Bullyard is located off the Bruce Highway in Central Queensland, approximately 37 kilometres (23 mi) west of Bundaberg and 358 kilometres (222 mi) north-west of Brisbane, the state capital. It is a small community made up mostly of sugar cane growers, livestock & fruit and vegetable farmers. The Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road (State Route 3) runs through from east to west.[4]
Among the fruit and vegetable farms in the Bullyard area are tomato, mango, pineapple and potatoes.
The town of Bullyard was developed primarily as a cane farming district in the late nineteenth century. The name, however, apparently relates to when a drover named CHARLES HOLMES was transporting bulls between Walla and Tantitha stations and he constructed a temporary yard for the bulls, hence "Bullyard". A railway station, called Kolan Railway Station, was erected in 1881 (on the Bundaberg-Mount Perry railway line, completed in 1884) and timber from the surrounding area was loaded onto trains there. Closer settlement, however, appears to have occurred somewhat later. A provisional school was established in 1901 and becoming a state school in 1909 (and a new school built in 1933), reflecting a small, but growing population at this time. The district was dominated by cane farms supplying the nearby Bingera Sugar Mill.
Bullyard Post Office opened on 1 July 1927 (a receiving office had been open from 1893, known as Kolan until 1897) and closed in 1972.[6]
On 29 November 1992, nearby Bucca was hit by the most violent tornado ever observed in Australia, rated F4 on the Fujita scale. Being only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away, Bullyard residents felt the brunt of the weather that came with the twister, reporting torrential rain and giant hailstones, described as the size of a "cricket ball". Across the region trees toppled in the unprecedented winds and many residents experienced roofing issues during this time.[7]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, the locality of Bullyard had a population of 189 people.[8]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Bullyard had a population of 206 people.[1]
Education
Bullyard has a state school that facilitates the town's primary aged children. The school was founded in 1921 and currently has an enrolment of 68, at its highest enrolment Bullyard State School held 82 students in 1992.[9][10] The School's emblem has three parts, a bull, a cane tractor and a book with the motto "Freedom Through Knowledge" .Children are bused in from surrounding towns including Bucca, McIlwraith and Goondoon areas. High school aged children in the Bullyard area usually attend Gin Gin State High School though there are buses into Bundaberg for a range of other secondary and tertiary school facilities.
Across from the state school is the Bullyard Multipurpose Hall. It was used annually for the Bullyard Oktoberfest and various other school and community meetings and presentations.
Bullyard Hall
Bullyard Hall was built in 1908 by Samuel Kent on 10 acres of land purchased for that purpose.[citation needed] The hall was connected to electricity in 1952 and the hall was extended in 1957 with a bigger dance floor. Other additions included a stage, kitchen and ladies' room. The hall was repainted in the 1960s, with the exterior painted with linseed oil and burnt umber (giving the hall its distinctive appearance).[citation needed]
The hall was, like other local public halls, used for social events such as dances. Movies were shown at the hall from the 1920s and it was also used for church services. Newspaper references from the 1930s through to the 1950s indicate the hall being used as a venue to sign up workers for the local cane crushing season.
The hall grounds were also used for a range of sporting events. There are references to athletics competitions held at Bullyard from 1911 and the track was improved in 1913. A tennis club was formed in 1928 and tennis courts were constructed using crushed ant bed. Cricket was popular, so much so that the Cricket Club merged with the Hall Committee in 1930. Bullyard hosted cricket matches against local teams including Wallaville, Albionville, Gin Gin, Bucca and Bundaberg and the pitch was also constructed from ant bed, similar to the tennis courts.
Bullyard Hall is located in the south-western corner of a 4 hectare reserve that in turn is located in the northern part of town on the eastern side of Bucca Road. A mostly circular fenced sports ground extends from the hall to the north and east. Most of the fenced, predominantly levelled grassed site has been cleared, some remaining scrub vegetation exists in the north and northeast and on the boundaries and it appears that the ring of trees on the perimeter of the sports ground have been deliberately planted.
The hall consists of a low set weatherboard clad timber structure on timber stumps with a slight variation in height to level out the site and features a corrugated iron clad gable roof. An annex with skillion roof is attached on both sides of the main building. The main entrance is from the front via some steps onto a landing covered by a gable roof and double doors.[citation needed]
