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Quilpie, Queensland

Coordinates: 26°36′58″S 144°16′03″E / 26.6161°S 144.2675°E / -26.6161; 144.2675 (Quilpie (town centre))
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Quilpie
Queensland
Brolga St, the main street of Quilpie
Quilpie is located in Queensland
Quilpie
Quilpie
Coordinates26°36′58″S 144°16′03″E / 26.6161°S 144.2675°E / -26.6161; 144.2675 (Quilpie (town centre))
Population530 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density0.02970/km2 (0.0769/sq mi)
Established1917
Postcode(s)4480
Area17,847.0 km2 (6,890.8 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Quilpie
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Quilpie:
Eromanga Adavale Adavale
Eromanga Quilpie Humeburn
Thargomindah Thargomindah Yowah

Quilpie (/ˈkwɪlpi/ KWIL-pee) is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Quilpie, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Quilpie had a population of 530 people.[1]

The town is the administrative centre of the Quilpie Shire local government area. The town of Toompine is also within the locality.

The economy of the area is based on the grazing and mining industries. The area has one of the largest deposits of boulder opal in the world, and also has extensive deposits of gas and oil.

Geography

[edit]

Quilpie is in Channel Country on the banks of the Bulloo River. It is on the Diamantina Developmental Road, 211 kilometres (131 mi) west of Charleville, 829 kilometres (515 mi) west of Toowoomba and 1,099 kilometres (683 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane. Quilpie is the administrative centre of the Quilpie Shire.

The town of Quilpie is in the north of the locality, while the smaller town of Toompine (27°13′21″S 144°21′40″E / 27.2225°S 144.3611°E / -27.2225; 144.3611 (Toompine, Queensland)) is in the south of the locality.[4]

Quilpie has quite a few trees but sometimes drought takes over and the landscape can become dry and desolate.

History

[edit]

Quilpie is believed to lie on the border of the Bunthamurra and Margany Indigenous Australian tribal areas.[5]

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.[6]

The township of Toompine was surveyed in 1870. The name Toompine is an Indigenous language word meaning leech.[4]

Toompine Provisional School and Duck Creek Provisional School both opened in 1900. In 1901, they became half-time schools (meaning they shared a single teacher between the two schools). Toompine Provisional School closed in July 1902, enabling Duck Creek Provisional School to revert to full-time status. Due to low student numbers, Duck Creek Provisional School closed in 1905.[7]

Quilpie was gazetted as a town in 1917 owing to the Western railway line that was laid down from Brisbane.[8] It takes its name from the Indigenous Australian word for stone curlew, quilpeta.[2][3][9] The name was proposed by pastoralist James Hammond of Tenham Station.[2] The Queensland Railways Department mistakenly named the railway station Quillpill.[10] The town and station name were standardised to Quilpie on 16 June 1917 by the Governor in Council.[11][12] From 1954 to 1994, The Westlander was split at Charleville. the Quilpie Section (3Q02) was known as the "Flying Flea" and it consisted of two passenger carriages, a guards van and power van. both 3Q02 and 3V02 were withdrawn in 1994 and replaced by TrainLink bus services

Quilpie State School opened on 10 September 1918.[7] The school began offering secondary education in 1966. On 5 December 2008, it was renamed Quilpie State College.[13][14]

The first post office was opened in 1921. Two years later the telephone reached Quilpie .[15]

A fire destroyed a block of the main street in 1926. With no town water the residents watched helplessly.[15]

In 1927, the first court house was established.[15]

Prior to 1930, Quilpie was within the Shire of Adavale, headquartered at Adavale. However, the decision to route the railway line through Quilpie rather than Adavale had led to a population drift away from Adavale making Quilpie the larger town. On 17 July 1930, there was a re-organisation of local government in the district, resulting in the abolition of the Shire of Adavale and the creation of the Shire of Quilpie with Quilpie as its headquarters.[15]

