Boulia is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia. In the, Boulia had a population of 301 people. Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire, population approximately 600, which covers an area of. The area is best known for sightings of the Min Min lights, mysterious shimmering lights that appear at night. The lights are said to be caused by atmospheric refraction that occurs when cold air is trapped below warmer air, a phenomenon known as Fata Morgana.
Geography
Boulia is in the Central West Queensland and is located approximately by road south of Mount Isa. Boulia is at the crossroads of a number of outback routes, including the Boulia Mount Isa Road, the Selwyn Road, and the Boulia Bedourie Road. The Donohue Highway coming from the Northern Territory joins the Boulia Mount Isa Road just outside of Boulia, which together with the Winton Road forms part of the Outback Way billed as "Australia's Longest Shortcut", a gravel-and-bitumen road which runs between Laverton in Western Australia and Winton in Queensland. Boulia is in the Channel Country. All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin, and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre. Boulia lies on the Burke River, which was named after the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. The river flows from the north-east to the south-east through the locality Although it is contrary to the locality boundary principles of the Queensland Government, the locality of Boulia is an "island" entirely surrounded by the locality of Wills. Extensive grazing of beef cattle on native vegetation is the predominant industry. Boulia is at the heart of the Channel Country of western Queensland where, during rain events, channels running between the rivers and creeks of the region fill with water and spread that water over expansive areas. When it does rain heavily, the Mitchell grass plains respond magnificently and result in the Channel country around Boulia, being among the finest beef producing country in Australia. The town has a grid layout with 6 roads running east-west and 5 running north-south. Herbert Street is the main street where most of the civic and commercial premises are located.
History
The town was named by surveyor Frederick Arthur Hartnell in 1882 and was derived from the name of the waterhole near the township called "bool-yo" in the Pitta Pitta language. The township was gazetted in 1879. Boulia Post Office opened on 1 July 1879. Boulia Provisional School opened on 7 October 1889. It became Boulia State School on 1 January 1909. At the 2011 census, Boulia had a population of 230, up from 205 in 2006.
Climate
The climate is very hot and dry, with on average over 200 days per year over. Although even in June and July the average maximum is a very warm, frosts are not unknown in the morning during these months. Annual rainfall is extraordinarily erratic: it has been as low as in 1905 and in 1963. However, when the monsoon is strong rainfall can be heavy: in January 1974 Boulia received of rain and in March 1950. Maximum annual rainfall totals are in 1950 and in 1974, but the median annual rainfall is only.
Events
The town hosts the Boulia Desert Sands Camel Races, the longest camel race on the Australian camel racing circuit. Each year at Easter, the Boulia Racecourse reserve plays host to a rodeo, campdrafting, and horse racing event which is a social highlight for the district. During August drag races are held at the Boulia Airport which attracts an enthusiastic crowd.
Facilities
Boulia has a range of public facilities open to the community. These include a public library, public hall, sports complex, racecourse, the Min Min encounter tourist centre, museum, visitor information centre, and camel races. The Boulia Shire Council operates a public library at 18 Burke Street. An 18-hole golf course with sand greens is located on the Boulia Winton Road. Greens fees are not charged for the use of this course and a clubhouse with bar facilities is available. Boulia has Australia's first three-dimensionalzebra crossing which is based on an optical illusion. It is to improve road safety and also to be a tourist attraction. It was introduced in 2018 after Boulia Shire Council mayor Rick Britton saw similar crossings in Iceland, Malaysia, India, New Zealand and the United States on social media. The Boulia branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 61 Moonah Street.
Education
Boulia State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at Templeton Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 4 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff. There are no secondary schools in Boulia. The nearest secondary schools are in Mount Isa and Winton, but these are too distant for a daily commute. The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa offers boarding facilities. Other boarding schools or distance education would be options for secondary schooling.
