31-616: The Boulia Camel Races is an Australian camel race held annually every third weekend of July in Boulia, Queensland since 1997. Sometimes called the Melbourne Cup of camel racing, the event is home to the Boulia Camel Cup, the longest camel race in Australia run over 1500 metres. Races are overseen by the regulatory body Racing Queensland. Additional entertainment throughout the event include
62-406: A camel tagging competitions, yabby races, fireworks, children's amusements, live entertainment and novelty races including the 'Great Australian Ride-on Lawnmower Race'. Boulia which a population of 300 people increases to 3,000 people during the races. The three day event culminates in the major Boulia Camel Cup race. To qualify, camels must have competed in both the 400m and 1000m heats held across
93-450: A daily commute. The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa offers boarding facilities. Other boarding schools or distance education would be options for secondary schooling. The name Boulia is used as a name for a crater on the planet Mars , specifically commemorating the town. Boulia has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Channel Country The Channel Country
124-488: A monsoonal low from ex- Cyclone Olga created a period of exceptional rainfall. The primary land use is cattle grazing which has replaced sheep grazing. It is estimated that in the Queensland section alone there are between half to one million head of cattle. The area's towns and cattle stations are serviced by a mail run that is operated by West Wing Aviation which delivers goods and passengers as well as mail. In 2013,
155-657: A phenomenon known as Fata Morgana . Boulia is in the Central West Queensland and is located approximately 296 kilometres (184 mi) by road south of Mount Isa . Boulia is at the crossroads of a number of outback routes, including the Boulia Mount Isa Road (which goes north-west towards Mount Isa ), the Selwyn Road (which goes north-east to Selwyn ), the Winton Road , which goes east toward Winton ), and
186-528: A population of 314 people. Boulia is the administrative centre of the Boulia Shire , population approximately 600, which covers an area of 61,176 square kilometres (23,620 sq mi). The area is best known for sightings of the Min Min lights , mysterious shimmering lights that appear at night . The lights are said to be caused by atmospheric refraction that occurs when cold air is trapped below warmer air,
217-481: A series of ancient flood plains from rivers which only flow intermittently. The principal rivers are Georgina River , Cooper Creek and the Diamantina River . When there is sufficient rainfall in their catchment area these rivers flow into Lake Eyre , South Australia. In most years the flood waters are absorbed into the earth or evaporate, however. One of the most significant rainfall events occurred in 2010 when
248-549: Is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Templeton Street ( 22°54′30″S 139°54′39″E / 22.9084°S 139.9109°E / -22.9084; 139.9109 ( Boulia State School ) ). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 27 students with 4 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). There are no secondary schools in Boulia. The nearest secondary schools are in Mount Isa and Winton , but these are too distant for
279-507: Is a region of outback Australia mostly in the state of Queensland but also in parts of South Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales . The name comes from the numerous intertwined rivulets that cross the region, which cover 150,000 km². The Channel Country is over the Cooper and Eromanga geological basins and the Lake Eyre Basin drainage basin . Further to the east
310-419: Is at 49 Moonah Street ( 22°54′38″S 139°54′30″E / 22.9105°S 139.9082°E / -22.9105; 139.9082 ( Boulia Outback Chapel ) ). The Good Shepherd Catholic Church is at 33 Moonah Street ( 22°54′37″S 139°54′36″E / 22.9102°S 139.9101°E / -22.9102; 139.9101 ( Good Shepherd Catholic Church ) ). Boulia State School
341-664: Is available. Boulia has Australia's first three-dimensional zebra crossing which is based on an optical illusion . It is to improve road safety and also to be a tourist attraction. It was introduced in 2018 after Boulia Shire Council mayor Rick Britton saw similar crossings in Iceland, Malaysia, India, New Zealand and the United States on social media. The Boulia branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 61 Moonah Street. Boulia Outback Chapel
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#1732901292807372-522: Is contrary to the locality boundary principles of the Queensland Government , the locality of Boulia is an "island" entirely surrounded by the locality of Wills . Extensive grazing of beef cattle on native vegetation 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
403-574: Is in the Channel Country . All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin , and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre . 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. The river flows from the north-east to the south-east through the locality. Although it
434-620: Is the less arid Maranoa district. Birdsville and Windorah are the most prominent towns in the area. Other settlements include Betoota and Bedourie . Haddon Corner is also located in the Channel Country. The Channel Country is the location for a majority of Min Min light sightings. It is also home to at least two important bird areas, Lake Yamma Yamma and the Lake Machattie Area . The Channel Country features an arid landscape with
465-530: Is very low: 258.3 mm (10.17 in), occurring within 24.1 rainfall days. Rainfall is extraordinarily erratic, as while only 24.1 mm (0.95 in) fell in 1905; 464.9 mm (18.30 in) was recorded in January 1974 alone. The town is very sunny, averaging 186.4 clear days and only 43.6 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −1.4 °C (29.5 °F) on 31 August 1906 to 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) on 7 February 1915. The town hosts
496-792: The Boulia Bedourie Road (which goes south-west to Bedourie ). The Donohue Highway coming from the Northern Territory joins the Boulia Mount Isa Road just outside of Boulia, which together with the Winton Road forms part of the Outback Way billed as "Australia's Longest Shortcut", a 2,800 kilometres (1,700 mi) gravel-and-bitumen road which runs between Laverton in Western Australia and Winton in Queensland. Boulia
