48-675: Chesterton Range is a national park in South West Queensland , Australia, 585 km west of Brisbane . It is located north east of Morven in both the locality of Redford in the Maranoa Region and Tyrconnel in the Shire of Murweh . It lies in the water catchment areas of three waterways. These are the Warrego River , Wallam Creek and the Maranoa River . The park protects part of
96-565: A car driven by a local farmer. This event led to Walgett, the Freedom Riders and the plight of Indigenous Australians receiving national and international media attention. According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 2,145 people in Walgett. Walgett has a hot, semi-arid climate ( BSh ) with hot to very hot summers and mild to cool winters with occasional frosts . Summer temperatures frequently rise above 40 °C (104 °F), and
144-435: A maximum temperature of 49.2 °C (120.6 °F) was recorded on 3 January 1903, which is one of the hottest temperatures recorded in the state. The annual rainfall is fairly low, at 439.0 millimetres (17.28 in) which falls fairly evenly throughout the year; however, summer rainfall usually falls as heavy but infrequent downpours associated with thunderstorms ; winter rain is usually very light, but can last for days at
192-590: A strong rugby league culture, and former St. George Dragons player Ricky Walford , whom the town's Rugby league ground is named after, played for Walgett Juniors. Walgett is the home of the Walgett Dragons and Newtown Wanderers rugby league clubs, both of which compete in the Barwon Darling Rugby League . The Dragons made eight consecutive grand finals from 2012 to 2019, winning the 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2019 premierships. The Wanderers have not enjoyed
240-578: A time. In December 2018 amidst drought, the Barwon River at Walgett ceased flowing, reduced to a series of stagnant pools. Bore water from the Great Artesian Basin being used by the town was of questionable quality in relation to the Australian drinking water guidelines , leading to concerns of usage within the town. The town, like many other remote communities, has problems with crime linked to
288-499: A weekly newspaper called the Walgett Spectator that has been in continuous production since the 1800s, despite a fire razing the business premises in 1903. Outback Radio 2WEB broadcasts around the area on 104.3FM. The fictional character Betty in the sitcom Hey Dad..! was from Walgett. Banjo Paterson wrote two poems featuring Walgett – "A Walgett Episode" and "Been There Before". In Been There Before Paterson relates
336-561: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . South West Queensland South West Queensland is a remote region in the Australian state of Queensland which covers 319,808 km (123,479 sq mi). The region lies to the south of Central West Queensland and west of the Darling Downs and includes the Maranoa district and parts of the Channel Country . The area
384-509: Is a ghost town with a population of just six. 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
432-605: Is a town in northern New South Wales , Australia, and the seat of Walgett Shire . It is near the junctions of the Barwon and Namoi Rivers and the Kamilaroi and Castlereagh Highways . In 2016, Walgett had a population of 2,145. In the 2016 census, there were 6,107 people in the Walgett Local Government Area. Of these 52.9% were male and 47.1% were female. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 29.4% of
480-585: Is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne , including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales. A post office
528-489: Is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne , including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales . Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi )
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#1733085569586576-424: Is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne , including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales. Eastern parts of
624-529: Is built on an opal field which began producing opals in the 1870s. Opals are also found at Koroit opal field , Quilpie, Eulo and in northern New South Wales. The geological formation containing opals in South West Queensland is called the Winton Formation . 26°24′S 146°15′E / 26.4°S 146.25°E / -26.4; 146.25 Walgett, New South Wales Walgett
672-449: Is closely related to Yuwaalaraay and Yuwaalayaay. The Kamilaroi language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Balonne , including the towns of Dirranbandi , Thallon , Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree , Tamworth and Coonabarabran in New South Wales . Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi )
720-465: Is covered by red, brown and grey clays. Red sands and earths predominate, which is typical of arid Australia. In 2013, a small population of the elusive night parrot was discovered in South West Queensland. The region is targeted by wildlife smugglers. Albino blue-tongued skinks , bearded dragons and shinglebacks have been intercepted in packages bound for China. Adavale was the location of Australia's first opal discovery. The town of Yowah
768-456: 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 the Division of Maranoa . Local Government areas included in the region are Maranoa Region , Shire of Balonne , Shire of Paroo , Shire of Murweh , Shire of Bulloo and the Shire of Quilpie . South West Queensland has a population of 26,489. The region
816-490: Is serviced by the ABC 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 plant Duboisia hopwoodii , from which a traditional chewing tobacco was made. Kamilaroi (also known as Gamilaroi, Gamilaraay, Comilroy) is an Australian Aboriginal language of South-West Queensland. It
864-572: The Brigalow Belt South bioregion. To the north and the west of the park is Orkadilla State Forest. The average elevation of the terrain is 544 metres. The park features a small two-room homestead . The pastoral holding was abandoned in 1937. 13 rare or threatened species have been identified in the national park. This includes a colony of the vulnerable yakka skink , then woma python , red goshawk , grey falcon , koala and others. This Queensland protected areas related article