St Finbarr's Catholic Church was officially opened and dedicated on Sunday 14 December 1930 by the Bishop of Toowoomba, James Byrne.[16][17] It was built from timber.[18] In 1972, it was replaced with a brick church designed by W. Durack.[19]

A bore was sunk into the Great Artesian Basin in 1933. It provided drinking water for the town and between 1952 and 1963 the hot water was used to generate electricity for the town.[15]

On 15 October 1936, St Matthew's Anglican Church was officially opened and dedicated by Bishop Dixon.[20] It was built from timber and could seat 100 people.[21] The church bell was donated by the people of Cunnamulla.[20]

St Finbarr's Catholic School opened in early 1950, shortly after the arrival in January 1950 of three Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Sisters Macrina, Carmel and Magdalen. By the end of 1950, over 60 children were enrolled. A boarding school for boys and girls was opened in 1951. The first lay teacher, Michael West, was appointed in 1983. When the boarding facility closed in 2008, it was the last rural Catholic primary boarding school in Queensland. In 2009, the first lay principal, Aaron Wells, was appointed and the administration of the school passed from the Sisters to the Catholic Education Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba who operate the school in the Mary MacKillop tradition (MacKillop being the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph).[7][22][23]

Goombie State School opened on Goombie Station (north of the town of Quilpie at 26°06′45″S 144°08′05″E / 26.1126°S 144.1348°E / -26.1126; 144.1348 (Goombie Station)) on 27 January 1875 and closed on 9 December 1977.[7]

The current Quilpie Public Library building opened in 2005.[24]

Demographics

[edit]

In the 2001 census, the town of Quilpie had a population of 645 people. Around 14% of the population of Quilpie identity as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and around 2% were born outside Australia.[25]

In the 2006 census, the town of Quilpie had a population of 560 people.[26]

In the 2011 census, the locality of Quilpie had a population of 574 people.[27]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Quilpie had a population of 595 people.[28]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Quilpie had a population of 451 people with 16.2% identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.[1]

Economy

[edit]

The area is wholly devoted to grazing. Boulder opal, oil and gas mining are major secondary industries for the local economy. The majority of the employees of these industries are local residents, with low rates of both unemployment and itinerant work.

Quilpie has one opal mining field; Toompine Field is located between Quilpie and Yowah.

Flora and fauna

[edit]

The most common species of trees in the district are:[29]

There are a large range of animals (including reptiles and insects) that can be found in the area including:

Amenities

[edit]
Quilpie post office, 2007

Quilpie residents enjoy free access to many amenities including a post office, the town library, swimming pool, golf course, museum, sports grounds, an air-conditioned hall and supper room etc. There are well stocked stores and plenty of attractions for visitors with displays of opals and the works of local artists and as well as an information centre. The Brick Hotel has been restored to house displays of opal and art and provide a community learning space.[30][31]

Quilpie public library, 2012

Quilpie Shire Council operates Quilpie Shire Library at 52 Brolga Street.[32]

The Quilpie branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 17 Brolga Street.[33]

St Finbarr's Catholic Church is on the south-east corner of Bulnbuln Street and Quarrion Street (26°36′58″S 144°16′09″E / 26.616203°S 144.2692°E / -26.616203; 144.2692 (St Finbarr's Catholic Church)). The altar and baptismal font are decorated with local opals.[34][35][36]

St Matthew's Anglican Church is on the north-west corner of Bulnbuln Street and Quarrion Street (26°36′56″S 144°16′08″E / 26.615601°S 144.2689°E / -26.615601; 144.2689 (St Matthew's Anglican Church)).[37]

Education

[edit]
Playground, Quilpie State School, 2023

Quilpie State College is a government primary and secondary (Early Childhood-10) school for boys and girls at the corner of Chulungra and Boonkai Streets (26°36′54″S 144°16′17″E / 26.6149°S 144.2714°E / -26.6149; 144.2714 (Quilpie State College)).[38][39] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 61 students with 12 teachers (11 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).[40] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 65 students with 13 teachers (12 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).[41]

