Urandangi

Urandangi (formerly also spelled Urandangie) is an outback town in the locality of Piturie in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia.[1]

Urandangi
Queensland
Urandangi Hotel in 2004
Urandangi is located in Queensland
Urandangi
Urandangi
Coordinates21.6083°S 138.3141°E / -21.6083; 138.3141 (Urandangi (town centre))
Established1885
Postcode(s)4824
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Boulia
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal division(s)Kennedy

Geography

The town is located on the banks of the Georgina River in Central West Queensland, 2,007 kilometres (1,247 mi) north west of the state capital, Brisbane and 187 kilometres (116 mi) south west of the regional centre of Mount Isa.

Urandangi is in the Channel Country. All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin,[2] and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre.[3]

The predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation.[2]

The Marmanya Aboriginal community is located in Urandangi.[4]

History

Waluwarra (also known as Warluwarra, Walugara, and Walukara) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Western Queensland. Its traditional language region is the local government area of Shire of Boulia, including Walgra Station and Wolga, from Roxborough Downs north to Carandotta Station and Urandangi on the Georgina River, on Moonah Creek to Rochedale, south-east of Pituri Creek.[5]

An unnamed township was established 2 August 1883. On 12 December 1884, it was officially named Urandangi. The name is believed to be derived Aboriginal words, uranda-ngie, meaning much gidyea.[1]

The township was a centre for travellers and drovers where a stock route crossed the Georgina River. By 1920 Urandangi had a pub, two stores, post office, police station and a dance hall.[6]

Urandangie Provisional School opened circa 1898. On 1 January 1909 it became Urandangie State School. It closed circa 1910, but reopened on 30 January 1922. It closed circa 1933.[7]

On 11 April 1994 Urandangi State School (slightly different spelling) opened.[7]

In March 2023, Urangangi was inundated with over 7 metres (23 ft) of floodwater resulting in the evacuation of the entire town. Due to the extent of the damage, it is uncertain if the town will survive.[8] As at August 2023, the school is officially open but is not operating as there are no students.[9]

Facilities

In 2023 prior to the floods, Urandangi's only major facility was the Urandangi Hotel (also known as the "Dangi Pub"). It was also the town's post office, grocery store, petrol station, and Centrelink office.[10]

Education

Urandangi State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls on the Urandangi North Road (21.5962°S 138.3359°E / -21.5962; 138.3359 (Urandangi State School)).[11][12] It had only 8 students enrolled in 2015.[13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 8 students with 2 teachers and 2 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent).[14] In 2022, the school had an enrolment of 12 students.[15]

There are no secondary schools in Urandangi.[2] The nearest secondary school is in Mount Isa but too far for a daily commute.[2] The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa offers boarding facilities.[16] Other boarding schools or distance education would be options.

References
  1. "Urandangi – town (entry 35864)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  2. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. FitzSimons, Trish (2010). "Channel Country". Queensland Historical Atlas. University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. Anderson, John (17 May 2010). "The voice not heard". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  5. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Waluwarra". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  6. "Queensland's Outback: Urandangi". Queensland Holidays. Tourism Queensland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "Residents consider future after historic outback town 'wiped off the map' by flooding". ABC News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  9. "Urandangi State School". Urandangi State School. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  10. Anderson, John (4 May 2010). "Urandangi gateway to anywhere". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  11. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. "Urandangi State School". Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  13. "Urandangi State School Annual Report 2015". Education Queensland. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  14. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  15. "School annual report 2022" (PDF). Urandangi State School. p. 2. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  16. "Residential Campus" (PDF). Spinifex State College. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
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