Boulia, Queensland
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| Boulia Queensland |
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 Entry into Boulia |
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 Boulia
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| Population: | 205 [1](2006 census) | ||||||
| Established: | 1879 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 4829 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 22°54′S 139°54′E / 22.9°S 139.9°ECoordinates: 22°54′S 139°54′E / 22.9°S 139.9°E | ||||||
| Elevation: | 161.8 m (531 ft) | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Boulia | ||||||
| State electorate: | Mount Isa | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Kennedy | ||||||
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Boulia (
/ˈbʊljə/) is a town in Central West Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately 296 kilometres (184 mi) by road south of Mount Isa, and lies on the Burke River, which was named after the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. The township was gazetted in 1879. Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire, population approximately 600, which covers an area of 61,176 square kilometres (23,620 sq mi). At the 2006 census, Boulia had a population of 205.[1]
The town hosts the Boulia Desert Sands Camel Races, one of the more important events on the Australian camel racing circuit. Extensive grazing of beef cattle is the predominant industry.
The climate is very hot and dry, with on average over 200 days per year over 30 °C (86 °F). Although even in June and July the average maximum is a very warm 24 °C (75 °F), frosts are not unknown in the morning during these months. Annual rainfall is extraordinarily erratic: it has been as low as 24 millimetres (0.9 in) in 1905 and 51 millimetres (2 in) in 1963. However, when the monsoon is strong rainfall can be heavy: in January 1974 Boulia received 465 millimetres (18.3 in) of rain and in March 1950 346 millimetres (14 in). Maximum annual rainfall totals are 799 millimetres (31.5 in) in 1950 and 774 millimetres (30.5 in) in 1974, but the median annual rainfall is only 216 millimetres (9 in).[2]
The area is chiefly known for the unexplained phenomena of the Min Min light. Travellers in the area have often reported being followed for some distance by a ball of light, which eventually disappears. No scientific explanation has yet been discovered for the lights.
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[edit] Facilities
Boulia has a range of public facilities open to the community. These include a public library, public hall, sports complex, racecourse, the Min Min encounter tourist centre, museum, visitor information centre and camel races. [3]
[edit] Mars
The name Boulia is used as a name for a crater on the planet Mars, without specifically commemorating the town.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Boulia (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL307600&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ Bureau of Meteorology
- ^ "Boulia". Centre for the Government of Queensland. http://queenslandplaces.com.au/boulia-and-boulia-shire. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, Astrogeology Research Program, NASA
[edit] External links
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