Windorah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WindorahQueensland |
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Windorah General Store, 2013
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 Windorah
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 104 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.01177/km2 (0.0305/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1880 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4481 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 126.3 m (414 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 8,835.4 km2 (3,411.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Barcoo Shire | ||||||||||||||
| County | Grey | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gregory | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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Windorah is a small town in Queensland, Australia. It is also a specific area, or locality, within the Shire of Barcoo. This shire is located in Central West Queensland. Windorah is one of only three towns in the entire Barcoo Shire. In 2021, about 104 people lived in the Windorah area.
Contents
Where is Windorah?
Windorah is located about 35 kilometres (22 miles) downstream from where two rivers, the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers, meet. They form the Cooper Creek, which has many different channels. The Barcoo Shire, where Windorah is, covers a huge area of about 60,901 square kilometres (23,514 square miles).
The land around Windorah has rocky hills, many sand dunes, and flat plains with dark soil. The water levels in the town change a lot, following a "boom and bust" cycle. During wet years, Cooper Creek might flood many times. But in dry times, it becomes a series of separate waterholes.
Windorah's History
Windorah was officially started in 1880. It was built along a path used for moving farm animals, called a stock route. A famous old stagecoach company, Cobb & Co, used to run a service between Windorah and another town called Adavale. Stagecoaches were like buses pulled by horses.
In 1949, heavy rain caused huge floods, completely cutting off Windorah. Even planes from the RAAF (Australia's air force) could not deliver food because of low clouds and more rain.
Weather in Windorah
Windorah has very different weather conditions. In summer, temperatures can get close to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). But in winter, they can drop below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
The amount of rain each year also varies a lot. It has been as low as 86 millimetres (3.4 inches) and as high as 988 millimetres (38.9 inches). Windorah has also seen other extreme weather. For example, there were 25 frosty mornings in 1977 and 10 dust storms in 1987.
What People Do in Windorah
The main jobs in Windorah are raising sheep and cattle. Recently, new oil and gas industries have also started in the area. Many local people also work for the Shire Council, which is like the local government. Some also work on the Dingo Barrier Fence, a very long fence built to keep dingoes away from farm animals.
Learning in Windorah
Windorah State School is a government primary school for students from early childhood up to Year 6. It is located at 8 Victoria Street. In 2022, the school had 10 students.
Fun Things to Do
Windorah is known as "The Heart of the Channel Country". This area is famous for its many river channels.
Every year since 1998, Windorah hosts the Windorah International Yabby Races. Yabbies are a type of freshwater crayfish. In these races, up to 10 yabbies are placed in the middle of a circle. The first yabby to reach the edge of the circle, 2 metres (6.6 feet) away, wins! This event happens on the Wednesday before the Birdsville Races. Many people travel through Windorah on their way to Birdsville, so they can stop and enjoy the yabby races. The money raised helps the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which provides medical care in remote areas, and other local charities.
Community Services
The Windorah Library is run by the Barcoo Shire Council and is on Maryborough Street. Windorah also has a racecourse, a shire hall for community events, an information centre, and a museum.
Important Facilities
The Windorah Primary Health Care Centre has nurses who help people with ongoing health problems and provide emergency care. It is located at 25 Cecil Street. This centre also helps arrange air ambulance flights with the Royal Flying Doctor Service for serious emergencies.
The Windorah Cemetery is managed by the Barcoo Shire Council. It is on Cecil Street, just north of the town.
Windorah also has important emergency services to keep everyone safe:
- Windorah Police Station: On the corner of Maryborough Street and Victoria Street.
- Windorah Ambulance Station: Located at the health care centre.
- Windorah SES Facility: The SES helps during floods, storms, and other emergencies.
See also
In Spanish: Windorah para niños
