Lawgi

Building a railway line at Lawgi Range, Lawgi District

Lawgi is an abandoned neighbourhood within the locality of Lawgi Dawes in the Shire of Banana in Central Queensland, Australia.[1] It is located on the Burnett Highway.

History

During the planning to build the Rannes-Monto railway line,[2] one of the proposed railway stations along the route was assigned the name Lawgi by the Railways Department in 1926. The name is believed to mean home in one of the Aboriginal languages.[1] Construction of the railway line commenced from Rannes. On Saturday 24 September 1932, the segment from Thangool to Lawgi was officially opened by the Minister for Railways, John Dash (the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mundingburra).[3] This resulted in the establishment of the township of Lawgi.

The Lawgi State School opened in September 1935. It was renamed Mardale State School in 1952. The school closed on 13 March 1964.[4][5]

The last section of the railway line from Lawgi to Monto was never completed, and Lawgi became the terminus.[6][7]

However, the railway line was not profitable and the section from Thangool to Lawgi was closed in 1955.[8] As a result, the township gradually disappeared leaving only the community hall.

Economy

The area is a productive agricultural area with cattle and grain farming predominating.

Amenities

Lawgi Community Hall at the intersection of the Burnett Highway and the Lawgi Connection Road (24°34′04″S 150°39′41″E / 24.56785°S 150.661265°E / -24.56785; 150.661265 (Lawgi Community Hall)) is used for regular community dances, occasional church services, indoor bowls, polling booth and other community functions. The exterior of the hall features a painting of bottle brushes trees against a multi-coloured sky. [9]

Tourism

A memorial in the form of a gravestone marks the point where the proposed Rannes-Monto railway line was terminated at Lawgi.

There is a rest area behind the hall for travellers.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lawgi (entry Number)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "THE NORTHERN BURNETT.". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 September 1919. p. 12. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "THE LAWGI EXTENSION.". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 26 September 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Agency ID6259, Mardale State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "RAIL MOTOR SOUGHT.". The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 December 1934. p. 49. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "LAWGI-DAWES RAILWAY.". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 19 August 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Cut Railway Losses Closing Lawgi And Ridgelands Lines.". The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 20 January 1955. p. 26. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Lawgi Park Rest Area". Retrieved 19 April 2014.

Coordinates: 24°34′00″S 150°38′59″E / 24.56667°S 150.64972°E / -24.56667; 150.64972

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