Betoota, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BetootaQueensland |
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Store in Betoota, 1903
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 Betoota
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 0 (2014) |
| Established | 1887 |
| Postcode(s) | 4482 |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Diamantina |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa |
Betoota is a ghost town within the locality of Birdsville, in the Shire of Diamantina, in the Channel Country of Central West Queensland, Australia. The last permanent resident, Sigmund Remienko, died in 2004. Betoota is situated on a gibber plain (a stony desert plain) 170 kilometres (110 mi) east of Birdsville and 227 kilometres (141 mi) west of Windorah.
The town has been designated as Australia's smallest. The only facilities in Betoota are a racetrack, a dry weather airstrip and a cricket field. Visitors are drawn to the town during the annual Simpson Desert Carnival which is held in September.
History
The town was surveyed in 1887. Only three streets were ever named. The Betoota Hotel was built in the late 1880s and is now the last remaining building in town. The building is constructed of sandstone and has timber floors.
In 1885, the Queensland Government opened a customs post to collect a toll for stock travelling the stock route. Betoota was once a Cobb & Co change station.
In 1895, a police presence was established in the town as construction of a rabbit-proof fence in the region was attracting many "undesirable characters" to the town. A police station with a court was built in 1915 but was closed in 1930 because an inspection in 1928 found no-one had been taken into custody or placed before the court in more than five years.
The hotel operated until 1997 when its owner Sigmund (Simon) Remienko retired at 82 years of age. Originally from Poland, Sigmund worked as a grader driver until he bought the Betoota Hotel in 1957. Owning the hotel for 47 years, Simon was Betoota's sole resident until ill health forced him to move. In October 1997, the hotel closed. He died in 2004.
Status
The town is now deserted, all except for tourists in the dry season.
Heritage listings
Betoota has a number of heritage-listed sites, including a protected area known as Burke and Wills "Plant Camp".
