South West Queensland | |
|---|---|
 Regions of Queensland | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| LGA | |
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Area | |
• Total | 319,808 km2 (123,479 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 26,489 (2011)[1] |
| • Density | 0.0828278/km2 (0.214523/sq mi) |
South West Queensland is a remote region in the Australian state ofQueensland which covers 319,808 km2 (123,479 sq mi).[1] The region lies to the south ofCentral West Queensland and west of theDarling Downs and includes theMaranoa district and parts of theChannel Country. The area is noted for its cattle grazing, cotton farming, opal mining and oil and gas deposits.
At the federal level the whole region is encompassed by theDivision of Maranoa. Local Government areas included in the region areMaranoa Region,Shire of Balonne,Shire of Paroo,Shire of Murweh,Shire of Bulloo and theShire of Quilpie. South West Queensland has a population of 26,489.[1]
The region is serviced by theABC Western Queensland radio station.
Aboriginal society traded objects based on need and to promote social cohesion. The South West region of Queensland was the primary source of the traded plantDuboisia hopwoodii,[2] from which a traditionalchewing tobacco was made.
Kamilaroi (also known as Gamilaroi, Gamilaraay, Comilroy) is anAustralian Aboriginal language of South-West Queensland. It is closely related to Yuwaalaraay and Yuwaalayaay. The Kamilaroi language region includes the local government area of theShire of Balonne, including the towns ofDirranbandi,Thallon,Talwood andBungunya as well as the border towns ofMungindi andBoomi extending toMoree,Tamworth andCoonabarabran inNew South Wales.[3]
Yuwaalaraay (also known asYuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of theShire of Balonne, including the town ofDirranbandi as well as the border town ofHebel extending toWalgett andCollarenebri inNew South Wales.[4]
Yuwaalayaay (also known asYuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to theGamilaraay andYuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of theShire of Balonne, including the town ofDirranbandi as well as the border town ofGoodooga extending toWalgett and theNarran Lakes in New South Wales.[5]
Eastern parts of the region around the upper reaches of the Warrego River were explored byThomas Mitchell in 1845.[6] It wasn't until afterWilliam Landsborough explored the area during his 1862 expedition that settlers began to take up pastoral runs.[6]
In 1860,Robert O'Hara Burke andWilliam John Wills began anexpedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria to explore large areas of inland Australia which remained completely unknown to the European settlers. A pivotal meeting place or depôt camp used by the expedition was located at Bullah Bullah Waterhole onCooper Creek. After failing to reach the northern coastline due to the mangrove swamps of theFlinders River delta the party of four set off for the return journey short on supplies. Charles Gray died on the way leaving three of the party who eventually managed to return to Cooper Creek on 21 April 1861, only to find the other half of the party had just left forMenindee nine hours earlier. A tree at the camp was used to depict three blazes and mark the location of a food cache.[7] It also became the resting place for Burke who died of malnourishment after they ran low on supplies amid controversial and tragic circumstances. Wills also died from weakness and malnourishment downstream at Breerily Waterhole.John King was the sole survivor of the party that trekked north to the gulf. The expedition's journals and maps inspired pastoralists and opened up of vast tracts of Queensland to pastoral settlement.[8]
Western parts of the region receive an average of 150 millimetres or 6 inches annual rainfall,[9] while further east around St. George the annual average is 500 millimetres or 20 inches.[9] Limited access to water in the region restricted early pastoralism.[10] Afterartesian bore water had been discovered and developed the lands were able to support sheep and not just cattle.[10]
ACobb & Co factory and was built at Charleville in 1893.[9] During the 1880s coach services expanded into the region. Cobb & Co was Australia's most famous historical coaching firm and once provided passenger and mail services across the country. They produced an eight-passenger coach that gained repute for its strength, stability and the forgiving suspension.[11]
In 1922,QANTAS began its first regular flights from Charleville.[9]
The northern extent of theSturt Stony Desert lies within the region around the location known asCameron Corner. Part of theCooper Basin is located in the region. The basin contains the most significant on-shore petroleum and natural gas deposits in Australia.[12] Near Roma at Hospital Hill, Australia's first natural gas strike was made.[9] Oil was found in the region in 1961.[13] TheEromanga Basin, also located in South West Queensland has been explored and developed for petroleum production.[14] Commercial quantities of gas were first discovered in 1976 and oil in 1978. TheTookoonooka crater is a largeimpact crater located in the region, however it is not visible at the surface.
