Bedourie

History

The area around Bedourie is on Wangkamahdla land. The region was originally inhabited by Indigenous communities prior to the arrival of pastoralists, who subsequently established cattle stations. Throughout the late nineteenth century, Bedourie served as a significant watering and rest stop for drovers transporting livestock from the Northern Territory and north-west Queensland to Birdsville, some 200 kilometres to the south. In February 1887, were reserved as the site for a town. The Royal Hotel was constructed and opened in 1886 by Hylock & Co. with a thatched roof (later replaced with corrugated iron) and the locality was renamed Bedourie. Bedourie Post Office opened around July 1903 (receiving offices known as Bidouri, Bedouri and Bedourie had been open since 1887). The Diamantina Shire Council moved its headquarters from Birdsville to Bedourie in 1953. Bedourie State School opened on 16 May 1960. The current school building opened in 1967. The Bedourie Public Library had a major refurbishment in 2009.

Geography

Bedourie is located in the Channel Country of Central West Queensland, Australia, lying on Eyre Creek. It is located west of the state capital, Brisbane, and north of Birdsville. Bedourie is the administrative centre of the Diamantina Shire, which also comprises the towns of Birdsville and Betoota. When the Georgina River experiences severe floods the town can be cut off by road for months at a time. * Mount Cuttiguree () * Mount Prout () * Mount Woneeala () * Pampra Hill () * The Brothers () * The Sisters ()

Most-observed species

• Black Kite

  Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  127
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  116
• Fairy Martin

  Petrochelidon ariel (Gould, 1842) · Aves
  109
• Zebra Finch

  Taeniopygia guttata (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  108
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  97
• Whistling Kite

  Haliastur sphenurus (Vieillot, 1818) · Aves
  89
• White-plumed Honeyeater

  Ptilotula penicillata (Gould, 1837) · Aves
  89
• Australian Raven

  Corvus coronoides Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  83

Most recent

• M 3 — 2001-10-07
  Queensland, Australia