Kunwarara Queensland
Kunwarara
Coordinates	22°51′06″S 150°06′33″E / 22.8516°S 150.1091°E / -22.8516; 150.1091 (Kunwarara (centre of locality))
Population	69 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.1025/km2 (0.2654/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4702
Area	673.4 km2 (260.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	27.5 km (17 mi) NW of Milman 54.4 km (34 mi) NW of Kawana 58.8 km (37 mi) NW of Rockhampton 677 km (421 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Livingstone Shire
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Suburbs around Kunwarara: Marlborough Stanage Shoalwater Marlborough Kunwarara Shoalwater Marlborough Canoona Canal Creek

Kunwarara is a rural locality in the Livingstone Shire, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Kunwarara had a population of 69 people.^[1]

The North Coast railway line forms part of the southern boundary of the locality with Canoona and then passes through the south-west of locality exiting to Marlborough.^[3]

Merimal is a neighbourhood within the locality (22°57′S 150°12′E / 22.95°S 150.2°E / -22.95; 150.2 (Merimal)). It takes its name from the now-abandoned Merimal railway station (22°57′13″S 150°11′59″E / 22.9535°S 150.1996°E / -22.9535; 150.1996 (Merimal railway station)) on the North Coast railway line.^[4] Merimal Park (pastoral property) takes its name from the abandoned railway station and locality.

Princhester is an abandoned town in the locality (22°56′37″S 150°00′42″E / 22.9436°S 150.0116°E / -22.9436; 150.0116 (Princhester, Queensland)).^[5] It takes its name from the former pastoral run established in 1857 by Dan Connor. Princhester railway siding (22°51′33″S 150°00′43″E / 22.8592°S 150.0119°E / -22.8592; 150.0119 (Princhester railway siding)) is to the north of the town on the North Coast railway line.^[6]

Despite its name Kunwarara railway station (22°54′55″S 150°08′10″E / 22.9153°S 150.1361°E / -22.9153; 150.1361 (Kunwarara railway station)) is now located within the boundaries of Canoona to the south.^[7]

The Magog Range is in the north-west of the locality (22°45′09″S 149°57′15″E / 22.7524°S 149.9541°E / -22.7524; 149.9541 (Magog Range)) extending into neighbouring Marlborough.^[8] It includes a number of peaks within the locality (from north to south):

• Mount Og (22°44′39″S 149°58′26″E / 22.7441°S 149.9738°E / -22.7441; 149.9738 (Mount Og)) at 317 metres (1,040 ft) above sea level^[9][3]
• Mount Gog (22°45′03″S 149°59′57″E / 22.7508°S 149.9991°E / -22.7508; 149.9991 (Mount Gog)) at 320 metres (1,050 ft) above sea level^[10][3]
• Mount O'Connell (22°45′04″S 150°02′11″E / 22.7511°S 150.0363°E / -22.7511; 150.0363 (Mount O'Connell)) at 480 metres (1,570 ft) above sea level, thought to be named after Sir Maurice Charles O'Connell, President of the Legislative Council of Queensland^[11][3]
• Mount Moriah (22°46′59″S 150°00′22″E / 22.7830°S 150.0061°E / -22.7830; 150.0061 (Mount Moriah)) at 324 metres (1,063 ft) above sea level^[12][3]
• Mount Pisgah (22°48′42″S 150°00′10″E / 22.8116°S 150.0027°E / -22.8116; 150.0027 (Mount Pisgah)) at 293 metres (961 ft) above sea level^[13][3]

The Pointer Range (22°59′52″S 150°16′50″E / 22.9978°S 150.2805°E / -22.9978; 150.2805 (Pointer Range)) forms part of south-eastern boundary of Kunwarara separating it from Canal Creek. The range extends south into Canoona.^[8]

The Princhester pastoral run was established in 1857 by Dan Connor. By 1860 a Native Police barracks was constructed at Princhester under Sub-Lieutenant Walter Powell.^[14] The first town lots in Princhester were sold in June 1862.^[15][16] There was a gold rush at Princhester in 1883.^[17][18][19] However, it did not produce very much gold. From time to time, further small finds were made prompting more "rushes",^[20] but it was not a great gold producing area particularly compared with the success of Mount Morgan.^[21]

The section of the North Coast railway lines from Yaamba to Kunwarara was opened in August 1915.^[22] The next section of the North Coast railway line from Kunwarara to Marlborough was officially opened on Saturday 31 March 1917 by Herbert Hardacre, the Queensland Minister for Public Instruction.^[22] Although Kunwarara railway station remains officially an operational station,^[23] in 1994 the station building was relocated to the Australian Workers Heritage Centre in Barcaldine.^[24]

In the 2016 census, Kunwarara had a population of 71 people.^[25]

In the 2021 census, Kunwarara had a population of 69 people.^[1]

There are a number of homesteads in the locality:^[26]

• Balmoral (22°58′57″S 150°15′43″E / 22.9824°S 150.2620°E / -22.9824; 150.2620 (Balmoral (homestead)))
• Eden Garry (22°50′49″S 150°03′41″E / 22.8470°S 150.0615°E / -22.8470; 150.0615 (Eden Garry (homestead)))
• Grosvenor Park (22°54′21″S 150°12′59″E / 22.9057°S 150.2163°E / -22.9057; 150.2163 (Grosvenor Park (homestead)))
• Merimal Park

There are no schools in Kunwarara. The nearest primary schools are Marlborough State School in neighbouring Marlborough to the west and Milman State School in Milman to the south-east. The nearest secondary school is Glenmore State High School in Kawana in Rockhampton to the south.^[3]

• "Town map of Princhester". Queensland Government. 1977.