- Source: Wulguru, Queensland
Wulguru is an outer southern suburb of Townsville in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Wulguru had a population of 4,389 people.
Geography
The suburb is bounded to the west by the Lavarack Barracks to the west, University Road (Bruce Highway) to the north, the Cluden Racecourse to the north-west, and by the North Coast railway line to the east. Townsville Connection Road runs through from south-east to north-east, and then along the north-eastern boundary.
The suburb is mostly flat (approx 10 metres (33 ft) above sea level) but in the south-west of the locality rises quickly to 100 metres (330 ft). There is a water tank at the high point of the suburb which offers views across Townsville. It is accessible by a walking track, off Diamantina Road (19.3315°S 146.8156°E / -19.3315; 146.8156 (Water tank lookout)).
History
The name Wulguru comes from Wulgurukaba, the language/group name of the Aboriginal people of the Cleveland Bay area.
The Wulguru railway station (19.3260°S 146.8263°E / -19.3260; 146.8263 (Wulguru railway station (former))) on the North Coast railway line has been abandoned.
Wulguru State School opened on 30 January 1962.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Wulguru had a population of 4,570 people.
In the 2021 census, Wulguru had a population of 4,389 people.
Heritage listings
Wulguru has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Off Stuart Drive (formerly in Stuart, 19.3349°S 146.8245°E / -19.3349; 146.8245 (Operations and Signals Bunker)): former Operations and Signals Bunker
Education
Wulguru State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Edison Street (19.3245°S 146.8121°E / -19.3245; 146.8121 (Wulguru State School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 302 students with 27 teachers (24 full-time equivalent) and 18 non-teaching staff (12 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
There are no secondary schools in Wulguru. The nearest government secondary school is William Ross State High School in neighbouring Annandale to the north-west; it is adjacent to the Southern Cross Catholic College.
Amenities
The Edison Street Plaza is a small neighbourhood centre in Wulguru that lost several of its stores in 2017–2018, including Edison Street Seafood, video hire, Chinese take-away, St Vincent De Paul op shop, a butcher, and a hairdressing salon. A mini-mart store remained, and the seafood/fish and chips shop and the Chinese takeaway were reopened early in 2019 by the mini-mart operator. Next to the school is a park and several soccer fields as well as a scout hall.
There are a number of parks in the area:
Edison Street Park (19.3271°S 146.8098°E / -19.3271; 146.8098 (Edison Street Park))
Walguru Park (19.3238°S 146.8148°E / -19.3238; 146.8148 (Walguru Park))
Warrego Street Park (19.3260°S 146.8243°E / -19.3260; 146.8243 (Warrego Street Park))
Wulguru Park (19.3239°S 146.8163°E / -19.3239; 146.8163 (Wulguru Park))
World War 2 bunker
At the corner of Diamantina Street and Stuart Drive is a large block of land at the base of Mount Stuart. During World War II, this was the site of No. 3 Fighter Sector RAAF including the Operations and Signals Bunker. Three Fighter Sector headquarters comprised 32 rooms in the large rectangular concrete building with Caneite partitions forming various passageways. The building still stands today and is 60 by 42 feet (18 by 13 m). The mezzanine floor has long since disappeared.
The bunker structure is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register and encompasses the boundary of Diamantina Street, Stuart Drive and Hill Street.
References
External links
"Wulguru". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
Mathew, John. "Highways and Byways: The origins of Townsville Street Names" (PDF). Townsville City Council.