Boulia

Boulia is a remote outback town and locality in the Shire of Boulia in Central West Queensland, Australia. At the 2011 census, Boulia had a population of 230, up from 205 in 2006.GeographyBoulia is located approximately 296km by road south of Mount Isa and is on the Outback Way billed as Australia's Longest Shortcut, a 2800 kilometre gravel and bitumen road which runs between Laverton in Western Australia and Winton, Queensland. Boulia lies on the Burke River, which was named after the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire, population approximately 600, which covers an area of 61176km2.Although it is contrary to the principles of defining a locality in Queensland, Boulia is an "island" entirely surrounded by the locality of Wills.Extensive grazing of beef cattle is the predominant industry. Boulia is at the heart of the Channel Country of western Queensland where, during rain events, channels running between the rivers and creeks of the region fill with water and spread that water over expansive areas. When it does rain heavily, the Mitchell grass plains respond magnificently and result in the Channel country around Boulia, being among the finest beef producing country in Australia.