Wild.^[3][4]

Longlands Gap–Herberton Road (State Route 52) runs along part of the eastern boundary. The Herberton–Petford Road runs along most of the north-eastern boundary.^[5]

The southern part of the locality is within the Bluff State Forest. Apart from this protected area, the predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation with a small amount of crop growing.^[6]

History

The Tablelands railway line from Herberton to Tumoulin opened on 31 July 1911.^[7] The line closed in 1988.^[8] Kalunga was served by three railway stations, now abandoned (from north to south):^[9]

• Tepon railway station (17.4275°S 145.3910°E / -17.4275; 145.3910 (Tepon railway station))^[10]
• Kalunga railway station (17.4480°S 145.3771°E / -17.4480; 145.3771 (Kalunga railway station))^[10]
• Flaggy Creek railway station (17.4521°S 145.3788°E / -17.4521; 145.3788 (Flaggy Creek railway station))^[10]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Kalunga had a population of 95 people.^[11]

In the 2021 census, Kalunga had a population of 103 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Kalunga. The nearest government primary school is Herberton State School which has its primary campus in Moomin to the north-east. The nearest government secondary schools are Herberton State School (to Year 10) with its secondary campus in Herberton, Atherton State High School (to Year 12) in Atherton to the north-east, and Ravenshoe State School (to Year 12) in Ravenshoe to the south-east.^[12]

Facilities

Despite the name, the Wondecla Rural Fire Station is at 5 Flaggy Creek Road in Kalunga (17.4263°S 145.3980°E / -17.4263; 145.3980 (Wondecla Rural Fire Station)).^[13]