Towns in Australia

Exploring Australia, town by town

Boulia QLD

Boulia

Postcode: 4829

Boulia is a town in Central West Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately 296 kilometres by road south of Mount Isa, and lies on the Burke River, which was named after the explorer Robert O’Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. The township was gazetted in 1879 and has a population of approximately 300. Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire, population approximately 600, which covers an area of 61,176 square kilometres.

The town is the home of the famous Boulia Desert Sands Camel Races, one of the most important events on the Australian camel racing circuit. However, extensive grazing of beef cattle is the predominant industry.

The climate is very hot and dry, with on average over 200 days per year over 30 °C (86 °F). Although even in June and July the average maximum is a very warm 24 °C (75 °F), frosts are not unknown in the morning during these months.

The area is chiefly known for the unexplained phenomena of the Min Min light. Travellers in the area have often reported being followed for some distance by a ball of light, which eventually disappears. No scientific explanation has yet been discovered for the lights.