Blackall

Geography

Blackall is in Central Western Queensland, approximately 960 kilometres (600 mi) by road from the state capital, Brisbane, 106 kilometres (66 mi) south of Barcaldine and 302 kilometres (188 mi) north of Charleville. The town is situated on the Barcoo River and Landsborough Highway (Matilda Way). Blackall–Jericho Road runs north-east from the town to the locality of Jericho. Isisford–Blackall Road enters from the locality of Isisford to the west.

The locality contains numerous mountains, including:

Battery Knob (24.7550°S 144.7917°E / -24.7550; 144.7917 (Battery Knob)) 431 metres (1,414 ft)

Carlton Hill (24.9111°S 145.7253°E / -24.9111; 145.7253 (Carlton Hill)) 465 metres (1,526 ft)

Cory Peak (25.1645°S 145.1564°E / -25.1645; 145.1564 (Cory Peak)) 449 metres (1,473 ft)

Flat Top (24.9896°S 145.0617°E / -24.9896; 145.0617 (Flat Top))

Joey Peak (25.1550°S 145.1211°E / -25.1550; 145.1211 (Joey Peak)) 417 metres (1,368 ft)

Lorne Mountain (24.9975°S 145.1810°E / -24.9975; 145.1810 (Lorne Mountain)) 401 metres (1,316 ft)

Mount Battery (24.7634°S 144.7920°E / -24.7634; 144.7920 (Mount Battery)) 434 metres (1,424 ft)

Mount Calder (24.9655°S 145.0638°E / -24.9655; 145.0638 (Mount Calder)) 383 metres (1,257 ft)

Mount Conebreak (25.1621°S 145.1965°E / -25.1621; 145.1965 (Mount Conebreak)) 436 metres (1,430 ft)

Mount Cullen (24.9368°S 144.9021°E / -24.9368; 144.9021 (Mount Cullen)) 400 metres (1,300 ft)

History

Bidjara (also known as Bidyara, Pitjara, and Peechara) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Bidjara people. The Bidjara language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Murweh, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall as well as the properties of Nive Downs and Mount Tabor.

Kuungkari (also known as Kungkari and Koonkerri) is a language of Western Queensland. The Kuungkari language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Longreach Region and Blackall-Tambo Region.

Gungabula (also known as Kongabula and Khungabula) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the headwaters of the Dawson River in Central Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area of Maranoa Region, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall and as well as the Carnarvon Range.

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 Barcoo 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. It 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.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Blackall had a population of 1,588 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Blackall had a population of 1,416 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Blackall had a population of 1,365 people.

Heritage listings

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

Blackall Masonic Temple, Hawthorn Street (24.4271°S 145.4679°E / -24.4271; 145.4679 (Blackall Masonic Temple))

Blackall Woolscour, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) northeast of Blackall (24.3949°S 145.4878°E / -24.3949; 145.4878 (Blackall Woolscour))

Education

Blackall State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep to Year 12) school for boys and girls at the corner of Hawthorne Street and Shamrock Street (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 to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 109 Thistle Street (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).

Facilities

Blackall Police Station is at 139 Shamrock Street, access via Violet Street (24.4225°S 145.4610°E / -24.4225; 145.4610 (Blackall Police Station)).

Blackall Fire Station is at 125 Shamrock Street (24.4234°S 145.4625°E / -24.4234; 145.4625 (Blackall Fire Station)).

Blackall Hospital is a public hospital at 31 Hospital Road (24.4229°S 145.4490°E / -24.4229; 145.4490 (public hospital)). Prior to July 2014 it was known as the Black Stump Medical Centre.

Blackall Ambulance Station is at 4 Coronation Drive (24.4230°S 145.4634°E / -24.4230; 145.4634 (Blackall Ambulance Station)).

Blackall Cemetery is on Evora Road (24.4085°S 145.4744°E / -24.4085; 145.4744 (Blackall Cemetery)). Legendary shearer Jackie Howe is buried there.