912-593: The Diamantina Development Road is slowly being upgraded. The region is serviced by seven airports, including Dirranbandi Airport , Roma Airport , St George Airport , Charleville Airport , Thargomindah Airport , Cunnamulla Airport and Quilpie Airport . The Western railway line reached Charleville in 1888. A branch line to Cunnamulla was opened in 1898. Today, The Westlander passenger train service operates between Brisbane and Charleville. The South Western railway line passes through Thallon in
960-555: The European settlers. A pivotal meeting place or depôt camp used by the expedition was located at Bullah Bullah Waterhole on Cooper Creek . After failing to reach the northern coastline due to the mangrove swamps of the Flinders 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
1008-674: The Namoi River, which skirts the east and north-east of the town from where it eventually joins with the Barwon River some five kilometres north-west of the town. The Namoi River rises on the west slopes of the Moonbi Range and Great Dividing Range near Niangala at the convergence of the Macdonald River and Boundary Creek, and flows generally west, joined by 27 tributaries, including the Peel, Manilla and Mooki rivers, before reaching that confluence with
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#17330855695861056-468: The Walgett RSL Club because they had been told the club was refusing to admit Indigenous ex-servicemen. They also picketed a ladies' dress shop (Sheehan's), protesting the fact that the proprietor would not allow Indigenous women to try on dresses. After their protests the Freedom Riders left town and headed for Narrabri, when a short distance from Walgett their bus was allegedly forced off the road by
1104-456: The abuse of alcohol and other drugs. As a result, many businesses have metal shutters to protect their premises from street crime. The suspected murder of 31-year-old mother-of-two Roxlyn Margaret Bowie occurred in June 1982 when she vanished from her Walgett family home. A 2014 coronial inquest did not determine the cause of death, and her body has not been located. A one million dollar reward
1152-512: The aerodrome with support from the Walgett Shire Council. The club's first two aircraft purchased in its first years were DH-82 Tiger Moths – registrations VH-BAR and VH-WON carrying the name of the nearby Barwon River. As the club progressed and thrived with the appointment of a chief flying instructor in the early 1960s, it eventually modernised its fleet to include the likes of Cessna 172, Cessna 150 and Piper Comanche 210 aircraft. In 2008
1200-646: The biggest wool-loading station on the Queensland railway network. Australia's largest cotton farm, Cubbie Station near St George, covers 93,000 hectares. Smaller towns in the region include Amby , 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
1248-589: The club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and continues to be a prosperous part of the transport and aviation hub of the far north of the state. The pre-school, primary school and high school were re-structured in 2003 into the Walgett Community College. The college is a unique educational institution, and gave birth to the successful Yaama Maliyaa group that won several national awards in Young Achievers Australia in 2005. Walgett publishes
1296-526: The club house proper. The greens are sand and oil as opposed to conventional grass. The local college hosts two major football carnivals each year. The Ricky Walford Shield and the Neville Thorne Shield are knockout rugby league competitions held in August by the primary school and the high school respectively. The Walgett Aero Club was established in the town in 1958 with a club house and hangar built at
1344-705: The country. They produced an eight-passenger coach that gained repute for its strength, stability and the forgiving suspension. In 1922, QANTAS began its first regular flights from Charleville. The northern extent of the Sturt Stony Desert lies within the region around the location known as Cameron Corner . Part of the Cooper Basin is located in the region. The basin contains the most significant on-shore petroleum and natural gas deposits in Australia. Near Roma at Hospital Hill, Australia's first natural gas strike
1392-620: The latter he says "The Darling River , at Walgett town". The Darling River is formed at Brewarrina , much further west than Walgett, from the confluence of the Barwon and Culgoa Rivers. The Barwon-Darling River system is described as the Barwon River from Mungindi to where it joins the Culgoa River near Brewarrina then becomes the Darling River flowing to the Menindee Lakes. Walgett lies on
1440-407: The other half of the party had just left for Menindee nine hours earlier. A tree at the camp was used to depict three blazes and mark the location of a food cache. 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
1488-497: The perimeter of the nearby Walgett aerodrome where she was murdered by Vester Fernando using a machete to sever her neck in a near-decapitation. Both men were arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Brendan was later stabbed and killed by Vester in Lithgow Correctional Centre in an apparent revenge attack for giving evidence against him prior to and during their trials. Vester Fernando's life sentence
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1536-570: The population. Walgett takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning 'the meeting place of two rivers'. The town was listed as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the State according to the 2015 Dropping Off The Edge report. The area was inhabited by the Gamilaroi (also spelt Kamilaroi) nation of Indigenous peoples before European settlement. Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi )
