Thargomindah

Thargomindah /ˈθɑːrɡoʊmɪndə/ is a town and a locality in the Shire of Bulloo, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] At the 2016 census, Thargomindah had a population of 270.[1] It was founded on Wongkumara and Kalali territory.

Thargomindah
Queensland
Outback roadhouse of Thargomindah
Thargomindah
Coordinates27.9922°S 143.8197°E / -27.9922; 143.8197
Population270 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density5.53/km2 (14.33/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4482
Area48.8 km2 (18.8 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Bulloo
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
29.5 °C
85 °F		 16.1 °C
61 °F		 300.4 mm
11.8 in
Localities around Thargomindah:
Norley Norley Norley
Norley Thargomindah Norley
Dynevor Dynevor Dynevor

Geography

Thargominah is in South West Queensland on the Adventure Way, approximately 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane, and 200 kilometres (120 mi) west of the town of Cunnamulla. Thargomindah is the administrative centre for the Shire of Bulloo and lies on the Bulloo River.

History
Tourist information

Margany (also known as Marganj, Mardigan, Marukanji, Maranganji) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Margany people. The Margany language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Quilpie Shire, taking in Quilpie, Cheepie and Beechal extending towards Eulo and Thargomindah, as well as the properties of Dynevor Downs and Ardoch.[4]

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.[5]

The town was first settled in the 1860s at a crossing of the Bulloo River.[6] A post office was established in 1870 and a telegraph line connected the town to Cunnamulla in 1881. The 1890s saw the town prosper as the service and administrative centre of a pastoral district.[6]

Thargomindah was one of the first towns in Australia to produce hydroelectric power from 1898 until 1951. The old bore was a source of energy when electric street lights were lit and coupled to a turbine driven by the bore's natural water pressure. The generator was taken from a unit powered by a steam engine and purchased by the Bulloo Divisional Board becoming the first municipality owned power plant. After that power was supplied by diesel generators until 1988, when the town was connected to the state power grid via Cunnamulla. The power station is still operating with a daily opening to the public.

St Edmund's Anglican Church was dedicated 22 October 1960 by Archbishop Reginald Halse. Its closure on 28 May 2003 was approved by Venerable Gary Frederick Harch, Archdeacon of the West.[7]

At the 2006 census, Thargomindah had a population of 203.[8]

Heritage listings

Thargomindah has a number of nearby heritage-listed sites, including:

Facilities

An information centre is located at 37 Dowling Street, Thargomindah. The building is a renovation of a children's hostel which was built in early 1960, it then became a block of flats and ended up being an empty run-down building until converted to a very modern facility containing the Visitor Information Centre, Library and Coffee Shop. The hostel was used for children who lived in remote properties where they would board at the hostel during the week, returning home on the weekends to their families.

The Information Centre contains brochures, pamphlets and maps on the South West Queensland corner and surrounding areas. It is the first place where people stop when they visit Thargomindah to get the latest road conditions, directions, places to stay, things to see and do and the latest information on events.

Bulloo Shire Council operates Thargomindah Library at Shire Office, Dowling Street, Thargomindah.[12]

Thargomindah has two fuel stations; Thargo Motors which is open Mon to Fri and Sat mornings and Thargo Roadhouse which has 24 hour fuel using an EFTPOS facility.

Accommodation consists of the Oasis Motel, Bulloo River Hotel Motel, Explorers Caravan Park and Napunyah Caravan Park.

Dining out options are the Oasis Motel, Bulloo River Hotel Motel, Coffee on Dowling and Thargo Roadhouse.

