Central West Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central West QueenslandQueensland |
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Regions of Queensland
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| Population | 12,387 (2010) |
| • Density | 0.0312290/km2 (0.080883/sq mi) |
| Area | 396,650.2 km2 (153,147.5 sq mi) |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Barcoo, Shire of Diamantina, Shire of Boulia, Shire of Winton, Longreach Region, Blackall-Tambo Region, Barcaldine Region |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa, Kennedy |
Central West Queensland (often called CWQ) is a huge, faraway part of the Australian state of Queensland. It's a massive area, covering about 396,650 square kilometers! To give you an idea, that's bigger than many countries. This region is north of South West Queensland and south of the Gulf Country. Not many people live here, only around 12,387. It's a truly unique part of Australia.
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Exploring Central West Queensland's Past
The first European explorer to travel through this area was Major Thomas Mitchell. He explored the region in 1846. While near Isisford on the Barcoo River, his group ran low on supplies. They also faced challenges from local Aboriginal people. Mitchell decided to return to Sydney. His journey was still a success, as he explored a large amount of unknown land.
What is the Geography of Central West Queensland?
The eastern edge of the famous Simpson Desert is found here. You can also find Haddon Corner and Poeppel Corner in this region. These are special points on the Queensland border. The Channel Country is another important natural area here.
A part of the Cooper Basin is also in Central West Queensland. This basin holds Australia's most important land-based oil and natural gas.
How Was the Land Formed?
Scientists have been very interested in the shape of the Diamantina River. In 2015, experts reported something amazing. The river's path might follow the edge of a giant impact crater! This crater could be 130 kilometers wide. It is about 60 kilometers west of Winton. Towns like Middleton and Dagworth Station are right inside it. If it is an asteroid impact, it happened about 300 million years ago.
What Towns are in Central West Queensland?
The biggest towns in Central West Queensland include Longreach, Winton, Blackall, and Barcaldine.
Barcaldine is famous for the 1891 Australian shearers' strike. This was an early and very important workers' protest in Australia. The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame is in Longreach. It's a museum that celebrates the brave pioneers of the Australian outback. Queen Elizabeth II opened this building in 1988.
Smaller towns in the region are Bedourie, Birdsville, Boulia, Urandangi, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Yaraka, Jundah, Stonehenge, Windorah, Alpha, Aramac, Jericho, Tambo, and Muttaburra.
Some towns in the region are now "ghost towns." Betoota is known as Australia's smallest town. Other ghost towns like Scarrbury and Collingwood have completely disappeared. Middleton also has very few people living there now.
What Rivers Flow Through the Region?
Many important waterways flow through Central West Queensland. These include the Barcoo River, Georgina River, Diamantina River, Thomson River, Burke River, Hamilton River, and Cooper Creek.
What are the Protected Natural Areas?
Several national parks protect the natural beauty of this region. These include Simpson Desert National Park, Cudmore National Park, Diamantina National Park, Astrebla Downs National Park, Welford National Park, Goneaway National Park, Lochern National Park, and Bladensburg National Park.
How Do People Travel in Central West Queensland?
Major roads in the region include the Capricorn Highway and the Landsborough Highway. In the north, the Kennedy Highway connects Boulia to Cairns on Australia's east coast.
The Central railway line reached Longreach in 1892. Today, the Spirit of the Outback is a long-distance passenger train. It travels from Brisbane all the way to Longreach. The region also has six airports. These include Longreach Airport, Winton Airport, Windorah Airport, Barcaldine Airport, Aramac Airport, and Blackall Airport.
How Do People Get News and Entertainment?
Central West Queensland is a vast area. It gets its radio and news through powerful transmitters and smaller repeater stations. The local ABC radio station is ABC Western Queensland. There are also commercial stations like 4LG and West FM.
The local newspaper for Central West Queensland is The Longreach Leader. It is published every week.
