Lawgi Dawes

Lawgi Dawes is a rural locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census Lawgi Dawes had a population of 144 people.[1] It contains the neighbourhood of Lawgi, a former town.[3]

Lawgi Dawes
Queensland
Sign outside Lawgi Hall, 2014
Lawgi Dawes
Coordinates24.59°S 150.7619°E / -24.59; 150.7619 (Lawgi Dawes (centre of locality))
Population144 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.2520/km2 (0.6526/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4716
Area571.5 km2 (220.7 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Banana
State electorate(s)Callide
Federal Division(s)Flynn
Suburbs around Lawgi Dawes:
Thangool Valentine Plains Valentine Plains
Thangool Lawgi Dawes Cania
Harrami Coominglah Coominglah

Geography

Lawgi is an abandoned neighbourhood (24.5666°S 150.65°E / -24.5666; 150.65 (Lawgi (neighbourhood))) within the locality.[3] It is located on the Burnett Highway.[4]

Mardale is a neighbourhood (24.55°S 150.7°E / -24.55; 150.7 (Mardale (neighbourhood))).[5] It is located on Blackmans Yard Road.[4]

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

History

During the planning to build the Rannes-Monto railway line,[6] 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.[2] 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).[7] 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.[8][9]

The last section of the railway line from Lawgi to Monto was never completed, and Lawgi became the terminus.[10][11]

However, the railway line was not profitable and the section from Thangool to Lawgi was closed in 1955.[12] As a result, the township gradually disappeared leaving only the community hall.

In 2003 local artists Gary Latcham and Jo Lawrence painted the exterior of the hall with the silhouettes of bottle trees against a sunset.[13]

In the 2016 census Lawgi Dawes had a population of 144 people.[1]

In 2019, a decision was made to put cladding on the hall, covering the artwork. Gary Latcham assisted by local volunteer artists repainted the artwork.[13][14]

Amenities
Lawgi Hall painted with bottle trees, 2014

Lawgi Community Hall at the intersection of the Burnett Highway and the Lawgi Connection Road 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.[15]

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.[15]

Education

There are no schools in Lawgi Dawes. The nearest primary school is Thangool State School in neighbouring Thangool to the north-west. The nearest secondary schools are Biloela State High School in Biloela to the north-west and Monto State High School in Monto to the south-east.[4]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Lawgi Dawes (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Lawgi Dawes – locality in Shire of Banana (entry 49563)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  3. "Lawgi – neighborough in Shire of Banana (entry 39282)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. "Mardale – locality unbounded in Shire of Banana (entry 20931)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  6. "THE NORTHERN BURNETT". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939). Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 September 1919. p. 12. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  7. "THE LAWGI EXTENSION". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 26 September 1932. p. 6. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  8. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  9. "Agency ID 6259, Mardale State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  10. "RAIL MOTOR SOUGHT". The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 27 December 1934. p. 49. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  11. "LAWGI-DAWES RAILWAY". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954). Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 19 August 1932. p. 6. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  12. "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. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  13. Porteous, Glen (11 January 2019). "Lawgi Hall back to life again". Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  14. "Public Artwork Artist Call Out". Banana Shire Council. 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  15. "Lawgi Park Rest Area". Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
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