Tara, Queensland

Tara
Queensland
Commercial Hotel
Tara
Coordinates 27°16′36″S 150°27′26″E / 27.2766°S 150.4572°E / -27.2766; 150.4572Coordinates: 27°16′36″S 150°27′26″E / 27.2766°S 150.4572°E / -27.2766; 150.4572
Population 855 (2011 census)[1]
 • Density 0.5856/km2 (1.5167/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4421
Area 1,460.0 km2 (563.7 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s) Western Downs Region
State electorate(s) Warrego
Federal Division(s) Maranoa
Localities around Tara:
Weambilla Montrose Kogan
The Gums Tara Goranba
The Gums Moonie Marmadua

Tara is a town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] At the 2011 census, Tara had a population of 855.[1]

Geography

Tara is on the Darling Downs. Immediately surrounding the urban area of Tara, there are a number of rural subdivisions of 'lifestyle blocks'. The blocks are usually between 13 and 40 ha in area. The population of the 2000 Rural Subdivision blocks exceeds that of the town itself.

History

The town was surveyed in May 1910 by Leonard Sheild. The name Tara was used as the name for a pastoral run on 25 March 1852. It is assumed that it is a reference to the Hill of Tara in County Meath], Ireland.[3]

Tara Provisional School opened in 1911 but was renamed Laurndel Provisional School in 1912. It closed in 1946.[4]

Tara State School opened on 21 August 1912. On 28 November 2004, it was renamed Tara Shire State College.[4]

Tara Library opened in 1987 and had a major refurbishment in 2009.[5]

Economy

Important industries in the area around Tara include wheat, beef, wool and gas.

On 14 March 2011 a blockade against coal seam gas development began at a property called Kenya near Tara. The following day a woman was arrested after she stopped the movement of a bulldozer working for Queensland Gas Company.[6] The next month Bob Irwin was arrested and fined for participating in a rally at the same location. He was protesting against plans to build a coal seam gas pipeline.[7] Local landowner Dayne Pratzky, now an anti-coal seam gas activist, features in the 2015 movie-length documentary Frackman.

Education

Tara State College is a government co-educational primary and secondary school (P-12) at 22 Binnie Street. In 2016, the college had an enrolment of 398 students with 40 teachers (38 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent).[8]

Facilities

Tara has a library at 31 Day Street operated by the Western Downs Regional Council.[9]

Attractions

Attractions near Tara include Southwood National Park, a remnant area of the southern brigalow belt.

The Commercial Hotel has two murals painted by artist Hugh Sawrey, from nearby Kogan. Painted in 1960, they are You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me and Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Tara (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 April 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ↑ "Tara - town (entry 33316)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Tara - locality (entry 47749)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  5. ↑ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Lisa Martin (15 March 2011). "Great-granny arrested in gas blockade". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Bob Irwin fined over gas protest". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Tara State College. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Tara Library". plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Oil town has". The Australian Women's Weekly. 29 (42). 21 March 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ Cooke, Glenn R (2009). "Hugh Sawrey: Biography". Design & Art Australia Online. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.

Further reading

  • A History of Tara and District with Addenda 1840-1960 by Hector M Ferguson.
  • Tara Shire History 1840-1988 by Tara & Districts Historical Society.

Media related to Tara, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons


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