Hebel, Queensland


Hebel is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland, Australia. It is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. In the, Hebel had a population of 67 people.

Geography

Hebel is in South West Queensland situated north of the border with New South Wales on the Castlereagh Highway. It is the eastern corner of the locality.
The Bokhara River enters the locality from the east and flows past the immediate north of the town and exits the locality to the south. It is part of the Murray-Darling River system.
In the west of the locality is the Culgoa River and the Culgoa Floodplain National Park,, which extends into neighbouring Jobs Gate.
Hebel is close to the well known opal mines of Lightning Ridge in New South wales.

History

is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales.'
Yuwaalayaay is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne, including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales.'
The town was reputedly named after a German immigrant Noble Van Hebel. Hebel helped stage the coaches for Cobb and Co.
Curriwillinghi Post Office opened on 1 January 1864.
Circa 1886 Hebel was established as a border township with a border customs post, east of Curriwillinghi pastoral station. In 1889, the Curriwillinghi Post Office was replaced by the Hebel Post Office.
In 1897 a dance hall was built. It is now the general store.Hebel Provisional School opened on 11 April 1901. On 1 January 1909 it became Hebel State School.
The Hebel Post office closed in 1989.
At the, Hebel and the surrounding area had a population of 149.
In the, Hebel had a population of 67 people.

Facilities

Visitors to the village will find a general store, caravan park, hotel, and coffee shop.
Balonne Shire Council operates a library in William Street.

Education

Hebel State School is a government primary school for boys and girls in Maud Street. In 2015, it had an enrolment of 11 students with 2 teachers and 5 non-teaching staff. In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 1 teachers and 5 non-teaching staff.
There is no secondary school in Hebel. The nearest secondary school is Dirranbandi State School in Dirranbandi and St George State High School in St George.

Attractions

The front of the Hebel Hotel features brightly-coloured art work by John Murray, which the interior furnishings are made of recycled items found in the bush.
The Hebel Historical Circle is a walk around the town illustrates places of historic interest.
The general store is also a cafe and restaurant; it retains its original dance floor.