Yowah | |||||||||||||
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 Yowah landscape, 2008 | |||||||||||||
  Yowah | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:27°58′05″S144°38′10″E / 27.9681°S 144.6361°E /-27.9681; 144.6361 (Yowah (town centre)) | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Queensland | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 2,909.5 km2 (1,123.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 126 (2021 census)[2] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.04331/km2 (0.1122/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 4490 | ||||||||||||
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Yowah is anoutback town andlocality in theShire of Paroo,Queensland, Australia.[3][4] In the2021 census, the locality of Yowah had a population of 126 people.[2]
The town is known for itsopal mining and numerous opal fields that lie around the town as well as the "Yowah nut", a local type of opal distinctive to the region.
Yowah is in western Queensland, 938 kilometres (583 mi) west of the state capital,Brisbane and 132 kilometres (82 mi) west ofCunnamulla.
Access to Yowah is via a bitumen road. Driving in to Yowah at night is not recommended due to animals on the road.[citation needed]
TheAdventure Way enters the locality from the south-east (Eulo) and exits to the south-west (Thargomindah).[5] It is aState Strategic Touring Routes in Queensland.[6]
The land use isgrazing on native vegetation.[7]
The Yowah pastoral station was formed on Yowah Creek in the mid 1860s byVincent James Dowling consisting of the Bargoon, Dundoo and Bundoona outstations. In 1868, the Queensland government established the YowahNative Police barracks under Sub-Inspector James Gilmour.[8][9][10]
The area was first leased in 1883 to prospective settlers and opal mining has been the central operation within the district since the first opal fields were discovered. The oopulation swells during the winter months as many "regular" and "one off" visitors enjoy the weather and the friendly welcome this town offers.[citation needed]
Yowah State School opened on 22 January 1998.[11] It was one of the smallest state primary schools in Queensland; in 2012, there were three students.[12] The school closed in 2017 due to a lack of students.[13] It was at 5 Harlequin Drive (27°58′04″S144°37′52″E / 27.9679°S 144.6312°E /-27.9679; 144.6312 (Yowah State School (former))).[14] Its website has been archived.[15]
In August 2014, the town committee built two artesian spas.[16]
In the2006 census, the locality of Yowah had a population of 142 people.[17]
In the2016 census, the locality of Yowah had a population of 141 people.[18]
In the2021 census, the locality of Yowah had a population of 126 people.[2]
There are no schools in Yowah nor nearby. The alternatives aredistance education and boarding schools.[19]
Paroo Shire Council operates the Rural Transaction Centre which accommodates a tourist information centre, a public library, cafe, internet and tourist information.[20]
There is also a caravan park and general store which sells groceries and fuel and has an ATM.[citation needed]
There is a public hall and flying doctor rooms with the Doctors attending every Friday. Craft group, indoor bowls and meals/bar two nights a week at hall and a weekly dinner and "duck race" to raise monies for SES/Flying Doctor etc at Caravan Park, during the Winter months.[citation needed]
The town is serviced by theState Emergency Service and theRural Fire Service. There are two airfield runways which are lit at night.[citation needed]
There are no pumping or storage facilities in the town and the town relies on natural artesian pressure for its water supply. Surplus artesian water discharges into a bore drain. There are no standby facilities for Yowah and if the bore fails there would be a need to transport water from one of the other water supplies in the town for the duration of the problem. The water quality has been deemed to be safe, chemically.[21]
Yowah Opal Festival is a yearly festival (3rd weekend in July) to promote and celebrate opal mining in the area. Sales, exhibitions and nightly entertainment on offer.[22]
Yowah has a free fossicking area (fossicking licence available at the general store).[citation needed]
There is a heritage trail in which to explore the surrounding localities.[23]
There is also a free camping area, with amenities (toilets, showers and laundry).[citation needed]
Artesian spas is a community run facility which offers two geothermally heated baths at 57°C (134.6°F). TheGreat Artesian Basin sources the spas and the only communal source of drinking water.[citation needed]