1584-543: The region around the upper reaches of the Warrego River were explored by Thomas Mitchell in 1845. It wasn't until after William Landsborough explored the area during his 1862 expedition that settlers began to take up pastoral runs. In 1860, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills began an expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria to explore large areas of inland Australia which remained completely unknown to
1632-650: The region include the Mitchell Highway out of outback New South Wales and the Balonne Highway which travels east from St George to Cunnamulla. The Warrego Highway travels in an east–west direction across the north of the region. The northern tip of the Castlereagh Highway passes through the south east of the region, terminating at St George. Also passing through St George is the Carnarvon Highway and
1680-407: The region restricted early pastoralism. After artesian bore water had been discovered and developed the lands were able to support sheep and not just cattle. A Cobb & Co factory and was built at Charleville in 1893. 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
1728-565: The region, including Alton 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 and Tregole National Park . Bowra Sanctuary is a nature reserve near Cunnamulla which is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy . Major roads in
1776-546: The same level of success as of yet, but are a competitive side within the competition. The Walgett Rams is the local rugby union side in the Western Plains Rugby Union competition. The predominant summer sport of the town is cricket. The local competition consists of teams from Walgett, Cumborah , Lightning Ridge , Collarenebri and Goodooga . The Walgett and District Sporting Club provides facilities for tennis, golf and lawn bowls. The original Tennis Club
1824-485: The south east corner of the region. Bioregions in the area include the Mulga 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 of rufous-crowned emu-wren living in spinifex shrubland which is found in the region. The Dingo Fence runs through the region and is the world's longest fence. The region
1872-517: The south west Queensland records, remain. Waterways coursing through South West Queensland include the Warrego , Maranoa , Merivale , Balonne and its tributary the Bokhara River , Culgoa , Wilson and Cooper Creek. The Balonne is used for an extensive irrigation network. The Bulloo River system is the only closed river system in Australia. A number of national parks have been declared in
1920-419: The story of a visitor to the town who is down on his luck and who makes a wager that he can throw a stone from one bank of the river to another. The locals who know that stones of a reasonable mass are a rarity along the banks think they have fooled the visitor. However while... Paterson could not decide on which river the town lies. In the former poem he correctly says "Walgett, on the Barwon side", whereas in
1968-400: Was compounded by his conviction for murdering his accomplice. It is a regional hub for wool , wheat and cotton industries. It is the gateway to the New South Wales opal fields at Lightning Ridge to the north and The Grawin to the west. The main crop farmed in the district is wheat; however, the drought has caused an increase in the farming of lucerne and other good hay crops. Walgett has
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2016-458: Was gazetted for "Wallgett on the Barwin River" in 1851 and the town sites were surveyed in 1859. The district would have been occupied prior to this by squatters and their livestock. The town of Walgett was proclaimed on 20 March 1885. The surveyor Arthur Dewhurst mapped the town, naming three streets after British Prime Ministers: Fox (main street—Castlereagh Highway), Pitt and Peel. Arthur Street
2064-504: Was made. Oil was found in the region in 1961. The Eromanga Basin , also located in South West Queensland has been explored and developed for petroleum production. Commercial quantities of gas were first discovered in 1976 and oil in 1978. The Tookoonooka crater is a large impact crater located in the region, however it is not visible at the surface. Major towns of South West Queensland include Quilpie , Charleville , Roma , Thargomindah , St George and Cunnamulla . . Cunnamulla has
2112-528: Was named after another surveyor. Walgett Courthouse was built in 1865. Walgett was a port in the late 19th century for paddle steamers that plied the Murray-Darling river system. The first steamer reached Walgett in 1861 and travelled to the town regularly until c.1870. Euroka Station, 10 miles (16 km) south of the town on the Castlereagh Highway, was purchased by Fred Wolseley in 1876 and
2160-602: Was offered in December 2018 for information leading to the identity of her killer. Her husband was arrested in late 2019 and charged with her murder. On the night of 9 December 1994, nurse Sandra Hoare was abducted from the Peg Cross Ward of the Walgett District Hospital by Vester and Brendan Fernando, and forced to walk to a nearby sporting field where she was raped by both men. She was then forced to walk further to
2208-607: Was situated on the south side of the town in the mid- to late 1960s and 1970s prior to merging with the Bowling Club to become the Walgett District Sporting Club. Likewise, the original Golf Club that was situated on river country some eight kilometres to the west of the town, also merged with the Sporting Club on the north edge of the town allowing the golf course to be re-established along the Namoi River adjacent to
2256-531: Was the site of the invention of the Wolseley Shearing Machine. The machine was tested at Bourke in 1888 on 184,000 sheep and eventually revolutionised the shearing industry. Walgett's history includes the Freedom Rides in the mid-1960s. The Freedom Riders, consisting in the main of Sydney university students, including Charles Perkins , arrived in Walgett on 15 February 1965. They protested outside
2304-406: 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. Western parts of the region receive an average of 150 millimetres or 6 inches annual rainfall, while further east around St. George the annual average is 500 millimetres or 20 inches. Limited access to water in
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