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Blackall, Queensland facts for kids

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"Blackall" redirects here. For the surname, see Blackall (surname).
Not to be confused with Blackwall, Queensland.
Quick facts for kids
Blackall
Queensland
Blackall - Mitchell memorial.JPG
Memorial to Sir Thomas Mitchell
Blackall is located in Queensland
Blackall
Blackall
Location in Queensland
Population 1,416 (2016 census)
 • Density 0.085525/km2 (0.22151/sq mi)
Established 1868
Postcode(s) 4472
Elevation 284 m (932 ft)
Area 16,556.6 km2 (6,392.5 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s) Blackall-Tambo Region
State electorate(s) Gregory
Federal Division(s) Flynn
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
30.2 °C
86 °F		 15.4 °C
60 °F		 533.3 mm
21 in
Localities around Blackall:
Ilfracombe Barcaldine
Jericho		 Alpha
Windeyer
Isisford Blackall Mount Enniskillen
Macfarlane
Adavale Langlo
Scrubby Creek		 Lumeah
Minnie Downs

Blackall is a rural town and locality in the Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Blackall had a population of 1,416 people.

The town is the service centre for the Blackall-Tambo Region. The dominant industry in the area is grazing.

Yalleroi is another town in the north of the locality (24°04′05″S 145°45′33″E / 24.0680°S 145.7591°E / -24.0680; 145.7591 (Yalleroi (town centre))).

Geography

Blackall is approximately 960 kilometres (600 mi) by road from the state capital, Brisbane. The town is situated on the Barcoo River and Landsborough Highway (Matilda Highway).

Blackall claims to be the home of the original Black Stump, which marks the original Astro Station established in 1887. Places west of this point are said to be 'beyond the black stump'. The Black Stump was moved from its original location to make it more accessible to tourists, and can now be found on the boundary of the Blackall State School grounds, Thistle Street, Blackall. Blackall has many attractions for public use and entertainment, including the Blackall showground, the local pool and the historic Blackall Woolscour.

History

The region was explored in 1846 by explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell and his party. In 1856, Augustus Gregory passed through the area noting that the landscape was a vast plain lacking vegetation in contrast to Mitchell's description of good country. Blackall was named by Surveyor Abraham H. May after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland. During the 1860s the town developed as a service centre for the surrounding pastoral properties. A survey of town allotments was conducted in 1868.

Barcoo Post Office opened on 1 April 1864. It was renamed Blackall in 1868.

Blackall State School opened on 10 September 1877. On 5 October 1964, the school was destroyed by fire, but was subsequently rebuilt.

On Tuesday 29 March 1881, following seven inches of rain, the river burst through the town embankment, completely washing away the stonework of the dam. On Wednesday 30 March, the still-rising river flooded the town's main street and many people in the town's lower-lying areas were forced to evacuate as their homes became fully submerged.

Blackall was one of the first Queensland towns to sink an artesian bore in 1885, which now supplies the town with water from the Great Artesian Basin. The water temperature is 58 degrees Celsius. There is an artesian spa bath at the aquatic centre and locally produced soft drinks are made from the artesian water.

In December 1890 the Australian Labor Party constitution and rules were drawn up at Blackall, during the founding of this party. In Australian folklore, the best known citizen of the town was the shearer Jack Howe. In 1892, he shore a total of 321 sheep at Alice Downs station in 7 hours and 40 minutes, a record for hand shearing that still stands, and was only broken by a shearer using a machine driven handpiece in 1950. A branch line from the Central Western railway reached Blackall in 1908.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School was established in 1917 by the Sisters of St Joseph. The opening ceremonies were conducted on Saturday 21 July 1917 by Archbishop James Duhig.

The Blackall War Memorial commemorates those soldiers who died in World War I. The memorial was dedicated on the 25 April (Anzac Day) 1927 by James Charles Minnis (former mayor of Blackall and a former soldier). The honour roll of those who died in World War II was added later.

