| Hungerford Queensland |
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A truck at the Hungerford gate in the rabbit-proof fence between New South Wales and Queensland |
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Hungerford
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| Population: | 59[1] |
| Postcode: | 4493 |
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Shire of Bulloo |
| State District: | Warrego |
| Federal Division: | Maranoa |
Hungerford is a locality in outback Queensland, Australia, immediately north of the border with New South Wales and the Dingo fence. At the 2006 census, Hungerford and the surrounding area had a population of 59.[1] Surrounding the town is the Currawinya National Park.
The town is named after Thomas Hungerford who once camped at the site.[2] The town developed from a border customs post on a stock route alongside the Paroo River. In 1874, the first hotel in the opened and the following year the town was gazetted.[2] For a number of years, before a proper survey was conducted the town was thought to be located in New South Wales.[2]
In 1892-3, Henry Lawson visited the town and wrote a short story named after it. In the story he wrote:
The town is right on the Queensland border, and an inter-provincial rabbit-proof fence -- with rabbits on both sides of it -- runs across the main street. ...
Hungerford consists of two houses and a humpy in New South Wales, and five houses in Queensland. Characteristically enough, both the pubs are in Queensland. We got a glass of sour yeast at one and paid six pence for it -- we had asked for English ale.[3]
A Cobb & Co coach service to the town was stopped in 1904.[2]