Prairie Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 20°52′10″S 144°36′08″E / 20.8694°S 144.6022°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 116 ( 2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 0.01395/km2 (0.03612/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4821 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 8,318.3 km2 (3,211.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST ( UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Shire of Flinders | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Traeger | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
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Prairie is a rural town and locality in the Flinders Shire, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Prairie had a population of 116 people. [1]
The town is located in the north of the locality. The Flinders Highway enters the locality from the north-east ( Torrens Creek), passes through the town and exits to the north-west ( Hughenden). [4]
The Great Northern railway line runs parallel and immediately south of the highway, with the following railway stations (east to west):
The name Prairie comes from a pastoral station established by James Gilson who named it after the appearance of the local countryside. [6]
Prairie State School opened in 1894. [8] [9]
In the 2006 census, the locality of Prairie and the surrounding area had a population of 103 people. [10]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Prairie had a population of 143 people. [11]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Prairie had a population of 116 people. [1]
Prairie State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Savage Street ( 20°52′15″S 144°36′19″E / 20.8707°S 144.6053°E). [12] [13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 1 teacher and 2 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent). [14]
There is no secondary school in Prairie. The nearest is Hughenden State School (to Year 12) in neighbouring Hughenden to the north-west. [4]
Given the size of the locality, these schools will be too distant from those living in the south of the locality. [4] Distance education or boarding schools would be options.
The town is serviced by a hotel/motel ( pub) and a cafe/post office. [15]