Blackall's population was more than 3,000 in 1965. A declining population has coincided with the decline in the wool industry in the district.

Heritage listings

Blackall has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Transport

Blackall Airport is on Aerodrome Road (24°25′41″S 145°25′38″E / 24.4280°S 145.4273°E / -24.4280; 145.4273 (Blackall Airport)). QantasLink has services connecting the town to Longreach and Brisbane.

Blackall is also a timetabled meal stop for Bus Queensland's long-distance bus services:

Facilities

Blackall has a public library, showground, racecourse, golf course, bowling club and aquatic centre, cultural centre and an historical association.

The Blackall Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course at Shamrock Street (24°25′18″S 145°27′10″E / 24.42172°S 145.45276°E / -24.42172; 145.45276 (Blackall Golf Club)).

Climate

The town has a semi-arid climate according to Köppen (BSh).


Climate data for Blackall
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 44.6
(112.3)		 43.9
(111.0)		 41.8
(107.2)		 37.3
(99.1)		 35.0
(95.0)		 32.8
(91.0)		 31.3
(88.3)		 35.1
(95.2)		 38.4
(101.1)		 41.2
(106.2)		 44.0
(111.2)		 44.6
(112.3)		 44.6
(112.3)
Average high °C (°F) 36.0
(96.8)		 35.1
(95.2)		 33.7
(92.7)		 30.3
(86.5)		 25.8
(78.4)		 22.7
(72.9)		 22.3
(72.1)		 24.6
(76.3)		 28.5
(83.3)		 32.2
(90.0)		 34.7
(94.5)		 36.0
(96.8)		 30.2
(86.4)
Average low °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3)		 22.0
(71.6)		 19.9
(67.8)		 16.1
(61.0)		 11.8
(53.2)		 8.0
(46.4)		 6.9
(44.4)		 8.4
(47.1)		 12.1
(53.8)		 16.5
(61.7)		 19.5
(67.1)		 21.4
(70.5)		 15.4
(59.7)
Record low °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)		 12.4
(54.3)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4.1
(39.4)		 0.1
(32.2)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 1.4
(34.5)		 3.0
(37.4)		 8.2
(46.8)		 10.7
(51.3)		 −2.0
(28.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 85.2
(3.35)		 81.9
(3.22)		 62.8
(2.47)		 37.1
(1.46)		 33.6
(1.32)		 26.3
(1.04)		 25.1
(0.99)		 16.4
(0.65)		 18.4
(0.72)		 33.2
(1.31)		 43.5
(1.71)		 69.8
(2.75)		 533.3
(20.99)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) 7.1 6.5 5.3 3.2 3.2 2.8 2.6 2.2 2.6 4.2 5.3 6.3 51.3
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Gallery

  • Howegrave

    Jack Howe's gravesite in Blackall cemetery

  • Howestone

    Gravestone memorial for Jack Howe in Blackall cemetery

Economy

There are a number of homesteads in the locality:

  • Acton (25°27′33″S 145°25′48″E / 25.4591°S 145.4299°E / -25.4591; 145.4299 (Acton (homestead)))
  • Alamay (24°36′03″S 145°00′06″E / 24.6007°S 145.0017°E / -24.6007; 145.0017 (Alamay (homestead)))
  • Alice Downs (24°16′15″S 145°29′21″E / 24.2709°S 145.4893°E / -24.2709; 145.4893 (Alice Downs (homestead)))
  • Allandale (24°20′58″S 145°55′02″E / 24.3495°S 145.9172°E / -24.3495; 145.9172 (Allandale (homestead)))
  • Alva (25°07′43″S 145°25′36″E / 25.1287°S 145.4268°E / -25.1287; 145.4268 (Alva (homestead)))
  • Ansgrove (24°28′06″S 145°23′30″E / 24.4682°S 145.3918°E / -24.4682; 145.3918 (Ansgrove (homestead)))
  • Anthony (24°06′31″S 145°52′33″E / 24.1087°S 145.8758°E / -24.1087; 145.8758 (Anthony (homestead)))
  • Athol (24°29′40″S 145°11′22″E / 24.4944°S 145.1894°E / -24.4944; 145.1894 (Athol (homestead)))
  • Avington (24°04′42″S 144°58′12″E / 24.0784°S 144.9700°E / -24.0784; 144.9700 (Avington (homestead)))
  • Avondale (24°14′03″S 145°05′49″E / 24.2342°S 145.0969°E / -24.2342; 145.0969 (Avondale (homestead)))
  • Benalla (24°35′26″S 144°42′36″E / 24.5905°S 144.7099°E / -24.5905; 144.7099 (Benalla (homestead)))
  • Blairgowrie (24°31′16″S 144°55′45″E / 24.5211°S 144.9291°E / -24.5211; 144.9291 (Blairgowrie (homestead)))
  • Bloomfield (24°38′31″S 145°19′18″E / 24.6420°S 145.3218°E / -24.6420; 145.3218 (Bloomfield (homestead)))
  • Boorara (24°02′10″S 145°41′10″E / 24.0362°S 145.6860°E / -24.0362; 145.6860 (Boorara (homestead)))
  • Brides Creek (25°01′36″S 145°26′53″E / 25.0267°S 145.4481°E / -25.0267; 145.4481 (Brides Creek (homestead)))
  • Bridesdale (24°56′20″S 145°24′59″E / 24.9389°S 145.4164°E / -24.9389; 145.4164 (Bridesdale (homestead)))
  • Caranna (25°24′04″S 145°20′30″E / 25.4010°S 145.3416°E / -25.4010; 145.3416 (Caranna (homestead)))
  • Carlow (24°51′50″S 145°26′50″E / 24.8640°S 145.4472°E / -24.8640; 145.4472 (Carlow (homestead)))
  • Champion (24°13′32″S 145°52′53″E / 24.2255°S 145.8813°E / -24.2255; 145.8813 (Champion (homestead)))
  • Clarendon (24°14′36″S 145°13′20″E / 24.2432°S 145.2221°E / -24.2432; 145.2221 (Clarendon (homestead)))
  • Colart (24°40′25″S 145°38′47″E / 24.6736°S 145.6463°E / -24.6736; 145.6463 (Colart (homestead)))
  • Coolatai (24°53′34″S 145°30′59″E / 24.8929°S 145.5165°E / -24.8929; 145.5165 (Coolatai (homestead)))
  • Cootabynia (25°07′32″S 145°13′05″E / 25.1255°S 145.2181°E / -25.1255; 145.2181 (Cootabynia (homestead)))
  • Coreen (24°18′37″S 145°11′59″E / 24.3104°S 145.1997°E / -24.3104; 145.1997 (Coreen (homestead)))
  • Devenish (24°17′58″S 146°14′07″E / 24.2994°S 146.2353°E / -24.2994; 146.2353 (Devenish (homestead)))
  • Duck Creek (24°37′01″S 145°44′21″E / 24.6169°S 145.7391°E / -24.6169; 145.7391 (Duck Creek (homestead)))
  • Dumfries (24°59′47″S 145°33′44″E / 24.9963°S 145.5622°E / -24.9963; 145.5622 (Dumfries (homestead)))
  • Duneira (24°32′32″S 145°34′11″E / 24.5422°S 145.5698°E / -24.5422; 145.5698 (Duneira (homestead)))
