Noccundra is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Bulloo in South West Queensland, Australia.[2][3] The town was previously known as Nocundra. Prior to 2020 the locality was previously known as Nockatunga.[4]

Noccundra
Queensland
Noccundra Hotel, July 2010
Noccundra is located in Queensland
Noccundra
Noccundra
Coordinates27°49′50″S 142°36′29″E / 27.8305°S 142.6080°E / -27.8305; 142.6080 (Nockatunga (centre of locality))
Population16 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density0.00187/km2 (0.00485/sq mi)
Established1882
Postcode(s)4492
Area8,544.7 km2 (3,299.1 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Bulloo
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Noccundra:
Durham Eromanga Eromanga
Cameron Corner Noccundra Thargomindah
Cameron Corner Bulloo Downs Bulloo Downs

In the 2021 census, the locality of Noccundra had a population of 16 people.[1]

Geography

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The town is on the banks of the Wilson River 145 kilometres from and 160 kilometres west of Thargomindah[5][6] and contained within the pastoral holding of Nockatunga Station.[7]

History

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Andrew Hume's ill-fated expedition, to rescue long-term survivors of Leichhardt's 1848 expedition, perished of thirst to the west of Noccundra.[8][9]

The name Noccundra comes from the pastoral run, name in 1866, derived from the Aboriginal words nocka meaning water and tunga meaning smell.[3]

The town was established in 1882 with the construction of the Noccundra Hotel which is also known as the Noccundra Pub.[8][5] The hotel is constructed of sandstone mined from Mount Poole, New South Wales and brought to Noccundra by camel train.[10]

Noccundra was spelt Nocundra originally, and its post office under that name opened on 11 October 1890 (a receiving office had been open from 1889) and closed in 1933.[11]

On 17 April 2020, the Queensland Government reorganised the nine localities in the Shire, resulting in six localities. As part of these changes the locality of Nockatunga was renamed Noccundra after the only town in the locality.[12][13][14]

Demographics

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In the 2016 census, the locality of Nockatunga had a population of 11 people.[15]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Noccundra had a population of 16 people.[1]

Amenities

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The Noccundra Hotel in Wilson Street is Noccundra's only occupied building, housing a permanent population of three.[8] The stone hotel building is heritage-listed,[6] and is an important building for its long connection with the community of the surrounding area as a venue for many social events, including the Noccundra Rodeo and Bi-annual Ball.

An airstrip is behind the hotel.[6][5]

 
Aerial view of Noccundra - 2010

A memorial to Andrew Hume is on the western side of the hotel.[5]

 
Landscape photo of Noccundra taken 2019

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Noccundra (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ "Noccundra – town in Buloo Shire (entry 24422)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Noccundra – locality in the Bulloo Shire (entry 42947)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Nockatunga – locality in the Bulloo Shire (entry 42947)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Noccundra Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Bulloo Shire Archived 27 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 7 July 2006)
  6. ^ a b c "Noccundra Hotel (entry 600361)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Noccundra Hotel lease up for sale". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 7 July 2006.
  8. ^ a b c Noccundra Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Outback Queensland Tourism Authority Archived 8 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 7 July 2006)
  9. ^ Wright, John, The Cork VC Archived 20 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Emigrant Online: News for the Global Irish Community
  10. ^ "Noccundra". Bulloo Shire Council. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  11. ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Job number 19-068: Bullawarra, Bulloo Downs, Cameron Corner, Dynevor, Noccundra, Nockatunga, Norley, Thargomindah". Recent place name decisions. Queensland Government. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Proposed Locality names and boundaries for the Shire of Bulloo" (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Locality names and boundaries for the Shire of Bulloo" (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  15. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Nockatunga (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
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  Media related to Noccundra, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons