Birdsville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Birdsville Queensland
The Birdsville Hotel, adjacent to the apron of Birdsville Airport
Birdsville Location in Queensland
Population	110 (2021 census)
• Density	0.00334/km2 (0.0087/sq mi)
Established	1887
Postcode(s)	4482
Elevation	46.5 m (153 ft)
Area	32,956.2 km2 (12,724.5 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	1,593 km (990 mi) from Brisbane 1,573 km (977 mi) from Adelaide 674 km (419 mi) from Mount Isa 191 km (119 mi) from Bedourie, Queensland 518 km (322 mi) from Marree, South Australia
LGA(s)	Shire of Diamantina
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 30.6 °C 87 °F 15.9 °C 61 °F 168.9 mm 6.6 in
Localities around Birdsville: Northern Territory Bedourie Farrars Creek Northern Territory Birdsville Tanbar South Australia South Australia Tanbar

Birdsville is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Diamantina, Queensland, Australia. The locality is on the Queensland border with both the Northern Territory and South Australia. The town is situated 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of the South Australian border. In the 2021 census, the locality of Birdsville had a population of 110 people.

It is a popular tourist destination with many people using it as a starting point across the Simpson Desert.

Betoota is a ghost town to the east of the town of Birdsville within the bounds of the locality.(25°41′40″S 140°44′39″E / 25.6944°S 140.7441°E / -25.6944; 140.7441 (Betoota)).

Geography

Birdsville is located by the Diamantina River in the Diamantina Shire, which has a population of 326 persons (Census 2001). The Birdsville Track extends 514 kilometres (319 mi) from Marree in South Australia through the Strzelecki Desert before ending at Birdsville.

History

Birdsville was known as Diamantina Crossing from 1881. There are a number of different theories as to the origin of the name. One is that the name derives from the prolific bird life in the district. The other is that a store was established by Percy Bird and George Field and they called it Birdfield. However, in 1882, G. and R. Wills, of Adelaide, misaddressed a consignment of goods as going to Birdsville and that name stuck. Another is that a man named Burt established a store and called it Burtsville which corrupted to Birdsville. Whatever its origin, by 1882, the name Birdsville was in common use and was formalised at the proclamation of town in 1887.

Birdsville Post Office opened on 1 January 1883.

Birdsville was located at the border of South Australia and Queensland to collect tolls from the droves of cattle being moved interstate.

Many of Australia's pioneering European explorers travelled through the Birdsville district well before the town was gazetted. Monuments to acknowledge the feats of Captain Charles Sturt, Burke and Wills, Cecil Madigan and others are located throughout the town.

Birdsville had a population of over 300 at the turn of the twentieth century. It had three hotels, a cordial factory, blacksmith store, market gardens, police and customs facilities but after Federation in 1901, the tolls were abolished and the town fell into decline to about 50 people throughout the 1950s. Livestock trade kept the region alive and in recent times tourism has joined cattle as the major industry in the area.

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Birdsville had a population of 140 people. 86.1% of people were born in Australia and 94.2% of people only spoke English at home.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Birdsville had a population of 110 people.

Heritage listings

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

• former Australian Inland Mission Hospital, Adelaide Street (25°53′52″S 139°21′18″E / 25.8978°S 139.3551°E / -25.8978; 139.3551 (Australian Inland Mission Hospital (former)))
• Birdsville Courthouse, Adelaide Street ( 25°54′01″S 139°20′54″E / 25.9004°S 139.3483°E / -25.9004; 139.3483 (Birdsville Courthouse))
• former Royal Hotel, Adelaide Street (25°53′55″S 139°21′15″E / 25.8986°S 139.3542°E / -25.8986; 139.3542 (Royal Hotel (former)))
• Birdsville Hotel, Burt Street (25°53′55″S 139°21′05″E / 25.8985°S 139.3515°E / -25.8985; 139.3515 (Birdsville Hotel))
• Carcory Homestead Ruin, Eyre Developmental Road (25°14′16″S 139°33′48″E / 25.2377°S 139.5632°E / -25.2377; 139.5632 (Carcory Homestead Ruin))
• Burke and Wills "Plant Camp", in the north of the locality (25°09′09″S 139°51′58″E / 25.1526°S 139.866°E / -25.1526; 139.866 (Burke & Wills Plant Camp))
• Kidman's Tree of Knowledge, Glengyle Station, Bedourie

Education

Birdsville State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at Adelaide Street (25°53′54″S 139°21′10″E / 25.8984°S 139.3527°E / -25.8984; 139.3527 (Birdsville State School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 2 teachers and 1 non-teaching staff.

