Bushley is a rural locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Bushley had a population of 36 people.[1]
Bushley railway station is an abandoned railway station on Central Western railway line (23°31′42″S 150°15′04″E / 23.5284°S 150.2510°E / -23.5284; 150.2510 (Bushley railway station)).[3][4]
The locality presumably takes its name from the Bushley railway station.
Playfair State School opened on 10 July 1917.[5] It closed on 1928.[6] It presumably takes its name from the parish.[7] The school was located at approximately 213 Sandy Creek Road (23°32′11″S 150°15′58″E / 23.5364°S 150.2661°E / -23.5364; 150.2661 (Playfair State School (former))).[8]
In 2019, Bushley was selected as the site of a new waste transfer station which aimed to serve the needs of residents of Rockhampton Regional Council's western districts from Gogango to Stanwell following the closure of roadside bin stations.[9] The council's decision to close the local roadside bin stations had previously been criticised by residents and led to a heated community meeting at nearby Wycarbah in 2018.[10]
In the 2016 census, Bushley had a population of 30 people.[11]
In the 2021 census, Bushley had a population of 36 people.[1]
Bushley Uniting Church is at 525 Brickworks Road (access from Bushley Road off the Capricorn Highway, 23°31′44″S 150°15′10″E / 23.5288°S 150.2528°E / -23.5288; 150.2528 (Bushley Uniting Church)).[12][13] It was part of the Parish of Rockhampton South Uniting Church.[14]
The existing brick church was officially opened on 13 December 1959.[15] The final service was held at the church on 5 December 2021, just shy of its 62nd anniversary, which was attended by about 75 people including Uniting Church moderator Rev Andrew Gunton.[15] The church was closed due to dwindling attendance numbers.[15]
Church services at Bushley date back to 1875 when worship was held at the home of the Coombs family.[15] The Coombs family later donated their land for the construction of a community hall where church services were held until the opening of the existing brick church building in 1959.[15]