Coowonga, Queensland

Coowonga is a rural locality in the Shire of Livingstone, Central Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Coowonga had a population of 255 people.^[3]

Geography

Coowonga is located in coastal hills at the southern end of the

Much of the district south of Coowonga Road is grazing and fruit-growing land, while to the north lie tidal salt flats that back onto Coorooman Creek.^[citation needed]

The Rockhampton–Emu Park Road runs through from west to north.^[4]

History

Coowonga is the traditional land of the

Coowonga Provision School opened on 9 August 1897. It became Coowonga State School on 1 January 1909.^[5]

In the

In the 2016 census, Coowonga had a population of 254 people.^[8]

In the 2021 census, Coowonga had a population of 255 people.^[3]

Economy

Coowonga is a rural community with a focus on primary production.^{[citation needed]}

The Koorana Crocodile Farm, on the banks of Coorooman Creek, opened in November 1981 as the first commercial crocodile farm in Queensland. It also operates as a tourist attraction.^[9] At 2014, it had 3,000 crocodiles and supplies crocodile leather and crocodile meat.^[10]

Education

Coowonga State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 269 Coowonga Road (23°18′09″S 150°43′52″E / 23.3026°S 150.7311°E / -23.3026; 150.7311 (Coowonga State School)).^[11][12] In 2015, it had an enrolment of 19 students with 3 teachers (2 equivalent full-time).^[13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 17 students with 4 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).^[14]

There is no secondary school in Coowonga. The nearest government secondary school is Yeppoon State High School in Yeppoon to the north.^[15]

References