Bowenville
Queensland
Bowenville looking southwards, May 2010
Bowenville is located in Queensland
Bowenville
Bowenville
Coordinates27°18′15″S 151°29′33″E / 27.3041°S 151.4925°E / -27.3041; 151.4925 (Bowenville (town centre))
Population250 (2016 census locality)[1]
 • Density0.839/km2 (2.17/sq mi)
Established1890 (approx.)
Postcode(s)4404
Area297.8 km2 (115.0 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)Condamine
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Bowenville:
Blaxland Irvingdale Brymaroo
Dalby Bowenville Malu
St Ruth Formartin
Wainui		 Jondaryan

Bowenville is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] The town's economy rested on the rail industry and with the winding down of the railways the population declined. In the 2016 census, the locality of Bowenville had a population of 250 people.[1]

Geography

Just north of the Warrego Highway east of Dalby, Bowenville has the basic requirements for the traveler, including fuel, a post office, barbecues, a hotel and public telephone. It is a short drive from two major tourist attractions in the region, the historic Jondaryan Woolshed and the New Acland Coal Mine.

The Western railway line passes through the locality with Bowenville railway station (27°18′15″S 151°29′26″E / 27.3041°S 151.4906°E / -27.3041; 151.4906 (Bowenville railway station)) serving the town.[4] Further west of the town are three other railway stations on the line:

History

Bowen Provisional School opened on 21 June 1898. It became Bowenville State School on 1 January 1909.[5]

In September 1906, Major William Grant of the Bowenville pastoral station donated land next to the railway line on the corner of Railway Street and Cockburn Street (27°18′12″S 151°29′25″E / 27.3032°S 151.4904°E / -27.3032; 151.4904 (Bowenville Presbyterian Church)) for a Presbyterian church as well as £20 towards the building costs. John Nicholson of Blaxlands pastoral station donated a further £10.[6] The construction of the church was completed in September 1909.[7] The church was officially opened on Friday 22 October 1909 by Eveline Grant, wife of William Grant. The church was designed by Alexander Brown Wilson of Brisbane and built by D.A. Mever of Toowoomba. It had a cedar pulpit and leadlight windows. The first divine service was held on Sunday 24 October 1909 by Reverend George Tulloch.[8]

Bowenville Post Office opened by June 1908 (a receiving office had been open from 1878).[9]

The re-built Bowenville Presbyterian Church, 1916

In March 1916, a severe storm blew the roof off the Presbyterian church as well as damaging the Bowenville railway station and many houses.[10] The remains of the church were auctioned off and the church rebuilt at a cost of £200 by carpenter Thomas Hodge of Dalby. Many suppliers and tradesmen donated their goods and services. The Dalby Presbyterian Church provided a new organ. On Sunday 13 August 1916 the re-built church was officially re-opened by the Reverend Richard Glaister, the principal of Emmanuel College at the University of Queensland.[11]

The Bowenville Public Hall was built in 1925. It was a popular venue for dancers as its floor was made of Crow's Ash (Flindersia australis) which is very resistant to impact, making it an excellent surface for dancing.[12] The hall was later extended with materials recycled from the public hall at Irvingdale when it closed. The hall hosts a wide variety of local events, including meetings, classes, dances, concerts, and receptions. The local branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association met in this hall.[13]

St Luke's Anglican Church was dedicated on 30 March 1952 by Venerable Frank Knight. It had been relocated from Ducklo.[14] It closed on 31 March 1982.[15]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Bowenville had a population of 250 people.[1]

Education

Bowenville State School, 2023
Bowenville State School playground, 2023

Bowenville State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 2 Irvingdale Road (27°18′13″S 151°29′38″E / 27.3037°S 151.4939°E / -27.3037; 151.4939 (Bowenville State School)).[16][17] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 15 students with 4 teachers (1 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[18]

There is no secondary school in Bowenville, the closest secondary schools being Oakey State High School in Oakey 29.3 km to the east or Dalby State High School, Dalby Christian College and Our Lady of the Southern Cross College in Dalby 28.3 km to the west.[19]

Facilities

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

The Bowenville Reserve (in Wainu), situated along the Oakey Creek, provides a free camping area with access to non-potable water and toilet facilities. There are also picnic areas, bins, shelters, tables, and a playground. Shore fishing, small water craft, and electric motors are permitted.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bowenville (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Bowenville – town in Toowoomba Region (entry 4117)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Bowenville – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 47895)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Railway stations and sidings – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  6. ↑ "DALBY ITEMS". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 September 1908. p. 6. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ↑ "DISTRICT NEWS". Darling Downs Gazette. Queensland, Australia. 23 September 1909. p. 2. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Trove.
  8. ↑ "RELIGIOUS". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 30 October 1909. p. 16. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Trove.
  9. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "CYCLONE AT BOWENVILLE". Darling Downs Gazette. Queensland, Australia. 7 March 1916. p. 4. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Trove.
  11. ↑ "BOWENVILLE PRESBYTERIANS". The Dalby Herald. Queensland, Australia. 19 August 1916. p. 7. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Trove.
  12. ↑ Gardner, Patricia (4 May 2013). "Toowoomba Plants: A Very Special Floor". Toowoomba Plants. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Laws, Nicki; Alcock, Ann, (photographer.) (2015), Frocks, country halls and deb balls, PhotoVoice Australia, pp. 42–32, ISBN 978-0-9870493-7-7{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "CHURCH DEDICATION". The Dalby Herald. Queensland, Australia. 28 March 1952. p. 3. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "Closed Churches". Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  16. ↑ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  17. ↑ "Bowenville State School". Bowenville State School. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  19. ↑ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  20. ↑ "Mobile library". Toowoomba Regional Council. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Bowenville – Reserve (Wainu)". Toowoomba Regional Council. Retrieved 18 June 2015.

Further reading

  • Bowenville State School Jubilee Committee (1973), Bowenville State School, 75th anniversary, 1898-1973 : official programme and souvenir booklet, Bowenville State School Jubilee Committee, ISBN 978-0-9598070-0-4
  • Smith, Mary Victoria (1998), No backward step : Bowenville State School centenary 1898-1998, Bowenville State School, ISBN 978-1-876245-11-5
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