Thallon, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thallon Queensland
The Francis Hotel (2021)
Thallon Location in Queensland
Population	231 (2021 census)
• Density	0.11035/km2 (0.2858/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4497
Area	2,093.3 km2 (808.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	78.4 km (49 mi) SSE of St George 166 km (103 mi) W of Goondiwindi 384 km (239 mi) WSW of Toowoomba 516 km (321 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Balonne
State electorate(s)	Warrego
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Thallon: St George St George Weengallon Dirranbandi Thallon Daymar Dirranbandi Mungindi Mungindi

Thallon is a small town and area in Queensland, Australia. It is located in the Shire of Balonne. In 2021, about 231 people lived in Thallon.

Another small town called Nindigully is also found within the Thallon area.

Where is Thallon Located?

Motor train at Thallon railway station on its way to Warwick, December 1930

Thallon is in the south-west part of Queensland. It is about 571 kilometers (355 miles) west of Brisbane, the state capital.

The Moonie River flows through the area, just west of the town. The Carnarvon Highway also runs through Thallon. This highway connects Thallon to St George in the north and Mungindi in the south. Mungindi is right on the border with New South Wales.

A railway line, called the South-Western railway line, passes through Thallon. The town has a railway station that is used for moving goods by train.

Thallon is an important area for farming. Farmers here grow a lot of wheat and raise sheep for wool.

A Look Back at Thallon's History

Thallon State School group with teacher Thomas Douglas King, 1923

First People of the Land

The Gamilaraay people are the traditional owners of this land. Their language area covers parts of South-West Queensland and North-West New South Wales. This includes towns like Dirranbandi, Thallon, and Mungindi.

European Exploration and Settlement

An explorer named Thomas Mitchell was the first European to visit the Thallon area. You can still find his initials carved into a tree near the Moonie River.

In 1911, the land was set aside for new settlers. A town area of about 780 acres (3.2 square kilometers) was officially created. The town was named after its railway station. The station, in turn, was named after James Forsyth Thallon. He was the Queensland Commissioner for Railways from 1900 to 1911.

When the railway arrived, the town began to grow. Shops and a hotel were built to serve the new community.

Schools and Churches

Thallon State School first opened its doors on July 24, 1911.

St Joseph's Catholic Church was built in 1916. It was made from timber using a special "ready-to-erect" system. The church cost £268 and was opened by Archbishop James Duhig. Sadly, the church closed in 1980 because of termite damage.

Some other small schools, like Myrtlemount, Warrie, and Hollymount Provisional Schools, opened in 1919. They shared a teacher. However, they closed in 1922 because not enough students were attending.

Who Lives in Thallon?

The number of people living in Thallon has changed over the years.

• In 2011, there were 382 people.
• In 2016, the population was 257 people.
• In the most recent count in 2021, 231 people lived in Thallon.

Important Places in Thallon

Bullamon Homestead, 1995

Thallon has some places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.

• Bullamon Homestead: This old home is located by the Moonie River.

Learning in Thallon

Thallon State School is a primary school for children from Prep to Year 6. It is located at 15 Henry Street. In 2017, the school had 36 students. In 2022, there were 18 students.

There is no high school in Thallon. Older students travel to the nearby town of St George for secondary education.

Community Facilities

Thallon Post Office, 2008

Thallon Public Hall, 2008

Thallon has several useful places for its residents:

• A post office
• A hotel
• A community hall
• A showground
• A park
• A sportsground

The Balonne Shire Council runs a library in William Street.

Country Women's Association rooms, 2008

The Thallon-Daymar branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 47 William Street. Daymar is a nearby town, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) east of Thallon.

William the Wombat: A Big Attraction

William the Wombat, one of Australia's big things, 2018

In 2015, the town of Thallon decided to build a giant statue of a northern hairy-nosed wombat. This statue is part of Australia's Big Things. The goal was to attract tourists and to show how rare these wombats are. Northern hairy-nosed wombats used to live in the Thallon area, but they are no longer found there.

The statue is 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall and 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long. It was built by David Joffe in Brisbane. William the Wombat arrived in Thallon in October 2017 and is now on display in the town park.

A small group of these wombats lives at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. This refuge is located between St George and Surat. It was set up in 2009 to protect them.

Images for kids

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  Northern entrance to the town (2021).

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  Pine Street (2021).

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  Thallon State School, Henry Street (2021).

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  Thallon State School oval, Henry Street (2021).

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  Francis Hotel, Pine Street (2008).

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  Anglican church (2021).

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  Town water tower (2021).

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  Fire station (2021).

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  Police station (2021).

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  Town cemetery (2021).

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  Painted murals on grain silos (2021).

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  Painted murals on grain silos (2021).

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  War memorial (2021).

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  Moonie River in flood downstream (2021).

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  Noondoo-Thallon Road (2021).