  • Duthie Park (24°27′05″S 145°48′31″E / 24.4513°S 145.8085°E / -24.4513; 145.8085 (Duthie Park (homestead)))
  • Eastwood (24°42′14″S 145°25′14″E / 24.7040°S 145.4205°E / -24.7040; 145.4205 (Eastwood (homestead)))
  • Effra (24°43′00″S 145°39′30″E / 24.7167°S 145.6583°E / -24.7167; 145.6583 (Effra (homestead)))
  • Erne (24°21′03″S 145°58′57″E / 24.3508°S 145.9826°E / -24.3508; 145.9826 (Erne (homestead)))
  • Five Mile (24°24′08″S 145°23′16″E / 24.4021°S 145.3879°E / -24.4021; 145.3879 (Five Mile (homestead)))
  • Flemington (24°43′23″S 145°22′19″E / 24.7230°S 145.3720°E / -24.7230; 145.3720 (Flemington (homestead)))
  • Forest Hill (25°05′58″S 145°35′20″E / 25.0994°S 145.5888°E / -25.0994; 145.5888 (Forest Hill (homestead)))
  • Forest Park (24°31′05″S 145°34′12″E / 24.5180°S 145.5699°E / -24.5180; 145.5699 (Forest Park (homestead)))
  • Gowan (25°01′11″S 145°18′10″E / 25.0196°S 145.3028°E / -25.0196; 145.3028 (Gowan (homestead)))
  • Gowan Hills (24°14′37″S 144°42′09″E / 24.2437°S 144.7025°E / -24.2437; 144.7025 (Gowan Hills (homestead)))
  • Harden Park (24°20′31″S 145°45′32″E / 24.3419°S 145.7588°E / -24.3419; 145.7588 (Harden Park (homestead)))
  • Henley Park (24°06′27″S 145°55′04″E / 24.1075°S 145.9179°E / -24.1075; 145.9179 (Henley Park (homestead)))
  • Homebush (24°49′40″S 145°17′05″E / 24.8279°S 145.2848°E / -24.8279; 145.2848 (Homebush (homestead)))
  • Idalia Stud (24°33′09″S 144°51′40″E / 24.5525°S 144.8610°E / -24.5525; 144.8610 (Idalia Stud (homestead)))
  • Inverness (24°35′57″S 145°26′06″E / 24.5991°S 145.4350°E / -24.5991; 145.4350 (Inverness (homestead)))
  • Juray (24°26′24″S 144°50′12″E / 24.4401°S 144.8366°E / -24.4401; 144.8366 (Juray (homestead)))
  • Koondoo (24°57′19″S 145°14′57″E / 24.9552°S 145.2492°E / -24.9552; 145.2492 (Koondoo (homestead)))
  • La Plata (24°33′23″S 145°35′25″E / 24.5565°S 145.5902°E / -24.5565; 145.5902 (La Plata (homestead)))
  • Lambert (25°23′29″S 145°24′54″E / 25.3915°S 145.4151°E / -25.3915; 145.4151 (Lambert (homestead)))
  • Lancevale (23°54′37″S 145°53′28″E / 23.9102°S 145.8911°E / -23.9102; 145.8911 (Lancevale (homestead)))
  • Lilyveil (24°36′30″S 144°54′22″E / 24.6082°S 144.9062°E / -24.6082; 144.9062 (Lilyveil (homestead)))
  • Linden (24°25′14″S 145°11′04″E / 24.4206°S 145.1844°E / -24.4206; 145.1844 (Linden (homestead)))
  • Lisburne (25°16′17″S 145°05′59″E / 25.2713°S 145.0997°E / -25.2713; 145.0997 (Lisburne (homestead)))
  • Lisgool (abandoned) (24°15′17″S 146°16′30″E / 24.2548°S 146.2751°E / -24.2548; 146.2751 (Lisgool (homestead)))
  • Listowel Downs (25°12′26″S 145°13′48″E / 25.2072°S 145.2300°E / -25.2072; 145.2300 (Listowel Downs (homestead)))
  • Lorne Peak (24°57′33″S 145°08′59″E / 24.9592°S 145.1497°E / -24.9592; 145.1497 (Lorne Peak (homestead)))
  • Lowana (24°39′16″S 144°49′15″E / 24.6545°S 144.8208°E / -24.6545; 144.8208 (Lowana (homestead)))
