Yaraka
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Yaraka Queensland |
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Welcome to Yaraka sign
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 Yaraka
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| Coordinates | 24°53′00″S 144°05′00″E / 24.88333°S 144.08333°ECoordinates: 24°53′00″S 144°05′00″E / 24.88333°S 144.08333°E |
| Population | 18 (?) |
| Postcode(s) | 4702 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Longreach Regional Council |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Flynn |
Yaraka is a small town in Central West Queensland, Australia. It was the terminus of a branch railway line. It is located 220 kilometres (140 mi) south of Longreach, 165 kilometres (103 mi) west of Blackall and 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Isisford.
The town has a population of 12 with 117 people living in the surrounding area.
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.
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.
Yaraka became a town when the rail line from Emmet opened in April 1917. The station was called Yaraka by the Railway Department who said it was the Aboriginal name "of white spear grass which grows in the district". A photo of the railway station taken shortly after its opening is shown. The town prospered for the next twenty years and in the 1930s had a population of about 100. In 1932 a journalist toured this area and described the town in the following terms.
"Yaraka: This little place is the end of the line, and enjoys the privilege of seeing one train a week. It is situated well down the Barcoo, about one hundred miles from where the rivers meet, and becomes Cooper's Creek.
No doubt people who live and work in isolated places such as this are entitled to more consideration than they receive. They certainly have courage and endurance above the average."
In the 1950s Yaraka railway station became a major centre for the transportation of cattle. In November 1953 over 5442 cattle were handled which was the largest number since the line opened in 1917. It was noted that this was unusual in these country yards and that Yaraka was unsurpassed in this respect.
The line was officially closed on 14 October 2005 and has been dismantled. These days however Yaraka has become known as one of Queensland's 'vanishing towns' and its population is declining.
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Wikipedia