Kuridala is a rural locality in the Shire of Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia. It contains the former mining town of the same name. In the 2021 census, Kuridala had a population of 38 people.

Geography

Ballara (20°56′45″S 139°57′48″E / 20.9458°S 139.9633°E / -20.9458; 139.9633 (Ballara (neighbourhood))) is the now abandoned ruins of a settlement that supported the Wee MacGregor Mine. It is the north-west of the locality.

The Cloncurry–Dajarra Road runs through from north to south-west.

History

The town was originally named Gulatten, then Hampden, then Friezland, and finally Kuridala in October 1916. Kuridala is reportedly an Aboriginal word, language and dialect not recorded, meaning eagle hawk.

Friezland Provisional School opened circa 1901 and closed in 1904 due to low student numbers. It reopened in 1906. On 1 January 1909 it became Friezland State School. In 1920 the school was renamed Kuridala State School in 1920. It closed circa 1932.

Ballara State School opened circa May 1919 and closed circa March 1925.

Demographics

In the 2016 census Kuridala had a population of 10 people.

In the 2021 census, Kuridala had a population of 38 people.

Heritage listings

Kuridala has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Kuridala Township, Hampden Smelter and Mining Complex

• Wee MacGregor railway (20°55′31″S 139°56′57″E / 20.9252°S 139.9491°E / -20.9252; 139.9491 (Wee MacGregor railway))

See also

• List of tramways in Queensland