{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Benarkin | state = qld | image = Benarkin General Store.JPG | caption = General store | coordinates = {{coord|-26.8861|152.1372|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Benarkin (town centre)}} | local_map = yes | zoom = 11 | pop = 61 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} locality | pop_footnotes = <ref name=Census2021/> | established = | postcode = 4306 | area = 4.2 | timezone = AEST | utc = +10:00 | dist1 = 3.9 <!-- road distances as per template instructions --> | dir1 = E | location1 = Blackbutt | dist2 = 39.0 | dir2 = SE | location2 = Nanango | dist3 = 76.1 | dir3 = SE | location3 = Kingaroy | dist4 = 148 | dir4 = NW | location4 = Brisbane | elevation = | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | lga = South Burnett Region | stategov = Nanango | fedgov = Maranoa | county = Cavendish | near-n = Benarkin North | near-ne = Benarkin North | near-e = Moore | near-se = Cherry Creek | near-s = Cherry Creek | near-sw = Blackbutt South | near-w = Blackbutt | near-nw = Blackbutt North }} '''Benarkin''' is a rural town and locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.<ref name="qpnt">{{cite QPN|40974|Benarkin|town in South Burnett Region|accessdate=30 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="qpnl">{{cite QPN|46191|Benarkin|locality in South Burnett Region|accessdate=30 November 2019}}</ref> The nearby town of Blackbutt is the origin of the town and the two towns are often referred to as the joint entity ''Blackbutt-Benarkin''. In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Benarkin had a population of 61 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
== Geography == Benarkin is located on the Balfour Range approximately {{convert|3.5|km|mi}} east of Blackbutt and is by-passed by the D'Aguilar Highway.<ref name=bss>{{cite web|title=Our school|url=https://benarkinss.eq.edu.au/Ourschool/Pages/Ourschool.aspx|publisher=Benarkin State School|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051945/https://benarkinss.eq.edu.au/Ourschool/Pages/Ourschool.aspx|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Benarkin State Forest is located to the east and south of the town.
== History == The locality was originally called Well Holes.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-11-04 |title=Take A Tour Around Taromeo |url=https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2015/11/04/take-a-tour-around-taromeo/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=southburnett.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> The current locality name of Benarkin takes its name from <nowiki>''Benarqui''</nowiki> from the Dungibara language which refers to the blackbutt tree (Eucalyptus pilularis) which are common in the district.<ref name=":0">{{Cite QPN|46191|Benarkin|locality|accessdate=21 January 2017}}</ref> When the Blackbutt railway station was built to serve the town of Blackbutt, it was some distance from the town, so it was decided to name the railway station ''Bernakin'' in 1910<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19661807 |title=Naming Railway Stations. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |date=24 December 1910 |access-date=12 March 2020 |page=4 |via=Trove }}</ref> and this name was then used for the settlement that grew up around the railway station. Because of the close proximity ({{convert|3.5|km|mi|1}} apart) and intertwined history of the two towns, they are often referred to as the twin towns of Blackbutt-Benarkin.<ref name="placename">{{cite QPN|40974|Benarkin|town|accessdate=12 July 2013}}</ref>thumb|Benarkin State School, new building, old tent, 1913|left Macnamara's Camp Provisional School opened on 4 July 1910 but in November 1910 it was moved to Well Holes and renamed Well Holes Provisional School. In 1911, it was renamed Benarkin Provisional School. The school was operating from a tent.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113054707 |title=Our Mutdapilly District Letter. |newspaper=The Queensland Times |date=11 April 1912 |access-date=29 May 2014 |page=6 Edition: DAILY |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In March 1913 a building was constructed and it became Benarkin State School on 1 April 1913.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19866448 |title=EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=22 March 1913 |access-date=29 May 2014 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It closed in 1920, but reopened on 4 September 1935.<ref name=qs>{{Cite QldSchool|accessdate=18 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite QSA Agency|3671|Benarkin State School|29 May 2014}}</ref>
Benarkin Post Office opened by March 1911.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Phoenix Auctions | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=*Benarkin* | access-date = 21 March 2021 }}</ref>
On 11 November 1996, a memorial was established to jointly commemorate the soldiers who took part in the Battle of Hill 60 at Gallipoli in World War I and the pioneer forestry workers of the district. The memorial is located on Hill 60 Road in the Benarkin State Forest ({{coord|-26.876073|152.161796|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Benarkin State Forest Hill 60 Memorial}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Benarkin State Forest Hill 60 Memorial|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/90543-benarkin-state-forest-hill-60-memorial|publisher=Monument Australia|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052931/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/90543-benarkin-state-forest-hill-60-memorial|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
On 1 February 2018, Benarkin's postcode changed from 4306 to 4314.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-17|title=Blackbutt To Get New Postcode|url=https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2017/11/17/blackbutt-to-get-new-postcode/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517113515/https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2017/11/17/blackbutt-to-get-new-postcode/|archive-date=17 May 2018|access-date=2021-07-05|website=southburnett.com.au|language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Demographics == In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the localities of Benarkin and Blackbutt had a combined population of 1,055 people.<ref name=Census2011>{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC30148|name=Benarkin (Gazeeted Locality)|accessdate=5 April 2014|quick=on}}</ref>
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Benarkin had a population of 61 people.<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30233|name=Benarkin (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Benarkin had a population of 61 people.<ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30231|name=Benarkin (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref><!-- there was no change in the population between 2016 and 2011-->
== Heritage listings == Benarkin has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: * Taromeo Homestead, off D'Aguilar Highway ({{coord|-26.8174|152.1524|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=Taromeo Homestead}})<ref>{{cite QHR|15896|Taromeo Homestead complex and cemetery|601123|accessdate=12 July 2013}}</ref>
== Education == thumb|Benarkin State School, 2024 Benarkin State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at Scott Street ({{coord|-26.8844|152.1417|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Benarkin State School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{cite web|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|title=State and non-state school details|date=9 July 2018|publisher=Queensland Government|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archive-date=21 November 2018|access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://benarkinss.eq.edu.au/|title=Benarkin State School|access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 6 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">{{cite web|url=http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0|title=ACARA School Profile 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122010027/http://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-20172c7b12404c94637ead88ff00003e0139.xlsx?sfvrsn=0|archive-date=22 November 2018|access-date=22 November 2018}}</ref>
There are no secondary schools in Benarkin. The nearest government secondary schools are Yarraman State School (to Year 9) in Yarraman to the north-west and Nanango State High School (to Year 12) in Nanango to the north.<ref name="globe">{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=24 January 2020}}</ref>
== Attractions == The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail passes through Benarkin, following the route of the former railway line. It is for walking and cycling, no motorised vehicles are permitted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moore to Blackbutt|url=http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bvrt/moore-blackbutt.html|work=Brisbane Valley Rail Trail|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531202557/http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bvrt/moore-blackbutt.html|archive-date=31 May 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{Citation | author1=Benarkin State School | title=From well holes to Benarkin | publication-date=2006 | publisher=Benarkin State School | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/163413118 }} * {{Citation | author1=Rucker, Audrey | title=Benarkin State School jubilee 1910–1985 : some history of the district and the school | publication-date=1984 | publisher=Benarkin State School | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8414983 }}
== External links == {{Commons category|Benarkin, Queensland}} * {{cite web|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-benarkin-1974.jpg|title=Town map of Benarkin|date=1974|publisher=Queensland Government}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/Photos/Blackbutt_Benarkin-Nanango/|title=Blackbutt-Benarkin cemetery}}
{{South Burnett Region}}
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Category:Towns in Queensland Category:South Burnett Region Category:Localities in Queensland