Education

Thargomindah State School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls in Dowling Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 25 students with 2 full-time teachers and 5 support staff (3 full-time equivalent).[13]

The nearest government secondary (8-12) school is Cunnamulla P-12 State School.[14]

Water
Hot water bore hole into the Great Artesian Basin

Thargomindah has a pressurised hot spring from a bore into the Great Artesian Basin and has produced hydroelectric power from the basin in the past. After 2 years of drilling, a good supply of water was found in 1893. The temperature was 86 °C (187 °F). In 1924, it was recorded that the bore had a daily output of 2,500 cubic metres (88,000 cu ft) and today of 1,300 cubic metres (46,000 cu ft) at 84 °C (183 °F). There is a plentiful water supply for the population and the arid area available for irrigation in front and backyards and public warm showers are provided.

    Transport

    Thargomindah Airport is located near the township and was completely rebuilt in 2018. A railway extension to the town was planned for many years, however it never eventuated. The railway did reach Cunnamulla in 1898 and Quilpie in 1917.[6]

    Climate

    Thargomindah has a hot semi-arid climate.

    Climate data for Thargomindah
    Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
    Record high °C (°F) 48.8
    (119.8)    		 46.0
    (114.8)    		 43.8
    (110.8)    		 38.9
    (102.0)    		 32.2
    (90.0)    		 30.4
    (86.7)    		 28.5
    (83.3)    		 36.3
    (97.3)    		 39.2
    (102.6)    		 41.2
    (106.2)    		 45.4
    (113.7)    		 45.0
    (113.0)    		 48.8
    (119.8)
    Average high °C (°F) 38.5
    (101.3)    		 36.0
    (96.8)    		 33.5
    (92.3)    		 29.5
    (85.1)    		 23.8
    (74.8)    		 20.0
    (68.0)    		 20.1
    (68.2)    		 22.9
    (73.2)    		 27.8
    (82.0)    		 31.1
    (88.0)    		 33.8
    (92.8)    		 36.4
    (97.5)    		 29.5
    (85.1)
    Average low °C (°F) 25.5
    (77.9)    		 24.0
    (75.2)    		 21.2
    (70.2)    		 16.6
    (61.9)    		 10.6
    (51.1)    		 7.5
    (45.5)    		 6.7
    (44.1)    		 8.3
    (46.9)    		 12.8
    (55.0)    		 16.6
    (61.9)    		 20.6
    (69.1)    		 23.0
    (73.4)    		 16.1
    (61.0)
    Record low °C (°F) 17.2
    (63.0)    		 12.3
    (54.1)    		 9.4
    (48.9)    		 6.5
    (43.7)    		 1.0
    (33.8)    		 −0.8
    (30.6)    		 −0.9
    (30.4)    		 0.1
    (32.2)    		 4.7
    (40.5)    		 6.2
    (43.2)    		 9.7
    (49.5)    		 13.7
    (56.7)    		 −0.9
    (30.4)
    Average precipitation mm (inches) 39.1
    (1.54)    		 47.9
    (1.89)    		 45.5
    (1.79)    		 17.5
    (0.69)    		 14.4
    (0.57)    		 16.7
    (0.66)    		 13.6
    (0.54)    		 8.0
    (0.31)    		 9.8
    (0.39)    		 14.1
    (0.56)    		 40.7
    (1.60)    		 30.3
    (1.19)    		 300.4
    (11.83)
    Average precipitation days 3.6 4.5 4.4 1.4 2.8 3.9 3.5 2.0 2.6 3.4 5.5 4.4 42.0
    Source: [15]

    References
    1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Thargomindah (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
    2. "Thargomindah - town in Shire of Bulloo (entry 33819)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    3. "Thargomindah - locality in Shire of Bulloo (entry 42949)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    4. "Margany". State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
    5. "Gunya". State Library of Queensland. 21 January 2020.
    6. Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. pp. 114–115. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
    7. "Closed Churches". Anglican Records and Archives Centre. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
    8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Thargomindah (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
    9. "Dr Ludwig Becker's Grave (entry 601359)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
    10. "Burke and Wills Dig Tree (entry 601073)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
    11. "Noccundra Hotel (entry 600361)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
    12. "Thargomindah Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
    13. "Annual Report 2017". Thargomindah State School. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
    14. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
    15. "Climate statistics for Thargomindah". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
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