St Finbarr's School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Jabiru Street (26°37′00″S 144°16′12″E / 26.6167°S 144.2701°E / -26.6167; 144.2701 (St Finbarr's School)).[38][42] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 30 students with 5 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[40] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 26 students with 4 teachers (3 full-time equivalent) and 3 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).[41]

For students wanting to study Years 11 and 12, the closest secondary school is Charleville State High School in Charleville,[43] 211 kilometres (131 mi) to the east. Alternatively, Year 11 and 12 students can also study using distance education provided by the Charleville School of Distance Education or move away to various boarding schools.[44]

Climate

[edit]

Quilpie experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with very hot, somewhat rainy summers and mild, dry winters. Average maxima strongly vary from season to season: between 37.0 °C (98.6 °F) in January and 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in July. Annual precipitation is rather low, averaging 347.3 mm (13.67 in), with a summer maximum. The town is very sunny, with 195.9 clear days and only 62.3 cloudy days annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 47.1 °C (116.8 °F) on 3 January 2014 to −2.3 °C (27.9 °F) on 2 July 1977.[45]

Climate data for Quilpie (26º36'36"S, 144º15'36"E, 200 m AMSL) (1917-2024 normals, extremes 1957-2014)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 47.1
(116.8) 		45.5
(113.9) 		42.9
(109.2) 		38.4
(101.1) 		34.5
(94.1) 		32.1
(89.8) 		29.4
(84.9) 		37.0
(98.6) 		40.1
(104.2) 		43.8
(110.8) 		44.9
(112.8) 		46.2
(115.2) 		47.1
(116.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 37.0
(98.6) 		35.6
(96.1) 		33.4
(92.1) 		29.2
(84.6) 		24.0
(75.2) 		20.4
(68.7) 		20.1
(68.2) 		22.7
(72.9) 		27.1
(80.8) 		31.0
(87.8) 		34.0
(93.2) 		36.3
(97.3) 		29.2
(84.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.8
(74.8) 		23.3
(73.9) 		20.5
(68.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		10.9
(51.6) 		7.4
(45.3) 		6.1
(43.0) 		7.7
(45.9) 		11.7
(53.1) 		16.1
(61.0) 		19.6
(67.3) 		22.2
(72.0) 		15.4
(59.7)
Record low °C (°F) 13.7
(56.7) 		13.3
(55.9) 		9.6
(49.3) 		3.5
(38.3) 		1.0
(33.8) 		−1.2
(29.8) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		2.1
(35.8) 		5.4
(41.7) 		8.6
(47.5) 		12.3
(54.1) 		−2.3
(27.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 52.1
(2.05) 		49.3
(1.94) 		43.6
(1.72) 		24.2
(0.95) 		26.3
(1.04) 		19.6
(0.77) 		16.2
(0.64) 		13.1
(0.52) 		14.9
(0.59) 		22.7
(0.89) 		30.5
(1.20) 		34.4
(1.35) 		347.3
(13.67)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.1 3.7 3.1 1.9 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.5 1.9 2.8 3.3 3.7 32.5
Average afternoon relative humidity (%) 26 31 29 29 35 39 35 28 24 22 21 22 28
Average dew point °C (°F) 11.3
(52.3) 		12.3
(54.1) 		10.0
(50.0) 		7.3
(45.1) 		6.3
(43.3) 		4.9
(40.8) 		2.4
(36.3) 		1.3
(34.3) 		1.4
(34.5) 		3.4
(38.1) 		5.7
(42.3) 		7.9
(46.2) 		6.2
(43.1)
Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1917-2024 normals, extremes 1957-2014)[46]

Events

[edit]
  • The Pride of the West festival is held in September every year.[47]
  • The Quilpie Cup Races[48]
  • The Kangaranga Do festival is held in September every year on the Tuesday before the Birdsville Races.[49]

