Betoota, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BetootaQueensland |
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Store in Betoota, 1903
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 Betoota
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 3 (2023) |
| Established | 1887 |
| Postcode(s) | 4482 |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Diamantina |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa |
Betoota is a very small place in Queensland, Australia. It's often called a "ghost town" because hardly anyone lives there. It's located in the Channel Country, which is a dry area in central western Queensland.
Betoota sits on a gibber plain. This is a flat, stony desert area. It's about 170 kilometres (106 miles) east of Birdsville. It is also 227 kilometres (141 miles) west of Windorah.
This town is known as Australia's smallest. It has only a few things. These include a racetrack, an airstrip for planes (used in dry weather), a cricket field, and the Betoota Hotel. Many visitors come to Betoota each September. They come for the yearly Simpson Desert Carnival.
Contents
History of Betoota
First Peoples and Language
The Karuwali people are the traditional owners of this land. Their language is also called Karuwali or Garuwali. This language region covers the area around the Diamantina Shire Council. It includes places like Betoota and Haddon Corner.
Town's Beginnings
Betoota was officially mapped out in 1887. But only three streets were ever given names. The Betoota Hotel was built in the late 1880s. It is the only old building left in town, apart from the racetrack. The hotel is made of sandstone with wooden floors.
In 1885, the Queensland Government set up a customs post here. This post collected money from people moving livestock along the stock route. Betoota was also a stop for Cobb & Co coaches. These coaches carried passengers and mail across Australia.
Police in Betoota
A police station was set up in Betoota in 1895. This was because a rabbit-proof fence was being built nearby. This work brought many people to the town. Some of these people caused trouble. A police station with a court was built in 1915. However, it closed in 1930. An inspection in 1928 found that no one had been arrested or brought to court for over five years.
The Betoota Hotel's Story
The Betoota Hotel was open until 1997. Its owner, Sigmund (Simon) Remienko, retired at 82. Simon came from Poland. He worked as a road grader driver. In 1957, he bought the Betoota Hotel. He owned it for 47 years. Simon was the only person living in Betoota for a long time. He had to move because he became unwell. The hotel closed in October 1997. Simon Remienko passed away in 2004.
In 2017, a man named Robert Haken bought the old hotel. He is a smash repairer from Logan. He started fixing up the hotel. His goal was to open it again for the Betoota Races in August 2018. This didn't happen right away due to some paperwork. But the Betoota Hotel finally reopened on July 20, 2020.
Special Places
Betoota has some important historical sites. One protected area is known as Burke and Wills "Plant Camp". This is a place linked to the famous explorers Burke and Wills.
Betoota in Pop Culture
The town's name is used by an Australian satirical news website. This website is called The Betoota Advocate. It's a digital media company that creates funny, fake news stories. Even though it uses Betoota's name, the company is actually based in Sydney. It claims to be "Australia's oldest newspaper."
