Dingo, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dingo Queensland
Grain silos at Dingo, 2017
Dingo Location in Queensland
Population	221 (2021 census)
• Density	0.13674/km2 (0.3542/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4702
Area	1,616.2 km2 (624.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	49.7 km (31 mi) E of Blackwater 124 km (77 mi) E of Emerald 148 km (92 mi) WSW of Rockhampton 759 km (472 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Central Highlands Region
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Flynn
Localities around Dingo: Jellinbah Alsace Mackenzie Bluff Dingo Goowarra Stewarton Blackdown Wooroona Wallaroo Coomoo

Dingo is a small country town located in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a rural area, meaning it's mostly countryside with farms and open spaces. In 2021, about 221 people lived in Dingo.

Where is Dingo?

Dingo is found on the Capricorn Highway, a main road that connects different parts of Queensland. It's about 759 kilometers (472 miles) north-west of Brisbane, which is the capital city of Queensland. The town is also 148 kilometers (92 miles) west of Rockhampton, a bigger regional city.

The Central Western railway line also goes through Dingo. There are two train stations nearby:

• Umolo railway station
• Dingo railway station, which serves the town itself.

Dingo's History and Wildlife

A bronze sculpture of a dingo in Dingo town, 2017

The town of Dingo was officially mapped out in 1889. It got its name from a nearby creek called Dingo Creek. For a short time in 1940, the town was known as Remo. The Dingo Post Office opened way back on October 1, 1876, helping people send letters and packages.

Kids in Dingo have been going to school for a very long time! Dingo Provisional School opened on May 29, 1876. It became Dingo State School on January 22, 1877.

Something really exciting happened in 1973! A special type of wallaby, called the Bridled nail-tail wallaby, was found living near Dingo. People thought this animal had disappeared forever since it hadn't been seen since 1937. Because of this amazing discovery, the area where the wallabies were found was made into a protected place called Taunton National Park. This helps keep these rare animals safe.

You can also see a cool bronze sculpture of a dingo in Dingo. It's on Normanby Street, across from the library. This statue was put there on January 31, 1997. A local artist named Gaye Porter created it. A sign near the statue tells the story of how an early settler, Moses Wafer, named the area. He heard dingoes howling at night while camping near where the town is now.

Learning in Dingo

Dingo State School is a primary school for children from Early Childhood (like kindergarten) up to Year 6. It's located on the corner of Kennedy and Normanby Streets. In 2018, about 47 students attended the school.

Community Hubs

The Central Highlands Regional Council runs a public library in Dingo. It's a great place to borrow books, read, and learn new things. You can find it at 10 Normanby Street.

Fun Events in Dingo

Every August, Dingo hosts a really fun event called the Dingo Race Day and World Dingo Trap Throwing Competition. It takes place at Bauman Park. In 2019, about 2,000 people came to celebrate its 30th anniversary! Even after being cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event returned in 2021 with an even bigger crowd of 4,000 people!

Famous Faces from Dingo

Did you know that famous Australian rugby league player Ben Hunt grew up right here in Dingo?