"Centralia". Where did that name originate? O/T

Hi,
Back before Australian states became Federated, there was a time when the bottom half of the Northern Territory was called "Centralia".
Regularly, I see a reference to "Centralia" in US railroading. Anybody know where the name came from? Its origins?
Just Curious.
My apologies for being off topic.
Rob

 

Centralia, Washington, is located between Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Almost exactly between. Hence Centralia. (Central) Jim

 

Centralia, IL was (is?) a major junction on the Illinois Central railroad and most likely named for the railroad itself.

 

Go to Wikipedia and search for, Australia centralia, and you will find that which you seek.

 

There's a Centralia in eastern Pa,or,at least,there was.The entire town was bought out by the government because the entire area underground beneath it[abandoned coal mines..] is on fire...

 

Encyclopedia

Centralia

city, Marion and Clinton counties, south-central Illinois, U.S. It lies about 60 miles (100 km) east of St. Louis, Missouri. Centralia was founded in 1853 by the Illinois Central Railroad (from which its name derives), and railroad shops and fruit growing formed the basis of the local economy. The town was settled largely by German immigrants, whose influence is still evident. Oil was discovered in the area in the 1930s. Centralia was the site of a devastating coal-mining disaster in 1947, when 111 miners died after being trapped by an explosion. The railroad is still important to the local economy, and other economic activities include agriculture (dairying, soybeans, corn [maize], wheat, and livestock), coal mining, oil and natural gas production, food processing, and light manufacturing (automobile parts, fuses, paper packaging, fibreglass, and plastics). Centralia is the site of the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center for the developmentally disabled; it is also the seat of Kaskaskia (community) College (founded in 1940 as Centralia Junior College). Centralia features a 160-foot (50-metre) carillon tower, built in 1982. A hot-air balloon festival is held annually in August. At nearby Carlyle Lake are Eldon Hazlet and South Shore state parks. Inc. 1859. Pop. (1990) 14,274; (2000) 14,136.


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I would add that the Illinois Central crossed Southern, Missouri-Illinois, and Chicago Burlington & Quincy in Centralia. All but M-I had yards there. Today, it's CN, BNSF, and NS. The M-I was pulled up in the 80s. Not a bad place to railfan in this part of Illinois...

Craig
www.bluford-shops.com

 

Thanks for answering.
I asked because I was taught as a child that this central part of Australia, "Centralia" area, almost became a state and I thought it was unique...until I joined this forum.
Once again, thanks,
Rob