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Windorah

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Windorah is a town and a locality in the Shire of Barcoo, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is one of only three towns in the Shire of Barcoo in Central West Queensland. In the 2021 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 104 people.[4]

Windorah
Queensland
Windorah General Store, 2013
Windorah is located in Queensland
Windorah
Windorah
Coordinates25°25′14″S 142°39′16″E / 25.4205°S 142.6544°E / -25.4205; 142.6544 (Windorah (town centre))
Population104 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1880
Postcode(s)4481
Elevation126.3 m (414 ft)
Area8,835.4 km2 (3,411.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Barcoo Shire
CountyGrey
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
30.4 °C
87 °F		 15.7 °C
60 °F		 292.0 mm
11.5 in
Localities around Windorah:
Farrars Creek Jundah Jundah
Farrars Creek Windorah Eromanga
Farrars Creek Tanbar Eromanga

Geography edit

Located 35 kilometres (22 mi) downstream from where the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers join to form the multi-channelled Cooper Creek, the Shire covers an area of 60,901 square kilometres (23,514 sq mi). The town has a population of 60 people, with a further 40 living at surrounding stations.[needs update][citation needed]

A landscape of rocky outcrops, multiple sand hills and black soil flood plains make up most of the area surrounding the town. Water in the town follows the outback cycle of boom and bust. During a wet year Cooper Creek may flood more than a half a dozen times, during the dry it becomes a chain of waterholes. Downstream of the town stretches the Cooper Floodplain below Windorah Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for waterbirds when flooded.[5]

History edit

Before the onset of British colonisation, the area around Windorah was inhabited by the Kulumali people, who spoke the Birria (Pirriya) language.[6] The men of this group were circumcised, cut cicatrices on their chest and had one or two of their upper central incisors removed as part of their initiation rites. They also chewed pituri as a stimulant. The population upon first contact with the British was estimated to be under 1,000 people.[7][8]

The British first entered the region in August 1847 with the arrival of the expedition led by Edmund Kennedy. He encountered hundreds of Kulumali people living in the region and had several tense interactions with them over the ability to pass through their land and have access to their waterholes. Near the present town of Windorah, the situation was further inflamed with the Aboriginal people tampering with the expedition's cache of flour and by Kennedy twice attempting to force a negotiation in which he would take an Aboriginal child. A nulla nulla was thrown, and on two occasions Kennedy's men charged their horses at a group of resident Kulumali, whipping them and firing pistols above their heads to disperse them.[8]

George Fitzwalter established a shop and a hotel in 1878 on a stock route which became the town of Stoney Point. The name was changed to Windorah in 1884.[9][10] Cobb & Co once ran a stage coach service between Windorah and Adavale. It is stated that the town is named after the local Aboriginal word for "Big Fish",[10] although according to an account of the Durack settlers, the name means high, stony place.[11]

On 5 January 1884, police constable Nathaniel Roberts stationed at Windorah died from thirst while lost in the bush near Connemarra Station.[12][13]

Windorah Provisional School opened on 30 July 1888. In 1897 it became a half-time school, sharing a teacher with Cooper's Creek Provisional School, but reverted to a full-time school in 1903. In 1907, it became a half-time school with Cooper's Creek school again, and then closed in 1915. However, it reopened in 1916, only to close again in 1918. In 1926, it reopened and remains operating as Windorah State School.[14] It celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2013.[15][16]

On 30 November 1888, police constable Thomas Joseph Callaghan died while on patrol near Whitula pastoral station when he became lost in the bush without water and died of thirst. The temperature at the time was up to118 °F (48 °C) in the shade. He was buried in an unmarked grave 40 miles (64 km) west of the town of Windorah.[17][18]

 
Windorah Solar Farm, 2019

The town was completely isolated by floodwater in 1949 after surrounding areas were inundated by heavy rainfall. Low cloud and more rain prevented relief food supplies from being delivered by air from a RAAF Dakota.[19]

In 2009, Ergon Energy established its first solar farm in Windorah. The Windorah Solar Farm provides electricity to the town of Windorah and surrounding rural areas.[20][21]

Demographics edit

At the 2006 census, Windorah had a population of 158 people.[22]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 115 people, with 20.5% of the population identifying as Indigenous.[23]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 104 people.[4]

Climate edit

Windorah is diverse in many aspects. The temperature may range from maximums in summer that approach 50 °C or 122 °F to minimums in winter that are below 0 °C or 32 °F. The annual rainfall has recorded falls between a low of 86 millimetres or 3.39 inches and a high of 988 millimetres or 38.90 inches. Other weather extremes include 25 morning frosts in 1977, 10 dust storms in 1987 and four hailstorms in 1985.[citation needed]