  • Lynbrydon (25°16′31″S 145°14′22″E / 25.2753°S 145.2394°E / -25.2753; 145.2394 (Lynbrydon (homestead)))
  • Malvern Hills (24°29′05″S 145°07′25″E / 24.4847°S 145.1235°E / -24.4847; 145.1235 (Malvern Hills (homestead)))
  • Manoora (24°42′28″S 145°37′11″E / 24.7077°S 145.6198°E / -24.7077; 145.6198 (Manoora (homestead)))
  • Maree Downs (24°26′13″S 144°54′31″E / 24.4370°S 144.9087°E / -24.4370; 144.9087 (Maree Downs (homestead)))
  • Maryvale Springs (24°03′26″S 145°54′28″E / 24.0571°S 145.9079°E / -24.0571; 145.9079 (Maryvale Springs (homestead)))
  • Melrose (24°11′05″S 145°00′21″E / 24.1846°S 145.0059°E / -24.1846; 145.0059 (Melrose (homestead)))
  • Milparinka (24°26′49″S 145°47′50″E / 24.4469°S 145.7972°E / -24.4469; 145.7972 (Milparinka (homestead)))
  • Milton Park (24°39′02″S 145°04′25″E / 24.6505°S 145.0735°E / -24.6505; 145.0735 (Milton Park (homestead)))
  • Moorlands (24°23′49″S 145°04′10″E / 24.3969°S 145.0695°E / -24.3969; 145.0695 (Moorlands (homestead)))
  • Morundah (24°40′55″S 144°52′15″E / 24.6819°S 144.8708°E / -24.6819; 144.8708 (Morundah (homestead)))
  • Mount Harden (24°47′05″S 144°51′12″E / 24.7847°S 144.8534°E / -24.7847; 144.8534 (Mount Harden (homestead)))
  • Navena (24°13′57″S 145°33′08″E / 24.2325°S 145.5523°E / -24.2325; 145.5523 (Navena (homestead)))
  • Neverfail (24°06′18″S 146°04′24″E / 24.1051°S 146.0732°E / -24.1051; 146.0732 (Neverfail (homestead)))
  • Northampton Downs (24°33′37″S 145°47′12″E / 24.5604°S 145.7866°E / -24.5604; 145.7866 (Northampton Downs (homestead)))
  • Northampton Stud (24°27′24″S 145°40′05″E / 24.4566°S 145.6681°E / -24.4566; 145.6681 (Northampton Stud (homestead)))
  • Norwood (24°20′38″S 145°18′34″E / 24.3439°S 145.3094°E / -24.3439; 145.3094 (Norwood (homestead)))
  • Nudgee (24°47′29″S 145°32′16″E / 24.7915°S 145.5378°E / -24.7915; 145.5378 (Nudgee (homestead)))
  • Paradise Downs (24°19′16″S 145°39′06″E / 24.3210°S 145.6516°E / -24.3210; 145.6516 (Paradise Downs (homestead)))
  • Pentwyn (24°35′36″S 145°39′03″E / 24.5933°S 145.6509°E / -24.5933; 145.6509 (Pentwyn (homestead)))
  • Prairie Downs (24°13′57″S 145°00′41″E / 24.2326°S 145.0113°E / -24.2326; 145.0113 (Prairie Downs (homestead)))
  • Purtora (24°19′40″S 146°06′13″E / 24.3277°S 146.1035°E / -24.3277; 146.1035 (Purtora (homestead)))
  • Ravensbourne (24°50′40″S 145°36′48″E / 24.8445°S 145.6134°E / -24.8445; 145.6134 (Ravensbourne (homestead)))
  • Rivington (24°29′01″S 144°45′31″E / 24.4836°S 144.7586°E / -24.4836; 144.7586 (Rivington (homestead)))
  • Romulus (24°45′01″S 145°41′17″E / 24.7504°S 145.6881°E / -24.7504; 145.6881 (Romulus (homestead)))
  • Ryandale (24°01′57″S 145°46′58″E / 24.0324°S 145.7829°E / -24.0324; 145.7829 (Ryandale (homestead)))
  • Selvister (24°27′27″S 145°12′52″E / 24.4574°S 145.2145°E / -24.4574; 145.2145 (Selvister (homestead)))