Amenities

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

The Blackall-Tambo Regional Council operates a public library at 108 Shamrock Street (24.4245°S 145.4650°E / -24.4245; 145.4650 (Blackall Library)) with Internet access provided through a High-Speed ISDN Connection to Brisbane (powered through the National Broadband Network).

Blackall Cultural Centre is on the south-east corner of Shamrock Street and Hawthorne Street (24.4261°S 145.4684°E / -24.4261; 145.4684 (Blackall Cultural Centre)).

The Blackall branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 14 Clematis Street (24.4251°S 145.4654°E / -24.4251; 145.4654 (Blackall CWA Hall)).

Blackall Uniting Church is at 28 Clematis Street (24.4233°S 145.4661°E / -24.4233; 145.4661 (Blackall Uniting Church)).

The Blackall Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course at 192 Shamrock Street (24.42172°S 145.45276°E / -24.42172; 145.45276 (Blackall Golf Club)).

Media

Blackall is serviced by a number of radio stations:

West FM (Resonate Radio) – 95.1 FM

Classic Hits 4LG (Resonate Radio) – 100.7 FM

ABC Radio National – 107.9 FM

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation transmits ABC Television and its sister channels ABC Kids/ABC TV Plus, ABC Me and ABC News to Blackall through its Blackall relay station, ABBLQ

The Seven Network and its sister stations 7Two, 7Mate and 7Flix transmit to Blackall through its regional area affiliate, ITQ

The Nine Network and its sister channels 9Gem, 9Go! and 9Rush transmit to Blackall through its regional area affiliate, Imparja Television

Network Ten and its sister channels 10 BOLD, 10 Peach and 10 Shake transmit to Blackall through its regional area affiliate, CDT

The Special Broadcasting Service and its sister channels SBS Viceland, SBS World Movies and SBS Food also transmit to Blackall

Attractions

The Black Stump is in Thistle Street behind the Blackall State School (24.4238°S 145.4697°E / -24.4238; 145.4697 (The Black Stump, Blackall)).

The Major Mitchell Memorial is in the centre of Shamrock Street (opposite Short Street, 24.4242°S 145.4644°E / -24.4242; 145.4644 (Major Mitchell Memorial)). It commemorates Thomas Mitchell's exploration of the district.

The Australian Labor Federation Memorial is at the intersection of Shamrock Street and Short Street (24.4244°S 145.4646°E / -24.4244; 145.4646 (Australian Labour Federation Memorial)). It commemorates the meeting of shearers that led to the foundation of the Australian Labor Party.

Blackall Memorial Park is on the south-east corner of Shamrock Street and Hawthorne Street (24.4258°S 145.4685°E / -24.4258; 145.4685 (Blackall War Memorial)) in front of the Blackall Cultural Centre. Blackall War Memorial and other memorials and honour rolls are located either within the park or within the cultural centre.

Blackall Woolscour is in Evora Road (24.3949°S 145.4878°E / -24.3949; 145.4878 (Black Woolscour)). Guided tours are available.

Transport

Blackall Airport is on Aerodrome Road (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:

BQ201 (Brisbane – Mount Isa)

BQ202 (Mount Isa – Brisbane)

Climate

Blackall experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with a highly erratic wet season from December and March and a lengthy dry season from April and November, with cooler nights. Average maxima vary from 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in July to 36.0 °C (96.8 °F) in December and January. Average annual rainfall is low, 526.7 mm (20.74 in), occurring within 40.2 rainfall days, and is concentrated in the summer. The town is very sunny, averaging 192.5 clear days and only 64.5 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −2.0 °C (28.4 °F) on 27 July 1966 to 44.6 °C (112.3 °F) on 28 January 1990 and 13 December 1979.

Notable people

Ashley Adams – Paralympic shooter

Bonny Barry – Politician

Guy Kendall White – Pioneering experimentalist in low-temperature and solid-state physics, and cryogenics

Jack "Jackie" Howe – Shearer

Jacki MacDonald − Television and radio personality

Fiona MacDonald – Television presenter

Chris Nyst – Solicitor and crime fiction writer

Edgar Towner – Recipient of the Victoria Cross