Goondiwindi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goondiwindi Queensland
Statue of Gunsynd, The Goondiwindi Grey
Goondiwindi Location in Queensland
Population	6,230 (2021 census)
• Density	7.503/km2 (19.43/sq mi)
Established	20 October 1888
Postcode(s)	4390
Elevation	217.2 m (713 ft)
Area	830.3 km2 (320.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	358 km (222 mi) WSW of Brisbane 246 km (153 mi) WSW of Toowoomba 124 km (77 mi) N of Moree 236 km (147 mi) W of Warwick 227 km (141 mi) E of St George
LGA(s)	Goondiwindi Region
State electorate(s)	Southern Downs
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 26.7 °C 80 °F 12.8 °C 55 °F 611.2 mm 24.1 in
Localities around Goondiwindi: Billa Billa Billa Billa Wyaga Goodar Goondiwindi Wondalli Callandoon Boggabilla (NSW) Kurumbul

Goondiwindi is a country town in the Goondiwindi Region of Queensland, Australia. It sits right on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. In 2021, about 6,230 people lived in Goondiwindi.

The town's name comes from an Aboriginal word. Goondi means droppings or dung, and windi means duck. It might refer to a place where ducks rested on a large rock in the Macintyre River.

Goondiwindi's Location

Goondiwindi is located on the Macintyre River in Queensland. It is very close to the New South Wales border. The town is about 350 kilometres (217 miles) south-west of Brisbane, Queensland's capital city. The town of Boggabilla is just 11 kilometres (7 miles) away, across the border in New South Wales. Most of the land around Goondiwindi is used for farming.

Goondiwindi's Weather

Goondiwindi has a climate with hot summers and mild, dry winters. It gets about 621 millimetres (24 inches) of rain each year, mostly in summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 45.2 degrees Celsius (113.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest was -5.6 degrees Celsius (21.9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Goondiwindi's History

First People of Goondiwindi

The Bigambul people are the traditional owners of the land around Goondiwindi. Their language, also called Bigambul, was spoken in this area. This includes towns like Goondiwindi, Yelarbon, and Texas.

Early European Settlement

In 1840, a British farmer named Richard Hargrave started a cattle station here. He worked for John Hosking and brought 5,000 cattle to the area. The Bigambul people resisted this new settlement. They fought back against the settlers and their livestock.

In 1844, Hargrave had to leave the area because of the strong Aboriginal resistance. Around 1848, Richard Purvis Marshall and his brother tried again. They restarted the Gundi Windi station.

The conflict with the Aboriginal people continued. In 1849, a group called the Native Police arrived. They were led by Frederick Walker. They fought against the Aboriginal warriors, which ended the resistance in this area.

The Town Begins

On 19 June 1860, the Queensland Government started selling land in the village of Goondiwindi. The Goondiwindi Post Office opened around 1860. Goondiwindi State School, a primary school, opened on 1 September 1864.

Major flooding affected the town in 1921

Goondiwindi officially became a town on 20 October 1888. Before Australia became a federation in 1901, Goondiwindi was an important border crossing. The old customs house from that time is now a museum.

The railway line reached Goondiwindi on 13 October 1908. This connected the town to other areas, making transport easier.

St Mary's Convent and School, 1924

St Mary's Catholic School opened in 1911. It was run by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1919, the Queensland Government put rules on the border crossing at Goondiwindi. This was to stop the Spanish flu from spreading into Queensland.

The Goondiwindi War Memorial was opened on 21 September 1922. It remembers those who served in wars. Goondiwindi State High School opened on 28 January 1964.

Gunsynd: The Goondiwindi Grey

One of the most famous residents of Goondiwindi was a racehorse named Gunsynd. He was known as "The Goondiwindi Grey" because of his grey coat. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gunsynd won 29 races. These included big races like the 1971 Epsom Handicap and the 1972 Cox Plate. He also came third in the 1972 Melbourne Cup.

The name "Gunsynd" came from "Goondiwindi Syndicate." There is a statue of Gunsynd in the town centre. You can also visit a Gunsynd museum at the Goondiwindi Regional Civic Centre.

