Blackall

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 area of the Shire of Murweh, particularly the towns of Charleville, Augathella and Blackall as well as the properties of Nive Downs and Mount Tabor. Kuungkari (also known as Kungkari and Koonkerri) is a language of Western Queensland. The Kuungkari language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Longreach Region and Blackall-Tambo Region. 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. The region was explored in 1846 by explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell and his party. In 1856, Augustus Gregory passed through the area noting that the landscape was a vast plain lacking vegetation, in contrast to Mitchell's description of good country. Blackall was named by Surveyor Abraham H. May after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland. Blackall State School opened on 10 September 1877. On 5 October 1964, the school was destroyed by fire, but was subsequently rebuilt. On Tuesday 29 March 1881, following seven inches of rain, the Barcoo River burst through the town embankment, completely washing away the stonework of the dam. On Wednesday 30 March, the still-rising river flooded the town's main street and many people in the town's lower-lying areas were forced to evacuate as their homes became fully submerged. Blackall was one of the first Queensland towns to sink an artesian…

Geography

Blackall is in Central Western Queensland, approximately by road from the state capital, Brisbane, south of Barcaldine and north of Charleville. The town is situated on the Barcoo River and Landsborough Highway (Matilda Way). Blackall–Jericho Road runs north-east from the town to the locality of Jericho. Isisford–Blackall Road enters from the locality of Isisford to the west. The locality contains numerous mountains, including: * Battery Knob () * Carlton Hill () * Cory Peak () * Flat Top () * Joey Peak () * Lorne Mountain () * Mount Battery () * Mount Calder () * Mount Conebreak () * Mount Cullen () * Mount Harden () * Mount Mistake () * Mount Northampton () * Mount Sentinel () * Mount Watson () * Mountain Red () * One Stone Hill () * One Tree Hill () * Scrubby Mountain () * The Cone () * The Nob ()

Most-observed species

• Crested Pigeon

  Ocyphaps lophotes (Temminck, 1822) · Aves
  85
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  84
• Black Kite

  Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  76
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  75
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  73
• White-plumed Honeyeater

  Ptilotula penicillata (Gould, 1837) · Aves
  71
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  68
• Yellow-throated Miner

  Manorina flavigula (Gould, 1840) · Aves
  67