Muttaburra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Muttaburra Queensland
Muttaburra Library
Muttaburra Location in Queensland
Population	158 (2021 census)
• Density	4.389/km2 (11.37/sq mi)
Established	1878
Postcode(s)	4732
Elevation	21 m (69 ft)
Area	36.0 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	121 km (75 mi) NNE of Longreach 152 km (94 mi) NW of Barcaldine 731 km (454 mi) W of Rockhampton 1,224 km (761 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Barcaldine Region
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Muttaburra: Corfield Prairie Aramac Corfield Muttaburra Aramac Longreach Longreach Ilfracombe

Muttaburra is a small town and area in the outback of Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Barcaldine Region. Muttaburra is famous for being the place where the Muttaburrasaurus was found. This dinosaur is one of Australia's most well-known.

In 2021, about 158 people lived in the Muttaburra area.

Exploring Muttaburra's Location

Muttaburra is located in the central west part of Queensland. The town sits right on the banks of the Thomson River. This river is part of a huge water system that flows into Lake Eyre.

The land here is also part of the Great Artesian Basin. This is a massive underground water source. It provides water to Muttaburra and nearby towns through special bores. The area is known for its good land, which is perfect for raising sheep and cattle. Because of this, farming animals is the main job in Muttaburra.

Muttaburra's Past: A Journey Through Time

Muttaburra is on the traditional lands of the Iningai people. The Iningai language was spoken by these Aboriginal people. Their language area covered parts of the Longreach Region and Barcaldine Region. This included towns like Longreach, Barcaldine, Muttaburra, and Aramac.

The town's name, Muttaburra, comes from an Iningai clan. They were the original owners of this land. Some people say Muttaburra means "the meeting of waters" or "camping ground." Long ago, this whole area was actually covered by a huge inland sea!

How Muttaburra Began

Muttaburra started to grow as a town in the 1870s. It was officially named a town in 1878. Bruford Street, the main street, was named after Mr. Bruford. He opened a saddlery (a shop for horse gear) there in the same year. Soon, other businesses like hotels, blacksmiths, and general stores opened too.

The first post office was built in 1887. A newer building replaced it in 1926.

The Daring Cattle Theft

Muttaburra was also the scene of a very bold cattle theft. A man named Henry Radford, also known as Captain Starlight, stole cattle from a place called Bowen Downs Station. He then drove them about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) across a mostly unknown part of Central Australia. He sold the cattle for a lot of money.

He was later charged with theft and went to court. Even with strong evidence against him, the jury found him not guilty. People admired him for successfully crossing Central Australia. The judge even said, "I thank God, gentlemen, that the verdict is yours, not mine!"

Family of George and Edwina Bunning, 1912, descendants of the Edkins family.

Important Early Settlers

Edward Rowland Edkins was an important early settler in Muttaburra. He was the first manager of Mount Cornish, a large farm. He also helped lead the local government board and was involved in many community groups.

Edward married Edwina Marion Huey. She was well-known in the area and wrote music about the region. People remembered her as a very kind host and the wife of a leading figure in Australia's farming industry.

Muttaburra Hospital, 1913

Healthcare and Education

In 1884, the community raised money to build a hospital. It was one of the first country hospitals to get an X-ray machine by 1901. The hospital closed in 1974 because the town's population became very small.

Muttaburra State School is one of the oldest schools in the area. It opened on February 18, 1884, with 17 students. In 2009, for its 125th anniversary, it was noted that 1,593 students had attended the school over the years.

Town Water and Churches

A dam was built in 1885 to provide water for the town. For many years, water was carried from this dam into town in barrels. Later, the dam was even used as the town's swimming pool!

St Joseph's Catholic Church was built in 1888. A cyclone destroyed it in 1943, but a new church was built in 1948.

Anglican church, early 1900s

All Saints Anglican Church was built in 1903. It was made from corrugated iron, a strong metal material.

The Cassimatis Store

The Cassimatis Store opened in 1914. It was a very important place in Muttaburra. It served as a bank, a grocery store, a cafe, and even sold household goods. The Cassimatis family, who came from Greece, built their own general store in 1918. They were also one of the oldest agents in Australia for Mobil Oil.

The store was destroyed by fire in 2009 but has since been rebuilt and is open again.

World War I Memorial

About 90 men and women from the Muttaburra area served in the First World War. In 2015, a new memorial was built to honor them. It has bronze badges for the Australian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Women's Association and Doctor Arratta

The Muttaburra branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA) started in 1927. This group helps women and communities in rural areas. They even opened a hostel in 1955 for mothers expecting babies who lived far from town.

