Birdsville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Birdsville Queensland
The Birdsville Hotel, next to the 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 small town and area in Queensland, Australia. It's right on the border with the Northern Territory and South Australia. The town is about 10 kilometers north of the South Australian border. In 2021, only 110 people lived there.

Many people visit Birdsville, often using it as a starting point to explore the huge Simpson Desert.

Exploring Birdsville's Location

Birdsville is located by the Diamantina River in the Diamantina Shire. This area has a very small population. A famous road, the Birdsville Track, stretches over 514 kilometers from Marree, South Australia to Birdsville. It crosses the Strzelecki Desert on its way.

Birdsville's Past: A Quick Look

Birdsville was first called Diamantina Crossing in 1881. There are a few ideas about how it got its name. One story says it's because of all the birds in the area. Another says a store was opened by Percy Bird and George Field, and they called it Birdfield. But in 1882, a company accidentally sent goods to Birdsville, and the name stuck! By 1882, Birdsville was commonly used, and it became the official name when the town was created in 1887.

The Birdsville Post Office opened on January 1, 1883.

Birdsville was important because it was at the border of South Australia and Queensland. It collected money, called tolls, from cattle being moved between the states.

Many early Australian explorers traveled through the Birdsville area. Monuments in town honor people like Charles Sturt and the Burke and Wills expedition.

Around 1900, Birdsville had over 300 people. It had three hotels, a factory for drinks, a blacksmith, and police. But after Australia became a federation in 1901, the tolls were stopped. The town's population dropped to about 50 people by the 1950s. Raising animals kept the area going. Today, tourism is also a big part of Birdsville's economy.

Who Lives in Birdsville?

In 2016, 140 people lived in Birdsville. Most (86.1%) were born in Australia. Almost everyone (94.2%) spoke only English at home. By 2021, the population was 110 people.

Important Places in Birdsville

Birdsville has several places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• The old Australian Inland Mission Hospital on Adelaide Street.
• The Birdsville Courthouse on Adelaide Street.
• The old Royal Hotel on Adelaide Street.
• The Birdsville Hotel on Burt Street.
• The Carcory Homestead Ruin on Eyre Developmental Road.
• The Burke and Wills "Plant Camp" in the north of the area.
• Kidman's Tree of Knowledge at Glengyle Station.

Learning in Birdsville

Birdsville State School is a government primary school for kids from early childhood up to Year 6. It's located on Adelaide Street. In 2018, only 7 students were enrolled there!

There isn't a high school in Birdsville or nearby. So, older students learn through distance education (learning from home) or go to boarding school.

Birdsville's Special Features

Birdsville has a unique power station that uses heat from the Earth. It's the only one of its kind in Australia! Water from deep underground, which is very hot (97 to 99 °C), is used to create electricity. This geothermal plant provides about one-third of the town's power. Once the water cools down, it becomes the town's drinking water.

The Birdsville Primary Health Care Centre is on Adelaide Street. Nurses provide emergency and basic care. Doctors' appointments are done by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which flies doctors to remote areas. The center also offers ambulance services.

Birdsville has important emergency services:

• Birdsville Police Station on Mcdonald Street.
• Birdsville SES Facility on Graham Street.

The Birdsville Cemetery is on Cemetery Road, west of town.

Fun in Birdsville

The Birdsville Library is on Burt Street.

The town is next to a billabong, which is like a small lake. A floating dock was built on the billabong's north bank. This makes it easy for people to swim and use non-motorized boats. In 2012, a freshwater crocodile was found in the billabong, but it was safely moved away!

Exciting Events in Birdsville

The annual Birdsville Races are held in September. This event helps raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The town's small population grows from around 100 people to between 7,000 and 9,000 for this two-day event! Hundreds of planes fill the town's airstrip. In 2010, the races were canceled for the first time ever because of too much rain.

The Big Red Bash is a yearly three-day music festival. It takes place in July about 35 kilometers west of Birdsville. People camp out at the festival site.

The Simpson Desert Bike Challenge usually ends in Birdsville every October.

The Big Red Run is another event held in Birdsville during the cooler tourist season. It was last held in 2018.

Birdsville's Weather

Birdsville has a very dry climate. On average, it only rains about 22 days a year. Summers are extremely hot and dry, while winters are mild to warm. The average yearly rainfall is about 133 millimeters. However, the amount of rain can change a lot. For example, in 1914, only 14 millimeters fell, but in 1917, 659 millimeters fell! Dust storms are common when there are strong winds, especially in spring. Birdsville holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Queensland, reaching 49.5 °C more than once.

Birdsville Disease

Birdsville disease is an illness that affects horses. It happens when horses eat a native plant called Birdsville indigo. This plant has natural poisons that can make horses sick. Horses with the disease become weak and have trouble moving. It can even be deadly for them. This disease doesn't seem to affect cattle.

Even though it's not only found in Birdsville, the illness was first noticed in the Birdsville area in 1886. For a long time, people didn't know what caused it. It wasn't until 1950 that scientists figured out the exact reason. There is no cure for Birdsville disease. The best way to protect horses is to stop them from eating the indigo plant.

See also

In Spanish: Birdsville para niños