Isisford

History

The Indigenous people of the Isisford region are known as the Kuungkari people. The first Europeans to enter the area were members of the expedition led by Thomas Mitchell, who journeyed through what is now Isisford in September 1846. Mitchell described a large native encampment being present with permanent huts and well-beaten pathways. The resident people were alarmed at the arrival of this group, and Mitchell continued through with little interaction. He made camp at a nearby lagoon, which he called Yuranigh's Pond, after Yuranigh, his Wiradjuri guide. In 1847, Edmund Kennedy's exploratory group travelled through the region where he obtained the name of the Barcoo River from an old Kuungkari man living near Yuranigh's Pond. The expedition of Augustus Charles Gregory passed through the same area in 1858. While they were encamped, they fired a shot into the scrub to scare away the local Aborigines. In 1862, the expedition led by William Landsborough camped close to the same place and likewise felt threatened by the resident Kuungkari. A number armed with clubs and throwing sticks approached the camp and Landsborough ordered his men to fire. One Kuungkari man was shot dead and another wounded. British pastoralists began to enter the region in 1866 with John Charles Ellis and his brother Evelyn taking up land. They were sons of Charles Ellis, 6th Baron Howard de Walden and named their property Portland Downs after their maternal grandfather William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland. A year later, Charles Lumley Hill established the neighbouring Isis Downs property and John Fanning formed Ruthven. Frontier violence ensued with Fanning being killed in 1868 by resident Aboriginal men and another squatter named Richard Welford being killed in 1872. Punitive expeditions…

Geography

Isisford is situated in Central Western Queensland on the Barcoo River, and is approximately south east of the town of Longreach. The town of Emmet () is located south of Isisford, and Yaraka () is located to the south-west. Isisford–Blackall Road runs east from the town to the locality of Blackall. Idalia National Park and Welford National Park are accessible from the town. The following hills are near Isisford: * Double Top () * Mount Aaron () * Mount Ellen () * Mount Grey () * Mount Mingera () * Mount Moses () * Mount Perrier () * Mount Slowcan () * Mountain Black () * Observatory Hill () * Opal Hill () * Penny Knob () * The Sisters () * Yellow Mountain ()

Most-observed species

• Whistling Kite

  Haliastur sphenurus (Vieillot, 1818) · Aves
  21
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  21
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  21
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  19
• White-plumed Honeyeater

  Ptilotula penicillata (Gould, 1837) · Aves
  19
• Yellow-throated Miner

  Manorina flavigula (Gould, 1840) · Aves
  18
• Black Kite

  Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  18
• Apostlebird

  Struthidea cinerea Gould, 1837 · Aves
  17