Important Places

Goondiwindi has several places that are listed for their historical importance. These include:

• Marshall Street: Goondiwindi War Memorial
• 100 Marshall Street: Goondiwindi Civic Centre
• 1 McLean Street: Customs House Museum
• Millmerran Road, Wyaga: Wyaga Homestead

People of Goondiwindi

In 2021, the population of Goondiwindi was 6,230 people.

• About 5.9% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• Most people (83.1%) were born in Australia.
• About 86.6% of people spoke only English at home.
• The most common religions were Anglican (28.9%), Catholic (28.2%), and No Religion (15.7%).

Getting Around Goondiwindi

Marshall Street, circa 1945

Goondiwindi is a key transport hub. Many major highways meet here or nearby. These include the Newell Highway, Leichhardt Highway, and Cunningham Highway. This makes Goondiwindi a popular stop for travellers going between states. The town has many motels and restaurants. The Goondiwindi Airport is just north of the town.

Schools in Goondiwindi

Goondiwindi has several schools for students of all ages:

• Goondiwindi State School is a government primary school (Prep to Year 6). It opened in 1864 and is one of Queensland's oldest primary schools.
• Goondiwindi State High School is a government secondary school (Years 7 to 12). It opened in 1964. In 2006, it won an award for excellence in education.
• St Mary's Parish School is a Catholic primary and middle school (Prep to Year 10).
• The Border Rivers Christian College is a Christian school for primary and secondary students.

These schools are important parts of the community.

Farming in Goondiwindi

Goondiwindi is a big centre for agriculture. Farmers here grow many different crops. These include cotton, sorghum, corn, wheat, barley, and chickpeas. They also raise wool and beef cattle. Even though it can be dry, the area is known for its successful farms.

Fun Things to Do

War Memorial Park Monument

Goondiwindi has a great Natural Heritage and Water Park. This park has a special 3-kilometre (1.9-mile) water channel. It's perfect for water sports like waterskiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, and boating. The park is also home to many different birds. It has picnic areas and places to swim.

The Goondiwindi Botanic Garden is on the western side of town. It has 25 hectares (62 acres) of plants native to the Upper Darling Basin. The plants are arranged to look like they do in nature. You can see many types of trees and plants, including brigalow and ironbark. The garden also has an outdoor stage for events like weddings. It's used by the Goondiwindi Dragon Boat Club and for triathlons.

Goondiwindi has a very active sports community. People play rugby union, rugby league, cricket, golf, tennis, Australian rules football, and netball. The town has a large indoor gym. A big event each year is the "Hell Of The West" triathlon in February. Athletes from all over Australia come to compete.

Boobera Lagoon is a permanent waterhole west of the town. Bendidee National Park is also a short drive away.

Town Facilities

Customs House Museum, 2012

Goondiwindi offers many facilities for everyone. These include the Goondiwindi Waggamba community cultural centre, a swimming pool, and an art gallery. There is also the historic Customs House Museum and a public library. The Goondiwindi Regional Council runs the public library.

The Goondiwindi Uniting Church is located at 59 Elizabeth Drive.

Local News and Radio

Goondiwindi has its own weekly newspaper called the Goondiwindi Argus. You can also listen to several radio stations, including Now FM 88.7, 2VM 89.5, ABC Local Radio 92.7, Rebel FM 96.3, and Breeze FM 98.7.

Sports Teams

Goondiwindi has a rugby union team that plays in the Darling Downs Rugby Union competition. The Goondiwindi Boars are the local rugby league team. They play in the Toowoomba Rugby League. Many players from the Boars have gone on to play at higher levels.

The Goondiwindi Hawks are an Australian rules football team. They were started in 1980 and play at Riddles Oval. They compete in the AFL Darling Downs competition.

Famous People From Goondiwindi

• Luke Covell – A former professional rugby league player.
• Gene Fairbanks – A former professional rugby union player.
• Gunsynd – The famous racehorse known as "The Goondiwindi Grey."
• Ethan Lowe – A former professional rugby league player who won a championship with the North Queensland Cowboys.
• Brayden McGrady – A professional rugby league player.
• Mark Offerdahl – An Australian rugby league player who represented the USA.