Urandangi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids UrandangiQueensland |
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Urandangi Hotel in 2004
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 Urandangi
Location in Queensland
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| Established | 1885 |
| Postcode(s) | 4824 |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Boulia |
| State electorate(s) | Gregory |
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy |
Urandangi is a small town located far away in the outback of Queensland, Australia. It's part of a larger area called Piturie within the Shire of Boulia. This remote town has a rich history and is known for its unique location.
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Where is Urandangi?
Urandangi sits right on the banks of the Georgina River in a part of Queensland called the Central West Queensland. It's about 2007 kilometers (1247 miles) northwest of Brisbane, the state capital. The closest big town is Mount Isa, which is about 187 kilometers (116 miles) to the southwest.
The Georgina River
The Georgina River is very important to Urandangi. The town is built right next to it. This river is part of a huge natural area called the Channel Country.
What is the Channel Country?
Urandangi is in a special area known as the Channel Country. All the rivers and creeks here flow towards Lake Eyre. However, most of these waterways dry up before their water ever reaches the lake. This means the land can be very dry for long periods.
Most of the land around Urandangi is used for grazing. This means farmers raise animals like cattle on the natural plants that grow there. The Marmanya Aboriginal community also lives in Urandangi.
A Look Back in Time: Urandangi's History
Urandangi has a long and interesting past. It was officially named in 1884, but people had been living and traveling through the area for a long time before that.
The Waluwarra People
The land around Urandangi is the traditional home of the Waluwarra Aboriginal people. Their language, also called Waluwarra, is an important part of their culture and history in this region.
How Urandangi Got Its Name
The name Urandangi comes from Aboriginal words, uranda-ngie. These words are thought to mean "much gidyea". Gidyea is a type of tree that grows in the area.
A Busy Stop for Drovers
In the past, Urandangi was a very important stop for travelers and drovers. Drovers were people who moved large groups of farm animals, like cattle, across long distances. Urandangi was a key place because a special path for animals, called a stock route, crossed the Georgina River there.
By the 1920s, Urandangi was a busy little town. It had a pub, two stores, a post office, a police station, and even a dance hall!
Schools in Urandangi
Urandangi has had a school for a long time. The first school, Urandangie Provisional School, opened around 1898. It changed names and closed a few times over the years. A school with a slightly different spelling, Urandangi State School, opened in 1994.
The Big Flood of 2023
In March 2023, Urandangi experienced a very big flood. The floodwaters rose over 7 meters (23 feet) high! Everyone in the town had to leave for safety. The flood caused a lot of damage. Because of how much damage there was, the future of the town is uncertain.
Even though the school was officially open in August 2023 and December 2024, it wasn't operating. This was because there were no students living in the town to attend.
What's in Urandangi Today?
Before the big flood in 2023, the main place in Urandangi was the Urandangi Hotel. People often called it the "Dangi Pub." This hotel was more than just a place to stay or eat. It also served as the town's post office, grocery store, petrol station, and even a local office for Centrelink, which helps people with government services.
Learning in Urandangi
Urandangi State School is a primary school for children from Early Childhood to Year 6. It is located on Urandangi North Road. In 2015, only 8 students were enrolled. In 2022, the school had 12 students.
There are no high schools in Urandangi itself. The closest high school is in Mount Isa. However, Mount Isa is too far away for students to travel there every day. Students who want to go to high school often have a few choices:
- They can live at a boarding school, like Spinifex State College in Mount Isa, which has places for students to stay.
- They can attend other boarding schools further away.
- They can learn through distance education, which means they study from home using online lessons or materials.
