The area is a productive agricultural area with cattle and grain farming predominating.
History
During the planning to build the Rannes-Monto railway line, one of the proposed railway stations along the route was assigned the name Lawgi by the Railways Department in 1926. The name is believed to mean home in one of the Aboriginal languages.
The last section of the railway line from Lawgi to Monto was never completed, and Lawgi became the terminus. However, the railway line was not profitable and the section from Thangool to Lawgi was closed in 1955. As a result, the township gradually disappeared leaving only the community hall.
In 2003, local artists Gary Latcham and Jo Lawrence painted the exterior of the hall with the silhouettes of bottle trees against a sunset.
In 2019, a decision was made to put cladding on the hall, covering the artwork. Gary Latcham assisted by local volunteer artists repainted the artwork.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Lawgi Dawes had a population of 144 people.
In the 2021 census, Lawgi Dawes had a population of 138 people.
Amenities
Lawgi Community Hall at the intersection of the Burnett Highway and the Lawgi Connection Road is used for regular community dances, occasional church services, indoor bowls, polling booth and other community functions. The exterior of the hall features a painting of bottle brushes trees against a multi-coloured sky.
A memorial in the form of a gravestone marks the point where the proposed Rannes-Monto railway line was terminated at Lawgi. There is a rest area behind the hall for travellers.
Free camping is also available at the nearby Lawgi Heritage Park, which boasts 360° views, stunning sunsets and hot showers.
Education
There are no schools in Lawgi Dawes. The nearest primary school is Thangool State School in neighbouring Thangool to the north-west. The nearest secondary schools are Biloela State High School in Biloela to the north-west and Monto State High School in Monto to the south-east.
^"CALLIDE". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 21 October 1931. p. 4 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"GOOMERI". Morning Bulletin. No. 20, 577. Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"DAWES". Morning Bulletin. No. 22, 789. Queensland, Australia. 7 December 1939. p. 11. Retrieved 28 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
Thangool State School history update 1927 - 2002 : incorporating historical anecdotes, stories and data from: Clinker Creek, Dawes, Harrami, Kariboe Creek, Lawgi, Mardale, Mt Scoria, Thangool, Yaparaba State Schools, Thangool State School, 2002, ISBN978-1-876674-45-8