Oontoo, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids OontooQueensland |
|
|---|---|
 Oontoo
Location in Queensland
|
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Bulloo |
| State electorate(s) | Warrego |
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa |
Oontoo was once a small town in the Australian outback. It was located in a place called Durham, which is part of the Bulloo area in Queensland, Australia. Imagine a town that used to be busy but now isn't there anymore – that's Oontoo!
Contents
Where Was Oontoo?
Oontoo was located in a region known as South West Queensland. It was very close to the border of another Australian state, South Australia, just to its east. The town was built along the banks of the Cooper Creek.
The Story of Oontoo
The town of Oontoo started to grow along the banks of the Cooper Creek. The Queensland Government decided to sell about 70 blocks of land there on 11 April 1886.
A Border Checkpoint
In 1886, a special office called a "customs post" was set up in Oontoo. This post was on a piece of land that used to be part of the Nappa Merrie cattle station. Its job was to collect taxes from drovers. Drovers were people who moved large groups of animals, like cattle, across the border into Queensland. They often traveled along Strzelecki Creek.
The first customs officer, Mr. Ivory, arrived in 1886. He lived in a tent until his house was ready the next year. In 1887, this post also became a storage place for materials. These materials were used to build the rabbit-proof fence. This fence was a huge project to stop rabbits from spreading across the land.
Town Life and Growth
Soon after the customs post, a simple pub was built. Then, in 1888, a stronger stone hotel was built by Thomas Costello. This hotel was quite big for the time, with eight rooms, a kitchen, stables for horses, and a store.
The town even had horse races starting in 1888! Oontoo quickly grew to have its own store, a doctor, and a school for children.
Challenges and Decline
Life in Oontoo wasn't always easy. In 1891, there was a big flood. The Cooper Creek overflowed its banks after a lot of rain fell in January.
By 1897, the number of people living in Oontoo had become very small, only 14 people. The customs post, which was a main reason for the town, closed down in 1902. After that, Oontoo slowly faded away.
