Hebel
Queensland
Entry sign to Hebel (2021).
Hebel is located in Queensland
Hebel
Hebel
Coordinates28°58′23″S 147°47′35″E / 28.9730°S 147.7930°E / -28.9730; 147.7930 (Hebel (town centre))
Population67 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.03948/km2 (0.1023/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4486
Area1,697.1 km2 (655.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Balonne Shire
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Hebel:
Bollon Dirranbandi Dirranbandi
Jobs Gate Hebel Dirranbandi
Weilmoringle (NSW) Goodooga (NSW) Angledool (NSW)

Hebel (pronounced he-bell) is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.[4] In the 2016 census, Hebel had a population of 67 people.[1]

Geography

Hebel is in south-west Queensland situated 4 kilometres (2 mi) north of the border with New South Wales on the Castlereagh Highway. It is the eastern corner of the locality.[4]

The Bokhara River (a non-perennial river) enters the locality from the east (Dirranbandi) and flows past the immediate north of the town and exits the locality to the south (Goodooga in New South Wales).[5] It is part of the Murray-Darling River system.[4]

In the west of the locality is the Culgoa River and the Culgoa Floodplain National Park (28°54′59″S 147°00′40″E / 28.9164°S 147.0111°E / -28.9164; 147.0111 (Culgoa Floodplain National Park (centre point))),[6] which extends into neighbouring Jobs Gate.[4][7]

There are a number of homesteads in the locality:[8]

History

Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.[9]

Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales.[10]

Hebel Post Office, circa 1920

The town was reputedly named after a German immigrant Noble Van Hebel. Hebel helped stage the coaches for Cobb and Co.[11]

Curriwillinghi Post Office opened on 1 January 1864 (named after the Curriwillinghi pastoral station, which still exists as at 2020 at 28°55′54″S 147°46′02″E / 28.9317°S 147.7672°E / -28.9317; 147.7672 (Curriwillinghi pastoral station) [4]).[12]

Circa 1886, Hebel was established as a border township with a border customs post, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Curriwillinghi pastoral station. In 1889, the Curriwillinghi Post Office was replaced by the Hebel Post Office.[12]

In 1897 a dance hall was built. It is now the general store.[13]

Celebrations at Hebel State School, 1901

Hebel Provisional School opened on 11 April 1901. On 1 January 1909, it became Hebel State School.[14][15]

The Hebel Post office closed in 1989.[12]

At the 2006 census, Hebel and the surrounding area had a population of 149.[16]

In the 2016 census, Hebel had a population of 67 people.[1]

During 2020 and 2021, the Queensland border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some border crossing points had Queensland Police checkpoints to confirm eligibility to enter Queensland, while other border crossing points were closed. At Hebel, there was a police border checkpoint on the Castlereagh Highway. The border crossing on the Hebel Goodooga Road was closed by the Balonne Shire Council building an earth wall across the road, although many local people doubted its effectiveness as a barrier to entry.[17][18][19]

Hebel was the feature of ABC Back Roads Series 8, Episode 11; it was aired on 25 July 2022.[20][21]

Facilities

The Hebel Hotel, 2017

Visitors to the village will find a general store, caravan park, hotel, and coffee shop.

Hebel General Store, 2011

Balonne Shire Council operates a library in William Street.[22][23]

Education

Hebel State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls in Maud Street (28°58′15″S 147°47′28″E / 28.9709°S 147.7910°E / -28.9709; 147.7910 (Hebel State School)).[24][25] In 2015, it had an enrolment of eleven students with two teachers (one full-time equivalent) and five non-teaching staff (two full-time equivalent).[26] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of seven students with one teacher and five non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[27]

There is no secondary school in Hebel. The nearest secondary school is Dirranbandi State School (to Year 10) and St George State High School (to Year 12).[4]

Transport

There are a number of airstrips in the locality:[28]

Amenities

Hebel Community Hall is at 40–50 William Street (28°58′23″S 147°47′43″E / 28.9730°S 147.7952°E / -28.9730; 147.7952 (Hebel Community Hall)).[29]

Bokhara River Campground is a 0.84-hectare (2.1-acre) site on James Street on the north side of town (28°58′10″S 147°47′48″E / 28.9694°S 147.7967°E / -28.9694; 147.7967 (Bokhara River Campground)).[29]

Hebel Racecourse is a 24-hectare (59-acre) reserve west of Henry Street (28°58′34″S 147°47′25″E / 28.9761°S 147.7903°E / -28.9761; 147.7903 (Hebel Racecourse)).[29]

Hebel Cemetery is on the south-east edge of the town (28°58′35″S 147°47′50″E / 28.9764°S 147.7971°E / -28.9764; 147.7971 (Hebel Cemetery)).[30]

Attractions

The front of the Hebel Hotel featured brightly-coloured art work by John Murray, which the interior furnishings are made of recycled items found in the bush.[13]

The Hebel Historical Circle is a walk around the town illustrates places of historic interest.[13]

The general store is also a cafe and restaurant; it retains its original dance floor.[13]

Centre of town intersection, looking north (2021).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Hebel (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Hebel – town in Shire of Balonne (entry 15625)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Hebel – locality in Shire of Balonne (entry 42681)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Bokhara River – river in the Balonne Shire (entry 3495)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Culgoa Floodplain National Park – national park in Shire of Balonne (entry 39439)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. ↑ "Culgoa Floodplain National Park - Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Homesteads - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  9. ↑ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwaalaraay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  10. ↑ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwaalayaay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Balonne (Qld.). Council (1996), Window of the west : The Balonne Shire, Balonne Shire Council, archived from the original on 3 December 2020, retrieved 10 May 2020
  12. 1 2 3 Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Hebel". Southern Queensland Country Tourism. 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  14. ↑ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  15. ↑ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  16. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Hebel (Balonne Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  17. ↑ "Road Status Update for South West". Department of Transport and Main Roads. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ↑ "Queensland border restrictions in South West". South West. Queensland Police. 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ↑ "This mound is all the border protection this town's got and it was hardly dirt cheap". ABC News. 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Perry, Kevin (24 July 2022). "HEATHER EWART travels to the tiny Queensland town of HEBEL - This week on BACK ROADS". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "Pub aficionado Heather Ewart's favourite back roads watering holes". ABC News. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Library location and hours". Balonne Shire Council. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  23. ↑ "Hebel Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  24. ↑ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ↑ "Hebel State School". Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  26. ↑ "2015 School Annual Report (Amended)" (PDF). Hebel State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  27. ↑ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  28. ↑ "Heliports and landing grounds - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  29. 1 2 3 "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

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