Augathella

Augathella /ˈɔːɡəθɛlə/ is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Murweh, Queensland, Australia.[2][3]

For the locality in Queensland now known as Ellangowan, see Ellangowan, Queensland.

Augathella
Queensland
Memorial Hall, Augathella
Augathella is located in Queensland
Augathella
Augathella
Coordinates25.7947°S 146.5858°E / -25.7947; 146.5858
Population328 (UCL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)4477
Area1,459.1 km2 (563.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Murweh
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Augathella:
Ward Nive Caroline Crossing
Ward Augathella Caroline Crossing
Ward Gowrie Station Clara Creek

Geography

Augathella lies on the Matilda Highway, is 85 kilometres (53 mi) north of the town of Charleville, 271 kilometres (168 mi) west of Roma and 748 kilometres (465 mi) west of Brisbane (Queensland's capital). The town lies on the banks of the Warrego River.

Grazing is still the predominant industry of the area.

History

Aboriginal people

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 areas of the Shire of Murweh, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall as well as the properties of Nive Downs and Mount Tabor.[4]

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.[5]

Gunya (Kunya, Kunja, Kurnja) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Gunya people. The Gunya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Paroo Shire Council, taking in Cunnamulla and extending north towards Augathella, east towards Bollon and west towards Thargomindah.[6]

British colonisation

The first British explorer to enter the region was Edmund Kennedy, whose 1847 expedition encountered an Aboriginal community who communicated the words "Yo, Yo" to express affirmation. Kennedy subsequently called the creek where he found this community Yo Yo Creek.[7]

Pastoralists started to take land in the region in early 1862 with the arrival of James Norman, who took up vast leaseholds on behalf of Joseph Fleming and Adeline Dollman. Norman established the Burenda, Yo Yo and Augathella properties.[8]

Aboriginal resistance to colonisation in the region was notable in that several victories were achieved against the paramilitary units of the Native Police on the upper Warrego and Ward rivers. However, in 1864 a Native Police barracks was built on Yo Yo Creek, and punitive expeditions under officers such as Sub-Lieutenant Carr crushed any further resistance.[9][10]

Augathella township

The town, built up gradually over what was Kunja tribal territory, came into being initially as a resting place for bullock teams lying at the convergence of three bullock tracks from Morven, Tambo, and Charleville. Originally called Burenda it was renamed Ellangowan (still the name of the local watering hole) and when gazetted in 1883 called Augathella. This is apparently an Indigenous Australian word meaning "camp on a waterhole", referring the Warrego River.[2][11] A service centre sprang up to service their needs and the needs of the burgeoning grazing industry.

Burenda Post Office opened on 1 September 1869. It was renamed Ellangowan in 1877 and Augathella in 1883.[12]

Augathella Provisional School opened on 1 January 1884. On 7 August 1893 it became Augathella State School.[13][14]

On Sunday 10 July 1892 St Luke's Anglican church was officially opened by Bishop Nathaniel Dawes.[15][16] A new church was built at a cost of £8300 and dedicated in 1957.[17]

On 1 October 1928 Rev W.C. Radcliffe officially opened the Augathella Presbyterian Church.[18]

The 1956 film Smiley was based on Moore Raymond's novel of the same name, which was set in a fictionalised version of Augathella.[19][20]

The town's service centre was bypassed by the new Matilda Highway during the 1980s. Some new businesses have slowly encroached back onto the highway frontage.

Augathella and the surrounding district suffered extensive flood damage in 1990 when the Warrego River burst its banks and flooded the town.

The Augathella Library opened in 2000.[21]

At the 2006 census, Augathella had a population of 395.[22]

Augathella Cosmos Meatant Country

Since 2011 the entrance the town has been marked by 4.5m steel and copper giant sculpture of a meat ant[23] - in a reference to its former junior football team, named the "Mighty Meat Ants".[24]

In the 2016 census, Augathella had a population of 449 people.[25]

Heritage listings

There are a number of heritage-listed sites in Augathella, including:

Within the town:

  • Annie Street: Catholic Church [26]
  • Annie Street: Catholic School [26]
  • Cavanagh Street: Hospital [26]
  • Cavanagh Street: Queensland Country Women's Association [26]
  • Elmes Street: Rodeo Grounds [26]
  • Forest Street: Augathella Water Tower [26]
  • Jane Street (corner of Cavanagh Street): Kenniff Tree [26]
  • Main Street: Arts and Craft Centre (former Helton's Building) [26]
  • Main Street: Butcher shop [26]
  • Main Street: Police station [26]
  • Main Street: Post office [26]
  • Main Street: Town hall [26]
  • Main Street: War Memorial Hill [26]
  • Main & Annie Streets: Ellangowan Hotel [26]
  • 61 Main Street: St Luke's Anglican Church [26]
  • Nelson Street: Old Water Tower [26]
  • off Russell Street: Cemetery [26]
  • off West Street: Augathella Race Course [26]

Within the locality:

  • Carnarvon Station: Fig Tree Spring Stockyards [26]
  • Dooloogarah Carnarvon National Park Road: Ralph's Bore & Upper Warrego Police Barracks site [26]
  • Mount Tabor: Dingo Fence Section [26]

