Duaringa
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Duaringa Queensland |
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 Duaringa
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| Coordinates | 23°44′S 149°40′E / 23.733°S 149.667°ECoordinates: 23°44′S 149°40′E / 23.733°S 149.667°E |
| Population | 260 (2011 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 4712 |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Central Highlands Region |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn |
Duaringa is a small town in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the Capricorn Highway, 116 kilometres (72 mi) kilometres west of Rockhampton. At the 2011 census, the Duaringa township recorded a population of 260 people while the greater Duaringa district had a population of 478.
Like many towns in the Central Queensland area, Duaringa was first established as a settlement for railway workers during the construction of the Central Western railway line during the 1870s. However, the decision to create a settlement where Duaringa exists today was only determined after a devastating flood in 1875. Prior to the flood, the government had surveyed land where the railway crosses the Dawson River for a major service centre for the railway to be established there. As such, the township of Boolburra was established with many families settling on either side of the river.
The bridge across the Dawson River was almost finished in February 1875 when torrential rain began to fall which continued over several days. The relentless rainfall caused the river to rise rapidly catching many people in Boolburra unaware. In late February, 1875, a series of urgent telegrams began being received in Rockhampton reporting that the whole area was underwater and that many people in Boolburra were stranded on rooftops, in trees and on any high ground they could find.
Upon receiving the news, the superindendent of the railways Robert Ballard set men to work to build punts to rescue people.
When the rescuers arrived, they found thirty residents on the roof of Sheehy's Hotel, while others were stranded on the top of Beattie's Hotel or their own rooftops. Many were suffering from insect bites and severe sunburn. Almost 300 people were rescued from the floodwaters, including four Chinese men who had been without food for five days.
While the loss of life was expected to be substantial, the death toll was much less than first anticipated. Several people did lose their lives, including a German man and his three children, though his wife and their baby were found alive on top of a pile of railway sleepers. The people of Rockhampton began donating items to the Boolburra flood victims including blankets, clothing, loaves of bread, meat and rations.
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Wikipedia