Augathella

Augathella /ˈɔːɡəθɛlə/ is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Murweh, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Augathella had a population of 449 people.[1]

Augathella
Queensland
Memorial Hall, Augathella
Augathella
Coordinates25.7947°S 146.5858°E / -25.7947; 146.5858
Population449 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.3077/km2 (0.7970/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4477
Area1,459.1 km2 (563.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Murweh
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Augathella:
Ward Nive Caroline Crossing
Ward Augathella Caroline Crossing
Ward Gowrie Station Clara Creek

Geography

Augathella lies on the Matilda Highway, is 85 kilometres (53 mi) north of the town of Charleville, and 748 kilometres (465 mi) west of Brisbane (Queensland's capital). The town lies on the banks of the Warrego River.

History

Bidjara (also known as Bidyara, Pitjara, and Peechara) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Bidjara people. The Bidjara language region includes the local government areas of the Shire of Murweh, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall as well as the properties of Nive Downs and Mount Tabor.[4]

Gungabula (also known as Kongabula and Khungabula) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the headwaters of the Dawson River in Central Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area of Maranoa Region, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall and as well as the Carnarvon Range.[5]

Gunya (Kunya, Kunja, Kurnja) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Gunya people. The Gunya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Paroo Shire Council, taking in Cunnamulla and extending north towards Augathella, east towards Bollon and west towards Thargomindah.[6]

The town, built up gradually over what was Kunja tribal territory, came into being initially as a resting place for bullock teams lying at the convergence of three bullock tracks from Morven, Tambo, and Charleville. Originally called Burenda it was renamed Ellangowan (still the name of the local watering hole) and when gazetted in 1883 called Augathella. This is apparently an Indigenous Australian word meaning "camp on a waterhole", referring the Warrego River.[2][7] A service centre sprang up to service their needs and the needs of the burgeoning grazing industry.

Burenda Post Office opened on 1 September 1869. It was renamed Ellangowan in 1877 and Augathella in 1883.[8]

Augathella is the destination of cattle drovers in the Australian folk song Brisbane Ladies. This song is alternately called "Augathella Station".

The 1956 film Smiley was based on Moore Raymond's novel of the same name, which was set in a fictionalised version of Augathella.[9][10]

The Augathella Library opened in 2000.[11]

At the 2006 census, Augathella had a population of 395.[12]

Facilities

The Murweh Shire Council operates the Augathella Library on Main Street, Augathella.[13]

The Augathella branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 101 Cavanagh Street.[14]

Education

Augathella State School opened its doors on 1 January 1884.[15] The school caters for students from Prep to Year 6.[16]

Today
Augathella Cosmos Meatant Country
Smiley film mural

The town's service centre was bypassed by the new Matilda Highway during the 1980s. Some new businesses have slowly encroached back onto the highway frontage. There is a growing arts centre in the town, public library, public swimming pool, a bowls club and there is an annual rodeo. Augathella has some polocrosse teams.

Today, grazing is still the predominant industry of the area. The town is situated on the Warrego River (an Aboriginal word meaning river of sand).

Since 2011 the entrance the town has been marked by 4.5m steel and copper giant sculpture of a meat ant[17] - in a reference to its former junior football team, named the "Mighty Meat Ants".[18]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Augathella (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Augathella - town in Shire of Murweh (entry 1008)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. "Augathella - locality in Shire of Murweh (entry 42920)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. "Bidjara". State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Gungabula". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. "Gunya". State Library of Queensland. 21 January 2020.
  7. http://www.wikiaustralia.com/destination/9005744/
  8. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  9. "£100,000 FILM PLANNED". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 21 March 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  10. "Augathella to paint 'Smiley' tribute mural". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  11. "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Augathella (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  13. "Augathella Library". Public Libraries Connect. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  14. "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  15. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  16. "Augathella State School". Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  17. "Tinaroo artist's sculpture to mark historic town Augathella's entrance", cairns.com.au
  18. "Giant meat ant invades Augathella", thechronicle.com.au

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