Prairie Queensland
Prairie Hotel Motel
Prairie
Coordinates	20°52′10″S 144°36′08″E / 20.8694°S 144.6022°E / -20.8694; 144.6022 (Prairie (town centre))
Population	116 (2021 census)
• Density	0.01395/km (0.03612/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4821
Area	8,318.3 km (3,211.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	44.1 km (27 mi) E of Hughenden 339 km (211 mi) WSW of Townsville 566 km (352 mi) E of Mount Isa 1,424 km (885 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Flinders
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Prairie: Hughenden Porcupine Torrens Creek Tangorin Prairie Torrens Creek Corfield Muttaburra Aramac

Prairie is a rural town and locality in the Flinders Shire, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Prairie had a population of 116 people.

Geography

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).

The Great Northern railway line runs parallel and immediately south of the highway, with the following railway stations (east to west):

• Warreah railway station, in the north-east of the locality (20°49′41″S 144°48′09″E / 20.8280°S 144.8026°E / -20.8280; 144.8026 (Warreah railway station))
• Karoon railway station, now abandoned (20°50′43″S 144°43′33″E / 20.8453°S 144.7258°E / -20.8453; 144.7258 (Karoon railway station (former)))
• Prairie railway station, serving the town (20°52′18″S 144°36′03″E / 20.8717°S 144.6009°E / -20.8717; 144.6009 (Prairie railway station))
• Baronta railway station, now abandoned (20°52′40″S 144°31′03″E / 20.8778°S 144.5175°E / -20.8778; 144.5175 (Baronta railway station (former)))
• Tolkuru railway station, now abandoned (20°52′33″S 144°27′13″E / 20.8757°S 144.4535°E / -20.8757; 144.4535 (Tolkuru railway station (former)))
• Tindo railway station, in the north-west of the locality (20°52′19″S 144°25′00″E / 20.8719°S 144.4166°E / -20.8719; 144.4166 (Tindo railway station))
• Jardine Valley railway station, now abandoned (20°52′10″S 144°23′25″E / 20.8694°S 144.3902°E / -20.8694; 144.3902 (Jardine Valley railway station (former)))

History

The name Prairie comes from a pastoral station established by James Gilson who named it after the appearance of the local countryside.

Prairie State School opened in 1894.

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the locality of Prairie and the surrounding area had a population of 103 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Prairie had a population of 143 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Prairie had a population of 116 people.

Education

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 / -20.8707; 144.6053 (Prairie State School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 1 teacher and 2 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).

There is no secondary school in Prairie. The nearest is Hughenden State School (to Year 12) in neighbouring Hughenden to the north-west.

Given the size of the locality, these schools will be too distant from those living in the south of the locality. Distance education or boarding schools would be options.

Amenities

The town is serviced by a hotel/motel (pub) and a cafe/post office.