30-710: Idalia is a national park situated in South West Queensland , Australia , 893 km west of Brisbane . It is located near the town of Blackall in the Queensland outback . The park protects 144,000 hectares of mulga lands with conservation value. Idalia National Park was opened in 1990 by Prince Philip . The national park is home to many distinctly Australian species of flora and fauna, including wallaroos, red and grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, black-striped wallabies, yellow-footed rock-wallabies and endangered bridled nailtail wallabies. Contained within
60-553: A separate code (D23). AUSTLANG assigns separate codes to the following dialects, all related and part of the Gamilaraay group: According to Robert Fuller of the Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University and his colleagues, the Gamilaraay and Euahlayi peoples are a cultural grouping of north and northwest New South Wales (NSW), and the Gamilaraay dialect groups are known as Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay, while
90-524: Is a Pama–Nyungan language of the Wiradhuric subgroup found mostly in south-eastern Australia. It is the traditional language of the Gamilaraay (Kamilaroi) , an Aboriginal Australian people. It has been noted as endangered, but the number of speakers grew from 87 in the 2011 Australian Census to 105 in the 2016 Australian Census . Thousands of Australians identify as Gamilaraay, and the language
120-509: Is a ghost town with a population of just six. Eromanga is home to Australia's Largest Dinosaur, 'Cooper'. Cooper was described in 2021 as new genus and species of Titanosauria, Australotitan cooperensis Historical geographical records have suggested changes in the flow of local tertiary sandstone springs have occurred since the 1880s. Blasting was often used to enhance spring flow and consequently causing its destruction as with bores and dams. Only 45% of springs that were historically documented in
150-414: Is a large impact crater located in the region, however it is not visible at the surface. Major towns of South West Queensland include Quilpie , Charleville , Roma , Thargomindah , St George and Cunnamulla . . Cunnamulla has the biggest wool-loading station on the Queensland railway network. Australia's largest cotton farm, Cubbie Station near St George, covers 93,000 hectares. Smaller towns in
180-635: Is built on an opal field which began producing opals in the 1870s. Opals are also found at Koroit opal field , Quilpie, Eulo and in northern New South Wales. The geological formation containing opals in South West Queensland is called the Winton Formation . 26°24′S 146°15′E / 26.4°S 146.25°E / -26.4; 146.25 Yuwaalaraay-Gamilaraay The Gamilaraay or Kamilaroi language ( Gamilaraay pronunciation: [ɡ̊aˌmilaˈɻaːj] )
210-465: Is covered by red, brown and grey clays. Red sands and earths predominate, which is typical of arid Australia. In 2013, a small population of the elusive night parrot was discovered in South West Queensland. The region is targeted by wildlife smugglers. Albino blue-tongued skinks , bearded dragons and shinglebacks have been intercepted in packages bound for China. Adavale was the location of Australia's first opal discovery. The town of Yowah
240-553: Is taught in some schools. Wirray Wirray , Guyinbaraay , Yuwaalayaay , Waalaraay and Gawambaraay are dialects; Yuwaalaraay / Euahlayi is a closely related language. The name Gamilaraay means ' gamil -having', with gamil being the word for 'no'. Other dialects and languages are similarly named after their respective words for 'no'. (Compare the division between langues d'oïl and langues d'oc in France, distinguished by their respective words for 'yes'.) Spellings of
270-410: Is the earliest written record of Gamilaraay. Presbyterian missionary William Ridley studied the language from 1852 to 1856. In 2013 Gamilaraay was noted as endangered by Ethnologue , with only 35 speakers left in 2006 (AUSTLANG says 37 at that date), all mixing Gamilaraay and English. At the 2011 census there were 87 speakers recorded and in 2016, 105. There are no known fluent speakers of
300-604: The Diamantina Development Road is slowly being upgraded. The region is serviced by seven airports, including Dirranbandi Airport , Roma Airport , St George Airport , Charleville Airport , Thargomindah Airport , Cunnamulla Airport and Quilpie Airport . The Western railway line reached Charleville in 1888. A branch line to Cunnamulla was opened in 1898. Today, The Westlander passenger train service operates between Brisbane and Charleville. The South Western railway line passes through Thallon in
330-726: The Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne , including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales. Eastern parts of the region around the upper reaches of the Warrego River were explored by Thomas Mitchell in 1845. It wasn't until after William Landsborough explored
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#1732798095293360-502: The 1880s coach services expanded into the region. Cobb & Co was Australia's most famous historical coaching firm and once provided passenger and mail services across the country. They produced an eight-passenger coach that gained repute for its strength, stability and the forgiving suspension. In 1922, QANTAS began its first regular flights from Charleville. The northern extent of the Sturt Stony Desert lies within
390-571: The Euahlayi (Euayelai ) have a similar but distinct language. Southern Aboriginal guides led the surveyor John Howe to the upper Hunter River above present-day Singleton in 1819. They told him that the country there was "Coomery Roy [=Gamilaraay] and more further a great way", meaning to the north-west, over the Liverpool Ranges . This is probably the first record of the name. A basic wordlist collected by Thomas Mitchell in 1832
420-556: The area during his 1862 expedition that settlers began to take up pastoral runs. In 1860, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills began an expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria to explore large areas of inland Australia which remained completely unknown to the European settlers. A pivotal meeting place or depôt camp used by the expedition was located at Bullah Bullah Waterhole on Cooper Creek . After failing to reach
450-621: The federal level the whole region is encompassed by the Division of Maranoa . Local Government areas included in the region are Maranoa Region , Shire of Balonne , Shire of Paroo , Shire of Murweh , Shire of Bulloo and the Shire of Quilpie . South West Queensland has a population of 26,489. The region is serviced by the ABC Western Queensland radio station. Aboriginal society traded objects based on need and to promote social cohesion. The South West region of Queensland