Education

Augathella State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at Cavanagh Street (25.7971°S 146.5833°E / -25.7971; 146.5833 (Augathella State School)).[27][28] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 44 students with 4 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent).[29] Augathella State School is part of Education Queensland's Charleville Cluster and is supported by the Darling Downs South West regional team which is based in Toowoomba.[30]

There is no secondary school in Augathella.[31] School Bus Route S279 conveys students from Year 7 to Year 12 into Charleville to attend Charleville State High School.[32]

Amenities

The Murweh Shire Council operates the Augathella Library on Main Street, Augathella.[33] The Augathella Library has a high-speed Internet Connection (powered by the National Broadband Network)

The Augathella branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 101 Cavanagh Street.[34]

St Luke's Anglican Church is at 61 Main Street (25.7948°S 146.585477°E / -25.7948; 146.585477 (St Luke's Anglican Church)) and holds services on the 2nd Sunday of each month.[35]

There is a growing arts centre in the town, public swimming pool, a bowls club, and polocrosse teams.

Events

There is an annual rodeo.

There is also a Christmas Celebration in Meat Ant Park every December

Media

Augathella is serviced by:

  • Radio 4VL (Resonate Radio) – 106.1 FM

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation transmits ABC Television and its sister channels ABC Kids/ABC TV Plus, ABC Me and ABC News to Augathella through its relay station, ABAAQ at 25°48′23″S 146°35′21″E (old Charleville–Augathella Road)

The Seven Network and its sister stations 7two and 7mate transmit to Augathella through its regional area affiliate, ITQ

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

Network Ten and its sister channels 10 Bold and 10 Peach transmit to Augathella 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 Augathella

Attractions
Smiley film mural

Augathella is the permanent home of the Q150 Shed that travelled around the state in 2009 as part of the Q150 Celebrations providing each community it visited a night of entertainment. Communities toured included: Mount Isa, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Maryborough, Blackall, Augathella, Cherbourg, Warwick, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.[36]

Transport

Augathella is situated on the junction of the Landsborough Highway from Morven and the Mitchell Highway from Charleville. Augathella is served by Greyhound Australia who operates Gx493 between Brisbane and Mount Isa and its return service, Gx494 which stops at the BP Roadhouse on the Highway

Augathella Aerodrome has a sealed runway, 1,000 by 25 metres (3,281 ft × 82 ft). It is operated by Murweh Shire Council.[37]

Augathella is the destination of cattle drovers in the Australian folk song Brisbane Ladies. This song is alternately called "Augathella Station".[38]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Augathella (Urban Centre and Locality)". Australian Census 2021. 
  2. "Augathella – town in Shire of Murweh (entry 1008)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. "Augathella – locality in Shire of Murweh (entry 42920)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. "Bidjara". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Gungabula". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. "Gunya". State Library of Queensland. 21 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  7. Beale, Edgar (1983). Kennedy The Barcoo and Beyond 1847. Hobart: Blubber Head Press. ISBN 0-908528-11-6.
  8. "Supreme Court, Ipswich". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. IV, no. 400. Queensland, Australia. 17 December 1864. p. 6. Retrieved 1 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "The Sketcher". The Queenslander. Vol. XXVIII, no. 516. Queensland, Australia. 15 August 1885. p. 252. Retrieved 1 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Upper Warrego". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XIX, no. 2000. Queensland, Australia. 25 June 1864. p. 3. Retrieved 1 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. Augathella Archived 4 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine Wiki Australia Travel Guide
  12. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  13. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  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. "Augathella". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald And General Advertiser. Vol. XXXIV, no. 4843. Queensland, Australia. 14 July 1892. p. 5. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Church Chronicles – C". Anglican Diocese of Brisbane. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  17. "Year Book" (PDF). Anglican Archdiocese of Brisbane. 2019. p. 138. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  18. "Fine Structure". Johnstone River Advocate And Innisfail News. Vol. XXIV, no. 3. Queensland, Australia. 9 October 1928. p. 9. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "£100,000 Film Planned". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 21 March 1950. p. 3. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  20. "Augathella to paint 'Smiley' tribute mural". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  21. "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  22. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Augathella (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  23. "Tinaroo artist's sculpture to mark historic town Augathella's entrance" Archived 2 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, cairns.com.au
  24. "Giant meat ant invades Augathella" Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, thechronicle.com.au
  25. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Augathella (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  26. "Planning Scheme: Table SC6.1 - Local Heritage Places". Murweh Shire Council. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  27. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  28. "Augathella State School". Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  29. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  30. "Our school". Augathella State School. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  31. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  32. "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - Queensland Fleet Lists". Bus Australia. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  33. "Augathella Library". Public Libraries Connect. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  34. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  35. "Maranoa-Warrego Anglican Mission Area". Maranoa-Warrego Anglican Mission Area. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  36. "Augathella Q150 Shed". www.queensland.com. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  37. "Services: Aerodrome". Murweh Shire Council. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  38. Milliken, Murray. "Brisbane Ladies, traditional folk song arranged for choir". Sandra Milliken. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
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