Dr. Joseph Arratta was a doctor at the Muttaburra hospital for 35 years, from 1925 to 1960. He was given an award for his great service to medicine.

Muttaburrasaurus skeleton at Queensland Museum

The Muttaburrasaurus Discovery

In 1963, a very important discovery was made in Muttaburra: the Muttaburrasaurus! Doug Langdon found this dinosaur, which is now one of Australia's most famous.

This dinosaur was huge! It's thought to have been about 12 meters (39 feet) long and 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall at its hip. It weighed around 15 tons. The Muttaburrasaurus was a plant-eater, with many grinding teeth. It probably ate plants like ferns and conifers. It might have even lived in herds.

Muttaburrasaurus lived about 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period. Parts of this dinosaur have been found in central and northern Queensland, and even some teeth in New South Wales. Today, there's a full-size model of the Muttaburrasaurus in Muttaburra.

Recent Changes

In 2019, the Queensland Government changed the boundaries of the areas around Muttaburra. Muttaburra's area grew to include parts of nearby places like Bangall and Cornish Creek.

Muttaburra's Community

Muttaburra is a small community. In 2006, there were 106 people living in the area. By 2016, the population was 88. However, in 2021, it grew to 158 people.

Important Places to See

Muttaburra has some special places that are protected for their history.

• Mount Cornish Homestead is a heritage-listed farm building about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north-east of Muttaburra.

Learning in Muttaburra

Muttaburra State School, 2019

Muttaburra State School is a government primary school for students from early childhood to Year 6. In 2018, the school had 8 students.

There are no high schools in Muttaburra. The closest government high school is in Longreach, which is about 121 kilometers (75 miles) away. Students who need to go to high school often learn through distance education or go to boarding school.

Local Facilities and Services

The Barcaldine Regional Council runs a library in Muttaburra. The Muttaburra branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association also has its own rooms.

You can find All Saints Anglican Church and St Joseph's Catholic Church in the town.

Muttaburra has a Primary Health Care Centre for minor treatments. It also has ambulance services and 24/7 emergency on-call services. For serious medical needs, people rely on the hospital in Longreach or Townsville, or the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.

Sports and Fun

Muttaburra offers many fun activities and places to play sports. You can go fishing, watch a rodeo, or swim in the 25-meter (82-foot) swimming pool. There's also a shooting range, tennis courts, and a race course.

There's an 18-hole golf course on Cramsie Muttaburra Road that is open to everyone. The Muttaburra Racecourse is where the annual Muttaburra Cup horse race is held.

Getting Around Muttaburra

Because Muttaburra is a small town, there isn't much public transport. However, the town of Longreach does run a bus service to Muttaburra once or twice a month.

The Muttaburra Airport is located on Muttaburra Airport Road. The local council manages it.

Muttaburra's Weather

Muttaburra has a subtropical climate, which means summers are very hot. Temperatures often go above 37°C (99°F), and heat waves are common. In winter, temperatures can drop to about 8°C (46°F) or even lower, but frosts are rare.

Most of the rain falls in the summer months, usually between 400 to 550 millimeters (16 to 22 inches). Flooding can happen most years, and during very wet times, large areas of the rivers can be covered in water. Dry periods, called droughts, are also common. The wettest month ever recorded was September 2010, when 162 millimeters (6.4 inches) of rain fell.

Things to Do and See

Many outdoor activities are popular in the Muttaburra area. You can go bush-walking, water-skiing, and fishing. The headwaters of the Thomson River and places like Broadwater and the Muttaburra Pump Hole are great for fishing. You might catch fish like Yellowbelly and Black Bream there.

In Muttaburra town, you can visit the Memorial Medical Museum and the Cassimatis Store. The Memorial Medical Museum honors Dr. Joseph Arratta. It's located in the old Muttaburra Hospital building, which is now a museum with historical displays. The Cassimatis Store, which belonged to George and Stavroola Cassimatis, has been restored and is open to visitors.

Muttaburra also has a rest area where you can stay for free for the first two nights. The Exchange Hotel on the main street offers meals and accommodation. There's also a Caravan Park with powered sites, barbecues, and a washing machine. You can get hot food, groceries, and fuel at the local store.

Exciting Events

Every year, on the first Saturday of June, the Landsborough Flock Ewe Show takes place. This show features sheep and wool judging, cattle displays, and activities for kids. There's also a cattle drive, dinner, and entertainment.

The Muttaburra Amateur Turf Club started in 1919. They hold an annual race day called the Muttaburra Cup in August.

Images for kids

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  Stockmen at Mount Cornish sheep station, near Muttaburra, Queensland, 1898