480-480: The landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne , including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Hebel extending to Walgett and Collarenebri in New South Wales . Yuwaalayaay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi ) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalayaay country. It is closely related to
510-482: The location of a food cache. It also became the resting place for Burke who died of malnourishment after they ran low on supplies amid controversial and tragic circumstances. Wills also died from weakness and malnourishment downstream at Breerily Waterhole. John King was the sole survivor of the party that trekked north to the gulf. The expedition's journals and maps inspired pastoralists and opened up of vast tracts of Queensland to pastoral settlement. Western parts of
540-544: The name, pronounced [ɡ̊aˌmilaˈɻaːj] in the language itself, include Goomeroi ; Kamilaroi ; Gamilaraay and Gamilaroi . While AUSTLANG cites Euahlayi, Ualarai, Euhahlayi, and Juwalarai as synonyms for Gamilaraay in earlier sources, it has updated its codes to reflect more recent sources suggest different distinctions. AIATSIS groups the Yuwaalaraay/Euahlayi/Yuwaaliyaay language and people in its resource collection, and gives it
570-483: The northern coastline due to the mangrove swamps of the Flinders River delta the party of four set off for the return journey short on supplies. Charles Gray died on the way leaving three of the party who eventually managed to return to Cooper Creek on 21 April 1861, only to find the other half of the party had just left for Menindee nine hours earlier. A tree at the camp was used to depict three blazes and mark
600-402: The park are several Aboriginal heritage sites, including artefact scatters, stone arrangements and camp sites. Also found in the park are the ruins of two historic homesteads; Idalia and Collabara. There is no accommodation available onsite however camping is allowed at designated sites. Access to the park is only available via four-wheel drive. In times of heavy rainfall access into and out of
630-703: The park is not possible. South West Queensland South West Queensland is a remote region in the Australian state of Queensland which covers 319,808 km (123,479 sq mi). The region lies to the south of Central West Queensland and west of the Darling Downs and includes the Maranoa district and parts of the Channel Country . The area is noted for its cattle grazing, cotton farming, opal mining and oil and gas deposits. At
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#1732798095293660-660: The region around the location known as Cameron Corner . Part of the Cooper Basin is located in the region. The basin contains the most significant on-shore petroleum and natural gas deposits in Australia. Near Roma at Hospital Hill, Australia's first natural gas strike was made. Oil was found in the region in 1961. The Eromanga Basin , also located in South West Queensland has been explored and developed for petroleum production. Commercial quantities of gas were first discovered in 1976 and oil in 1978. The Tookoonooka crater
690-414: The region include Amby , Injune , Jackson , Mitchell , Muckadilla, Mungallala , Surat , Wallumbilla , Yuleba , Alton, Bollon , Boolba, Dirranbandi , Hebel , Mungindi , Nindigully , Thallon , Coongoola, Eulo , Humeburn, Tuen, Wyandra , Yowah, Bakers Bend , Morven , Nive, Sommariva , Thargomindah , Hungerford , Noccundra , Nockatunga , Adavale , Cheepie, Eromanga and Toompine. Cooladdi
720-682: The region include the Mitchell Highway out of outback New South Wales and the Balonne Highway which travels east from St George to Cunnamulla. The Warrego Highway travels in an east–west direction across the north of the region. The northern tip of the Castlereagh Highway passes through the south east of the region, terminating at St George. Also passing through St George is the Carnarvon Highway and
750-432: The region receive an average of 150 millimetres or 6 inches annual rainfall, while further east around St. George the annual average is 500 millimetres or 20 inches. Limited access to water in the region restricted early pastoralism. After artesian bore water had been discovered and developed the lands were able to support sheep and not just cattle. A Cobb & Co factory and was built at Charleville in 1893. During
780-585: The region, including Alton National Park , Chesterton Range National Park , Culgoa Floodplain National Park , Currawinya National Park , Diamantina National Park , Idalia National Park , Lake Bindegolly National Park , Mariala National Park , Thrushton National Park and Tregole National Park . Bowra Sanctuary is a nature reserve near Cunnamulla which is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy . Major roads in
810-491: The south east corner of the region. Bioregions in the area include the Mulga Lands . Mulga is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback Australia which has developed extensive adaptations to the dry conditions. There is an isolated population of rufous-crowned emu-wren living in spinifex shrubland which is found in the region. The Dingo Fence runs through the region and is the world's longest fence. The region
840-529: The south west Queensland records, remain. Waterways coursing through South West Queensland include the Warrego , Maranoa , Merivale , Balonne and its tributary the Bokhara River , Culgoa , Wilson and Cooper Creek. The Balonne is used for an extensive irrigation network. The Bulloo River system is the only closed river system in Australia. A number of national parks have been declared in
870-405: The towns of Dirranbandi , Thallon , Talwood and Bungunya as well as the border towns of Mungindi and Boomi extending to Moree , Tamworth and Coonabarabran in New South Wales . Yuwaalaraay (also known as Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi ) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. The Yuwaalaraay language region includes
900-401: Was the primary source of the traded plant Duboisia hopwoodii , from which a traditional chewing tobacco was made. Kamilaroi (also known as Gamilaroi, Gamilaraay, Comilroy) is an Australian Aboriginal language of South-West Queensland. It is closely related to Yuwaalaraay and Yuwaalayaay. The Kamilaroi language region includes the local government area of the Shire of Balonne , including
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