Economy edit

 
Cattle crossing the Thomson Developmental Road, north of Windorah, 2019

Sheep and cattle grazing are the mainstay of the district; however, recently oil and gas industries have developed in the area.[citation needed] Many locals also work on the Shire Council and the Dingo Barrier Fence.[citation needed]

Education edit

Windorah State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 8 Victoria Street (25°25′13″S 142°39′15″E / 25.4202°S 142.6542°E / -25.4202; 142.6542 (Windorah State School)).[24][25] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 3 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).[26] In 2022, the school had 10 students.[27]

Attractions edit

 
Sunrise at Windorah

Windorah has been described as "The Heart of the Channel Country".[28]

Every year since 1998 Windorah hosts the Windorah International Yabby Races on the street outside the hotel. In each race, up to 10 yabbies are placed in the centre of a ring; the winner is the first yabby to reach the perimeter of the ring, a distance of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). It is held on the Wednesday before the Birdsville Races (first weekend in September) to take advantage of the many people travelling through Windorah to Birdsville. The event raises money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, community facilities and other charities.[29][30][31]

Amenities edit

The Windorah Library is operated by the Barcoo Shire Council and located in Maryborough Street.[32]

Windorah also has a racecourse, shire hall, information centre and museum.[33]

Facilities edit

 
Windorah Cemetery, 2019

Windorah Primary Health Care Centre has nurses who help manage chronic conditions and provide emergency care. It is at 25 Cecil Street (25°25′15″S 142°39′22″E / 25.4209°S 142.6561°E / -25.4209; 142.6561 (Windorah Primary Health Care Centre)).[34][35] It coordinates air ambulance transport with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.[36]

Windorah Cemetery is managed by the Baroo Shire Council.[37] It is on Cecil Street to the north of the town (25°24′55″S 142°39′12″E / 25.4153°S 142.6534°E / -25.4153; 142.6534 (Windorah Cemetery)).[38]

Windorah has the following emergency services:

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Windorah (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  2. ^ "Windorah – town in Shire of Barcoo (entry 43917)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Windorah – locality in Shire of Barcoo (entry 41480)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Windorah (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  5. ^ "BirdLife Data Zone: Cooper Floodplain Below Windorah". Birdlife International. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  6. ^ Horton, David. "The AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia". aiatsis.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ^ Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Kulumali (QLD)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-708-10741-6.
  8. ^ a b Beale, Edgar (1983). Kennedy, The Barcoo and Beyond 1847. Hobart: Blubber Head. ISBN 0908528116.
  9. ^ "NOMENCLATURE OF QUEENSLAND—308". The Courier-mail. No. 958. Queensland, Australia. 24 September 1936. p. 14. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ a b Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. p. 127. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
  11. ^ Durack, Mary (1959). Kings in Grass Castles.
  12. ^ "Nathaniel Roberts". Queensland Police. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  13. ^ "WESTERN MAIL NEWS". The Capricornian. Vol. 10, no. 6. Queensland, Australia. 9 February 1884. p. 6. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  15. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Windorah State School". Education Queensland. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Thomas Joseph CALLAGHAN". Queensland Police. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Windorah Whiffs". The Western Champion. Vol. X, no. 497. Queensland, Australia. 22 December 1888. p. 2. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Family rescued from flood". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Queensland: National Library of Australia. 25 March 1949. p. 1. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Windorah Solar Farm". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  21. ^ Moore, Tony (24 August 2016). "The rise and fall and rise of solar in outback Queensland". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Windorah (Barcoo Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  23. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Windorah (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  24. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Windorah State School". Windorah State School. 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  26. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  27. ^ "School annual report 2022" (PDF). Windorah State School. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Windorah". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Windorah International Yabby Races". Tourism & Events Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Everything you need to know about the Windorah International Yabby Races". Outback Queensland. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Ideal conditions promise 'fast and furious' yabby racing". ABC News. 4 September 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Public Library Directory". Public Libraries Connect. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Barcoo". Centre for the Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  34. ^ "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Windorah Primary Health Centre". Central West Hospital and Health Service. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Emergency Service, Windorah Primary Health Centre". Queensland Health. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Cemeteries". Barcoo Shire Council. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  38. ^ "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  39. ^ a b c "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  40. ^ "Windorah Station". Queensland Police. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  41. ^ Google (23 July 2023). "Windorah Police Station (Street View)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 23 July 2023.

Further reading edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Windorah.
  • Windorah State School centenary 1888-1988. Windorah State School. 1988.
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