Prairie, Queensland

Geography

The town is located in the north of the locality. The Flinders Highway enters the locality from the north-east (Torrens Creek), passes through the town and exits to the north-west (Hughenden).

The Great Northern railway line runs parallel and immediately south of the highway, with the following railway stations (east to west):

• Warreah railway station, in the north-east of the locality ()
• Karoon railway station, now abandoned ()
• Prairie railway station, serving the town ()
• Baronta railway station, now abandoned ()
• Tolkuru railway station, now abandoned ()
• Tindo railway station, in the north-west of the locality ()
• Jardine Valley railway station, now abandoned ()

History

The name Prairie comes from a pastoral station established by James Gilson who named it after the appearance of the local countryside.

Prairie State School opened in 1894.

Demographics

In the , the locality of Prairie and the surrounding area had a population of 103 people.

In the , the locality of Prairie had a population of 143 people.

In the , the locality of Prairie had a population of 116 people.

Education

Prairie State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Savage Street (). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 1 teacher and 2 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).

There is no secondary school in Prairie. The nearest is Hughenden State School (to Year 12) in neighbouring Hughenden to the north-west.

Given the size of the locality, these schools will be too distant from those living in the south of the locality. Distance education or boarding schools are the alternatives.

Amenities

The town is serviced by a hotel/motel (pub) and a cafe/post office.

References

References

1. {{cite QPN. 27449. Prairie. town in Flinders Shire
2. {{cite QPN. 42487. Prairie. locality in Flinders Shire
3. {{Queensland Globe
4. (2 October 2020). "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". [[Queensland Government]].
5. {{Cite QPN. 27451. Prairie. railway station in the Shire of Hughenden
6. {{cite QPN. 34626. Tindo. rail station in Flinders Shire
7. "Flinders Shire". Centre for the Government of Queensland.
8. "Prairie SS".
9. {{Census 2006 AUS
10. {{Census 2016 AUS
11. {{Census 2021 AUS
12. (9 July 2018). "State and non-state school details". [[Queensland Government]].
13. "Prairie State School".
14. "ACARA School Profile 2018". [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].
15. "Prairie". [[Shire of Flinders (Queensland).