Major towns of South West Queensland includeQuilpie,Charleville,Roma,Thargomindah,St George andCunnamulla. . Cunnamulla has the biggest wool-loading station on the Queensland railway network.[9] Australia's largest cotton farm,Cubbie Station near St George, covers 93,000 hectares.[15]
Smaller towns in the region includeAmby,Injune,Jackson,Mitchell, Muckadilla,Mungallala,Surat,Wallumbilla,Yuleba, Alton,Bollon, Boolba,Dirranbandi,Hebel,Mungindi,Nindigully,Thallon, Coongoola,Eulo, Humeburn, Tuen,Wyandra, Yowah,Bakers Bend,Morven, Nive,Sommariva,Thargomindah,Hungerford,Noccundra,Nockatunga,Adavale, Cheepie,Eromanga and Toompine.Cooladdi is a ghost town with a population of just six.[16] Eromanga is home to Australia's Largest Dinosaur, 'Cooper'. Cooper was described in 2021 as new genus and species of Titanosauria, Australotitan cooperensis
Historical geographical records have suggested changes in the flow of local tertiary sandstone springs have occurred since the 1880s. Blasting was often used to enhance spring flow and consequently causing its destruction as with bores and dams. Only 45% of springs that were historically documented in the south west Queensland records, remain.[17]
Waterways coursing through South West Queensland include theWarrego,Maranoa,Merivale,Balonne and its tributary theBokhara River,Culgoa,Wilson and Cooper Creek. The Balonne is used for an extensiveirrigation network.[9] TheBulloo River system is the onlyclosed river system in Australia.[18]
A number of national parks have been declared in the region, includingAlton National Park,Chesterton Range National Park,Culgoa Floodplain National Park,Currawinya National Park,Diamantina National Park,Idalia National Park,Lake Bindegolly National Park,Mariala National Park,Thrushton National Park andTregole National Park.Bowra Sanctuary is a nature reserve near Cunnamulla which is managed by theAustralian Wildlife Conservancy.
Major roads in the region include theMitchell Highway out of outback New South Wales and theBalonne Highway which travels east from St George to Cunnamulla. TheWarrego Highway travels in an east–west direction across the north of the region. The northern tip of theCastlereagh Highway passes through the south east of the region, terminating at St George. Also passing through St George is theCarnarvon Highway and theDiamantina Development Road is slowly being upgraded.
The region is serviced by seven airports, includingDirranbandi Airport,Roma Airport,St George Airport,Charleville Airport,Thargomindah Airport,Cunnamulla Airport andQuilpie Airport. The Western railway line reachedCharleville in 1888.[19]A branch line toCunnamulla was opened in 1898.[19] Today,The Westlander passenger train service operates between Brisbane and Charleville. TheSouth Western railway line passes throughThallon in the south east corner of the region.
Bioregions in the area include theMulga Lands.Mulga is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback Australia which has developed extensive adaptations to the dry conditions. There is an isolated population ofrufous-crowned emu-wren living inspinifex shrubland which is found in the region. TheDingo Fence runs through the region and is the world's longest fence.[20]
The region is covered by red, brown and grey clays. Red sands and earths predominate, which is typical of arid Australia.[21]
In 2013, a small population of the elusivenight parrot was discovered in South West Queensland.[22]
The region is targeted by wildlife smugglers. Albinoblue-tongued skinks,bearded dragons andshinglebacks have been intercepted in packages bound for China.[23]
Adavale was the location of Australia's firstopal discovery.[9] The town of Yowah is built on an opal field which began producing opals in the 1870s.[24] Opals are also found atKoroit opal field, Quilpie, Eulo and in northern New South Wales. The geological formation containing opals in South West Queensland is called theWinton Formation.[25]
This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Kamilaroi".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved28 January 2020. This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Yuwaalaraay".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved23 January 2020. This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Yuwaalayaay".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved23 January 2020.
Media related toSouth West Queensland at Wikimedia Commons
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