Willows, Queensland
# Willows, Queensland

Willows is a rural locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Willows had a population of 144 people.

## Geography

The town of Bogantungan is within the west of the locality (23°39′S 147°17′E﻿ / ﻿23.65°S 147.29°E﻿ / -23.65; 147.29﻿ (Bogantungan, Queensland)).

The town of Willows Gemfields is the centre of the locality (23°44′S 147°32′E﻿ / ﻿23.74°S 147.54°E﻿ / -23.74; 147.54﻿ (Willows Gemfields)).

The town of Withersfield is within the east of locality (23°34′44″S 147°33′44″E﻿ / ﻿23.5789°S 147.5622°E﻿ / -23.5789; 147.5622﻿ (Withersfield, Queensland)).

The Central Western railway enters the locality from the east (Anakie Siding/Lochington), passes through the town of Bogantungan, and exits to the west (Alpha). The locality is served by the following stations (from west to east):

* Bogantungan railway station, serving the town of Bogantungan (23°38′55″S 147°17′25″E﻿ / ﻿23.6486°S 147.2902°E﻿ / -23.6486; 147.2902﻿ (Bogantungan railway station))
* Kanoloo railway station, now abandoned (23°40′04″S 147°18′52″E﻿ / ﻿23.6678°S 147.3144°E﻿ / -23.6678; 147.3144﻿ (Kanoloo railway station))
* Willows railway station (23°39′24″S 147°28′34″E﻿ / ﻿23.6568°S 147.4762°E﻿ / -23.6568; 147.4762﻿ (Willows railway station))
* Withersfield railway station, serving the former town of Withersfield, now abandoned (23°34′44″S 147°33′53″E﻿ / ﻿23.5790°S 147.5647°E﻿ / -23.5790; 147.5647﻿ (Withersfield railway station))

## History

In October 1880, 105 town lots were offered for sale in the Town of Withersfield.

Bogantungan State School opened on 19 March 1883. It closed on 11 August 1972. It was on Jackson Street (23°39′00″S 147°17′15″E﻿ / ﻿23.6501°S 147.2875°E﻿ / -23.6501; 147.2875﻿ (Bogantungan State School (former))).

Withersfield Provisional School opened circa 1886 but closed the same year. A new Withersfield State School opened in 1920. On Saturday 9 December 1922, the school burned down after a school picnic and dance evening the previous day. The school closed circa 1942. It was located north of the town of Withersfield on a 5-acre-2-rood-11-perch (2.25 ha) site at approx 23°34′33″S 147°33′51″E﻿ / ﻿23.5757°S 147.5643°E﻿ / -23.5757; 147.5643﻿ (Withersfield State School (former)). Nothing remains of the town today.

In the 2016 census, Willows had a population of 144 people.

## Education

There are no schools in Willows. The nearest government primary schools are Anakie State School in neighbouring Anakie Siding to the east, Lochington State School in neighbouring Lochington to the south, and Alpha State School in neighbouring Alpha to the west. The nearest government secondary schools are Alpha State School (to Year 10) and Emerald State High School (to Year 12) in Emerald to the east. However, these secondary schools may be too distant for daily commuting with distance education and boarding schools as other options.