  • South Terrick (24°51′50″S 145°03′27″E / 24.8639°S 145.0574°E / -24.8639; 145.0574 (South Terrick (homestead)))
  • Springleigh (24°33′42″S 144°43′09″E / 24.5617°S 144.7192°E / -24.5617; 144.7192 (Springleigh (homestead)))
  • Stratavon (24°03′42″S 144°50′41″E / 24.0618°S 144.8447°E / -24.0618; 144.8447 (Stratavon (homestead)))
  • Stratford (23°52′02″S 145°47′50″E / 23.8673°S 145.7971°E / -23.8673; 145.7971 (Stratford (homestead)))
  • Sumnervale (24°54′16″S 145°34′18″E / 24.9044°S 145.5717°E / -24.9044; 145.5717 (Sumnervale (homestead)))
  • Sydenham (24°02′14″S 145°59′07″E / 24.0372°S 145.9854°E / -24.0372; 145.9854 (Sydenham (homestead)))
  • Tarbarah (24°45′11″S 144°58′54″E / 24.7530°S 144.9816°E / -24.7530; 144.9816 (Tarbarah (homestead)))
  • Tarves (24°13′45″S 145°19′04″E / 24.2291°S 145.3179°E / -24.2291; 145.3179 (Tarves (homestead)))
  • Terrick Terrick (24°44′11″S 145°04′27″E / 24.7363°S 145.0741°E / -24.7363; 145.0741 (Terrick Terrick (homestead)))
  • Thornleigh (24°19′26″S 144°54′31″E / 24.3238°S 144.9087°E / -24.3238; 144.9087 (Thornleigh (homestead)))
  • Tilbury (24°07′20″S 145°42′32″E / 24.1221°S 145.7089°E / -24.1221; 145.7089 (Tilbury (homestead)))
  • Valparaiso (24°18′03″S 146°08′36″E / 24.3009°S 146.1432°E / -24.3009; 146.1432 (Valparaiso (homestead)))
  • Warringah (24°48′40″S 145°01′45″E / 24.8112°S 145.0293°E / -24.8112; 145.0293 (Warringah (homestead)))
  • Westhill (24°14′40″S 145°35′58″E / 24.2444°S 145.5994°E / -24.2444; 145.5994 (Westhill (homestead)))
  • Woodbine (24°20′28″S 145°26′52″E / 24.3412°S 145.4478°E / -24.3412; 145.4478 (Woodbine (homestead)))

Education

Blackall State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep-12) school for boys and girls at the corner of Hawthorne Street and Shamrock Street (24°25′32″S 145°28′11″E / 24.4256°S 145.4696°E / -24.4256; 145.4696 (Blackall State School)). In 2012, there were 152 students enrolled with 14.5 teachers. In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 111 students with 13 teachers (11 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Kindergarten-6) school for boys and girls at 109 Thistle Street (24°25′12″S 145°27′35″E / 24.4200°S 145.4597°E / -24.4200; 145.4597 (St Joseph's Catholic Primary School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 69 students with 7 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).

Notable people

  • Ashley Adams – Paralympic shooter
  • Bonny Barry – Politician
  • Jack "Jackie" Howe – Shearer
  • Edgar Towner – Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Images for kids

  • Staff behind the counter of Logos Brothers’ Central Cafe and Store, Blackall, ca. 1939

    A thriving Greek cafe in the 1930s in Blackall, Queensland

  • Logos Bros Central Cafe, Blackall

    Interior view of the Logos Brother's Central Cafe at Blackall, Queensland

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