Aramac, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AramacQueensland |
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Aramac War Memorial, 2011
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 Aramac
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 372 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 9.612/km2 (24.89/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1869 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4726 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 38.7 km2 (14.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Barcaldine Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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Aramac is a small town and area in the Barcaldine Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a rural place, meaning it's mostly countryside with farms and open spaces. In 2021, about 372 people lived in Aramac.
Contents
Where is Aramac?
Aramac is located about 68 kilometers (42 miles) north of Barcaldine. It's quite a long way from Brisbane, the state capital, about 1280 kilometers (795 miles) by road. The town sits on Aramac Creek, which flows into the Thomson River about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of town.
The main type of work in this area is grazing, which means raising animals like cattle or sheep on large areas of land. The town gets its water from two special underground wells that tap into the Great Artesian Basin. This is a huge natural underground water supply.
A Look Back in Time
Aramac is on the traditional lands of the Iningai people, who are Aboriginal Australians. The Iningai language was spoken by these people across a wide area, including where Aramac is today.
In 1860, explorers named William Landsborough and Nathaniel Buchanan explored this region. They were looking for good land for farming. Landsborough named a creek "Aramac" after a future leader of Queensland, Robert Ramsey Mackenzie.
British settlers started to use the land for farming in 1862. Large properties called "stations" were set up, like Bowen Downs Station. Aramac Station was started in 1863.
In 1867, a person working at Aramac Station, John William Kingston, opened a small store. Two years later, he added a hotel. This small settlement grew and was officially made a town in 1869. It was the first town in the area and became an important local center. John William Kingston is remembered as the founder of Aramac.
The town was first called Marathon, but its name was changed to Aramac in 1875, after the station. In 1933, a newspaper described Aramac in 1878 as having "neat weatherboard structures" including stores, hotels, and a post office. It was seen as an important place in the western part of Queensland.
During the early settlement of the area, there were sad conflicts between the Aboriginal people and the new settlers. These conflicts sometimes led to tragic events and loss of life for the Indigenous population, such as at a place known as Mailman's Gorge.
In 1870, a famous cattle drover named Henry 'Harry' Redford did something very daring. He gathered about 1,000 cattle from a property called Bowen Downs Station. He knew he couldn't sell them nearby because of their brand, so he decided to drive them all the way to South Australia. This was an amazing journey! However, his herd included a special white bull that was easily recognized. Redford and his friends were caught. Harry Redford's story is thought to have inspired the character Captain Starlight in a famous Australian book called Robbery Under Arms.
The Aramac Post Office opened on 1 March 1874.
Aramac State School opened its doors on 21 January 1878. By 1901, the school was doing very well. An inspector praised the teachers and students, saying the students were taught to think and that the school was "highly satisfactory."
The local hospital opened in 1879. An Anglican church also opened around 1888-1889.
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Aramac was once a very important town in the outback. But when the main railway line reached Barcaldine in 1886, some trade moved away from Aramac. The people of Aramac wanted their own railway connection. The local council eventually borrowed money to build the Aramac Tramway. This tramway connected Aramac to the main railway line near Barcaldine. It opened on 2 July 1913 and ran until 1975. Today, you can visit a tramway museum in the old goods sheds.
St John's Catholic Church was opened in 1901. A new church building was opened in 1952.
In 1914, Aramac tried to become a health resort by using its warm artesian water for thermal baths. However, not many people came because the town was so far away and the baths weren't promoted much.
The Aramac War Memorial was officially revealed in April 1924. This memorial was built by the people of Aramac to remember the soldiers who fought in World War I.
In June 1924, a local group of the Country Women's Association was formed in Aramac. They quickly became active, organizing fun events like euchre and ping pong tournaments for the town.
In 2019, the Queensland Government changed the official boundaries of Aramac. The area of Aramac was made much larger, including several nearby smaller places.
People of Aramac
In 2006, Aramac had 341 people. In 2011 and 2016, the population was 299 people. By 2021, the population had grown to 372 people.
Special Places
Aramac has some places that are listed for their historical importance:
- Boundary Street: Aramac Tramway Museum
- Lodge Street: Aramac War Memorial
- 69 Porter Street: Aramac State School
Learning in Aramac
Aramac State School is a government school for students from early childhood up to Year 10. It's located at 69 Porter Street. In 2018, the school had 55 students.
For students in Years 11 and 12, the closest high school is Barcaldine Prep-12 State School, which is about 67 kilometers (42 miles) south in Barcaldine.
Town Services
Aramac has a visitor information center, a swimming pool, a town hall, and a pub. While there isn't a full hospital, there are nurse-led clinics during the week, ambulance services, and emergency on-call services available 24/7. The town also gets visits from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which provides medical help to people in remote areas.
The Barcaldine Regional Council runs the Ollie Landers Community Library at 68 Gordon Street.
Fun Events
The yearly Harry Redford Cattle Drive starts in Aramac. This event partly follows the path that Harry Redford took in 1870 when he drove 1,000 cattle from Bowen Downs Station to South Australia. In 2015 and 2016, the drive was cancelled because of a long drought in the area.
Nearby Stations
- Aramac Station
- Bowen Downs Station
- Gracevale Station is about 52 kilometers (32 miles) west of Aramac. In 2019, this land was returned to its traditional owners, the Iningai people, and will be renamed Turraburra. A lot of work is being done to restore the land and waterways. The property has cliffs with ancient rock art, including paintings and etchings of large, extinct animals (megafauna), emu symbols, and the traditional story of the Seven Sisters. Plans are being made for an educational center there.
See Also