527-654: The Boulia Camel Races , the longest camel race (running a 1500m cup final) on the Australian camel racing circuit. Each year at Easter, the Boulia Racecourse reserve plays host to a rodeo, campdrafting, and horse racing event which is a social highlight for the district. During August drag races are held at the Boulia Airport which attracts an enthusiastic crowd. Boulia has a range of public facilities open to
558-455: The Boulia Camel Cup was won by New South Wales jockey Chontelle Jannesse on camel 'Uncle Bob', trained by Road Sansom. In 2017 the winner of the 1500m final was Shepparton camel jockey Glenda Sutton Boulia, Queensland Boulia ( / ˈ b ʊ l i ə / ) is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Boulia , Queensland , Australia. In the 2021 census , the locality of Boulia had
589-462: The Boulia Camel Races offered a record $ 45,000 AUD prize pool for competitors in the 2021 Thirsty Camel Cup race. The cup final was won by jockey Kelly Cloan and camel trainer Roman Czubak. The Boulia Camel Races had originally been set to celebrate the event's 25th anniversary in 2021, however due to the cancelled event in 2020 the anniversary celebration was pushed back to 2022. The 2021 event
620-531: The Boulia Outback Chapel was established in the former Anglican church building. It is part of the Baptist Church. In 2019, the Boulia Outback Chapel was established in the former Anglican church building. It is part of the Baptist Church. In the 2006 census , the town of Boulia had a population of 205. In the 2011 census , the locality of Boulia had a population of 230, In the 2016 census ,
651-594: The Queensland Government placed caps on water extraction from the region's river to prevent the introduction of cotton growing . At the same time open-cut mining was banned but coal seam and underground mining have been permitted after changes were made to the Wild Rivers legislation. In 2021, 11 coal seam gas exploration licenses were granted to Origin Energy by the state government, covering 250,000 hectares of
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#1732901292807682-414: The area for approximately 20,000 years, with over 25 tribal groups living in the Channel Country area. A vast trade network had been established running from north to south with goods such as ochre sent north with shells and pituri moved south. Birdsville was once a major meeting place for conducting ceremonies and trade. Originally known as Diamantina Crossing , it bore its current name by 1882, and
713-535: The community. These include a public library, public hall, sports complex, racecourse, the Min Min encounter tourist centre, museum, visitor information centre, and camel races. The Boulia Shire Council operates a public library at 18 Burke Street. An 18-hole golf course with sand greens is located on the Boulia Winton Road. Greens fees are not charged for the use of this course and a clubhouse with bar facilities
744-528: The locality of Boulia had a population of 301 people. In the 2021 census , the locality of Boulia had a population of 314 people. Boulia experiences a hot desert climate ( Köppen: BWh), with very hot, occasionally rainy summers, and very mild, dry winters with cool nights and rare frosts. Average maxima vary from 22.9 °C (73.2 °F) in July to 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in December. Average annual rainfall
775-606: The name was formalised at the proclamation of the town in 1887. Innamincka Station was established in 1872 by Robert Bostock and grew until it covered over 15,000 square kilometres (5,792 sq mi) and in 1881 it supported a herd of 8,000 cattle. The first station and permanent settlement set up along the Cooper Creek . The tender was accepted for the run named Caryapundy by J. C. Myers in 1872. Myers has also had his tenders accepted for other runs such as Bollwarry, Mount Wood, Teriwinda and Torrens Creek. Annandale Station
806-634: The previous days' racing. The 2023 event took place from 14–16 July 2023, with two days of professional camel racing on the Saturday and Sunday. The 2022 event took place over three days from 15–17 July 2022. This is the 25th Anniversary event of Boulia Camel Races. Winner of both the 1500m Camel Cup and also the Quarter Mile Flyer was local team Woodhouse Camels, with camel Gunna ridden by jockey Kyrraley Woodhouse and rained by Tom Woodhouse. Along with new sponsoring partner Thirsty Camel Bottleshops,
837-552: 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. The town has a grid layout with 6 roads running east–west and 5 running north–south. Herbert Street is the main street where most of the civic and commercial premises are located. The town
868-497: The region. Origin subsequently announced it is withdrawing from the region with a view to sell its exploration permits to another energy company or forfeit the sites. The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia Channel Country Bioregion covers a larger area, extending into South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales and includes the town of Innamincka . Indigenous Australians have inhabited
899-489: Was established when Patrick Drinan took up the run in July 1876. Other properties were settled soon afterward including Kaliduwarry and Glengyle Stations . Pandie Pandie Station was established in the same year by Robert Frew as was Alton Downs and Planet Downs. Nearby Haddon Downs station was also taken up by Frew in 1877. Diamantina Lakes Station was also established in 1876 with a partnership between John Arthur Macartney and Hugh Louis Heber-Percy who initially took up
930-473: Was named by surveyor Frederick Arthur Hartnell in 1882 and was derived from the name of the waterhole near the township called "bool-yo" in the Pitta Pitta language . The township was gazetted in 1879. Boulia Post Office opened on 1 July 1879. Boulia Provisional School opened on 7 October 1889. It became Boulia State School on 1 January 1909. The Good Shepherd Catholic Church was built in 1955. In 2019,
961-452: Was one of the first to return following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions throughout the state of Queensland in 2019, the Boulia Camel Races were cancelled in 2020. In 2019 the Boulia Camel Cup was won by local camel trainers Dannileah Stewart and Ronnie Callope. This was the first win by a local since 2014, and the weekend drew eight thousand fans. In 2018