Notable people from Quilpie

[edit]
[edit]
  • Quilpie Visitors Centre and regional art gallery
    Quilpie Visitors Centre and regional art gallery
  • Quilpie Shire Hall
    Quilpie Shire Hall
  • Rainbow over Quilpie - view from behind the Art Gallery
    Rainbow over Quilpie - view from behind the Art Gallery
  • Quilpie public art in the main street
    Quilpie public art in the main street
  • Quilpie Hotel
    Quilpie Hotel
  • Development Road into Quilpie.
    Development Road into Quilpie.
  • The Imperial Hotel under construction, c.1925
    The Imperial Hotel under construction, c.1925
  • A Brisbane tourist's car being trucked to Quilpie railhead, 1952
    A Brisbane tourist's car being trucked to Quilpie railhead, 1952
  • Drinking at the bar of the Quilpie Hotel, c.1921
    Drinking at the bar of the Quilpie Hotel, c.1921

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Quilpie (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 April 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b c "Quilpie – town in Shire of Quilpie (entry 27822)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Quilpie – locality in Shire of Quilpie (entry 50254)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Toompine – population centre in Shire of Quilpie (entry 34918)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Lesley (January 2001). Lure of the Land: A Brief History of the Quilpie Shire (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Margany". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  8. ^ "Walkabout – Quilpie". 8 June 2007. Archived from the original on 8 June 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Quilpie, Queensland - Explore Australia Travel Guide". Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Quilpie – railway station in Shire of Quilpie (entry 27823)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Queensland Place Names". Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  12. ^ "WESTERN RAILWAY". Daily Mail. No. 4422. Queensland, Australia. 1 May 1917. p. 4. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "School History". Quilpie State School. 20 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Agency ID 5641, Quilpie State School (College)". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d e Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. pp. 104–105. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
  16. ^ "St. Finbarr's Church, Quilpie". The Catholic Advocate. Vol. XX, no. 1021. Queensland, Australia. 25 December 1930. p. 27. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Quilpie Church". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LXIX, no. 308. Queensland, Australia. 15 December 1930. p. 11. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "St Finbarr's Catholic Church | Quilpie". Queensland Religious Places Database. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  19. ^ "St Finbarr's Catholic Church | Quilpie". Queensland Religious Places Database. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Biggenden". The Courier-mail. No. 978. Queensland, Australia. 17 October 1936. p. 27. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "St Matthew's Anglican Church | Quilpie". Queensland Religious Places Database. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  22. ^ "History". St Finbarr's, Quilpie. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  23. ^ "NEWS FROM QUILPIE". The Charleville Times. Queensland, Australia. 6 July 1950. p. 10. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2020 – via Trove.
  24. ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  25. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Quilpie (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 July 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  26. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Quilpie (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  27. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Quilpie (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 July 2014. Edit this at Wikidata
  28. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Quilpie (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  29. ^ Quilpie Shire Council, "Tracks and Facts of Quilpie Shire" 2011 p. 13
  30. ^ "The pub with no beer". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  31. ^ Community Learning Space Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "Quilpie Shire Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  34. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Finbarr's Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  35. ^ "St Finbarr's Parish, Quilpie". Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  36. ^ "St Finbarr's Catholic Church (Streetview)" (Map). Google Maps. April 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  37. ^ Blake, Thom. "St Matthew's Anglican Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  38. ^ a b "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  39. ^ "Quilpie State College". Quilpie State College. 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  40. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  41. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  42. ^ "Home - St Finbarr's School, Quilpie". St Finbarr's School, Quilpie Website. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  43. ^ "Charleville State High School". Charleville State High School. 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  44. ^ "Charleville School of Distance Education". Charleville School of Distance Education. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Quilpie Airport Climate (1917-2024)". FarmOnline Weather. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Quilpie Airport Climate Statistics (1917-2024)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  47. ^ "Pride of the West :: Quilpie Diggers Race Club". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  48. ^ "Quilpie Cup Meeting :: Quilpie Diggers Race Club". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  49. ^ "Events Archive | Quilpie Shire Council". Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2015.

Further reading

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[edit]
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