Yaraka, Queensland

Yaraka Queensland
Yaraka
Population:	18
Postcode:	4702
Coordinates:	24°53′S 144°05′E
Location:	1130 km (702 mi) NW of Brisbane 218 km (135 mi) S of Longreach 165 km (103 mi) W of Blackall
LGA:	Longreach Regional Council
State District:	Gregory
Federal Division:	Flynn

Welcome to Yaraka sign

Yaraka is a small town in Central West Queensland, Australia. It was the terminus of a railway line. It is lcoated 220 km south of Longreach, 165 km west of Blackall and 100 km south of Isisford.

The town has a population of 12 with 117 people living in the surrounding area. The towns average annual income is A$75,000.^{[citation needed]}

The landscape is open Mitchell grass downs country, which provides good grazing country. Grey Range is located near Yaraka and is characterised by rocky ridges, Spinifex grass and mulga.

History

The first European to pass through the area was Edmund Kennedy in 1847. In 1860, graziers began to populate the area and farm sheep and cattle. In 1910, the State government authorised the building of a 2,060 km railway line in Western Queensland to support the pastoral industry. However, only a quarter of the line was built and Yaraka became the end of the line. The town grew as a railway camp and prospered throughout the 1920’s reaching a population of about 100. These days however Yaraka has become known as one of Queensland’s ‘vanishing towns’ and its population is declining.

Climate

Summer Average (day) Min temp=35.8⁰, Max temp=37.1⁰ Summer Average (night) Min temp=21.9⁰, Max temp=22.9⁰

Winter Average (day) Min temp=22.5⁰, Max Temp=25.1⁰ Winter Average (night) Min temp=6.5⁰, Max Temp=7.9⁰

Average annual rainfall 451mm