There is no secondary school in Birdsville or nearby. Distance education and boarding school are options.

Facilities

Birdsville has an 80 kW geothermal power station, the only one of its type in Australia. Water is extracted from bore drilled in 1961 on the Great Artesian Basin at 97 to 99 °C (207 to 210 °F) and is used to heat the operating fluid isopentane in a Rankine Cycle engine. The geothermal plant produces around one third of the town's electricity. The water (once cooled) is also the source of the town's drinking water. A plan by Ergon Energy to expand the 80 kW power plant to completely meet Birdsville's electricity requirements was shelved, in favour of increasing the use of solar power and battery storage.

Birdsville Primary Health Care Centre is at 31 Adelaide Street (25°53′52″S 139°21′19″E / 25.8977°S 139.3554°E / -25.8977; 139.3554 (health centre)). It provides emergency and primary care by nursing staff with doctors' appointments provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It also provides ambulance services.

Birdsville has the following emergency services:

• Birdsville Police Station, Mcdonald Street (25°54′00″S 139°20′56″E / 25.9000°S 139.3490°E / -25.9000; 139.3490 (Birdsville Police Station))
• Birdsville SES Facility, Graham Street (25°53′53″S 139°21′06″E / 25.8981°S 139.3516°E / -25.8981; 139.3516 (Birdsville SES Facility))

Birdsville Cemetery is on Cemetery Road west of the town (25°53′48″S 139°20′27″E / 25.8967°S 139.3408°E / -25.8967; 139.3408 (Birdsville Cemetery)). It is operated by the Diamantina Shire Council.

Amenities

Birdsville Library is at 29 Burt Street and is operated by the Diamantina Shire Council.

The town is situated near a billabong. A pontoon was built at Burt Street on the north bank of the billabong (25°54′10″S 139°21′12″E / 25.9029°S 139.3532°E / -25.9029; 139.3532 (Birdsville, Birdsville Billabong pontoon)) to facilitate swimming and non-powered boating activities. It is managed by the Diamantina Shire Council. In 2012, the billabong became home to a stray freshwater crocodile, which was subsequently removed and relocated by park ranger Don Rowlands.

Events

The annual Birdsville Races are held in September in aid of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The town's tiny population is augmented by between 7000 and 9000 people for the two-day event, and hundreds of aircraft fill the town's 1,700-metre (1,859 yd) airstrip. In 2010, the races were cancelled for the first time in the event's history due to rain.

The Big Red Bash is an annual three-day music festival held in July at a site 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of the town of Birdsville. Attendees camp at the site.

The Simpson Desert Bike Challenge also traditionally finishes in Birdsville in October every year.

The Big Red Run is held at Birdsville during the winter tourist season. It was last held in 2018.

Climate

Birdsville has an arid climate with an average of only 22 days of rain a year. Summers are extremely hot and dry, with winters being mild to warm. The median annual rainfall at Birdsville is 133 mm (5.2 in) The actual amount of rain which falls is highly variable, for example, in 1914 just 14 mm (0.55 in) was recorded while 659 mm (25.9 in) fell in 1917. Dust storms are most likely during periods of strong wind which typically occur in spring. Birdsville has recorded the hottest confirmed temperature in the state of Queensland, with 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) having been recorded on more than one occasion.

Birdsville disease

Birdsville disease is an illness observed in horses, caused by eating the native plant Birdsville indigo (Indigofera linnaei) which contains natural toxins including the neurotoxin 3 nitropropionic acid (3-NPA). The affected horses exhibit weakness and lack of coordination; it can be fatal. It does not appear to affect cattle. Although it is not unique to Birdsville, the condition was first observed in the Birdsville district in May 1886. While there were many theories about the cause of the disease including plants, worms and sunstroke, it was not until 1950 that researchers identified the precise cause. ..... As there is no cure, preventing horses from grazing on indigo is recommended.

In popular culture

• Elizabeth Haran's 2004 novel Stars in the Southern Sky is set in the town (though renamed to Kangaroo Crossing).
• The 2014 British comedy The Inbetweeners 2 had scenes set in the town.

See also

In Spanish: Birdsville para niños