Windorah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Windorah Queensland
Windorah General Store, 2013
Windorah Location in Queensland
Population	104 (2021 census)
• Density	0.01177/km2 (0.0305/sq mi)
Established	1880
Postcode(s)	4481
Elevation	126.3 m (414 ft)
Area	8,835.4 km2 (3,411.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	97.3 km (60 mi) SW of Jundah 315 km (196 mi) SW of Longreach 457 km (284 mi) NW of Charleville 724 km (450 mi) WNW of Roma 1,202 km (747 mi) WNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Barcoo Shire
County	Grey
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 30.4 °C 87 °F 15.7 °C 60 °F 292.0 mm 11.5 in
Localities around Windorah: Farrars Creek Jundah Jundah Farrars Creek Windorah Eromanga Farrars Creek Tanbar Eromanga

Windorah is a town and a locality in the Shire of Barcoo, Queensland, Australia. It is one of only three towns in the Shire of Barcoo in Central West Queensland. In the 2021 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 104 people.

Geography

Located 35 kilometres (22 mi) downstream from where the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers join to form the multi-channelled Cooper Creek, the Shire covers an area of 60,901 square kilometres (23,514 sq mi). The town has a population of 60 people, with a further 40 living at surrounding stations.

A landscape of rocky outcrops, multiple sand hills and black soil flood plains make up most of the area surrounding the town. Water in the town follows the outback cycle of boom and bust. During a wet year Cooper Creek may flood more than a half a dozen times, during the dry it becomes a chain of waterholes. Downstream of the town stretches the Cooper Floodplain below Windorah Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for waterbirds when flooded.

History

The town was founded on a stock route and proclaimed in 1880. Cobb & Co once ran a stage coach service between Windorah and Adavale.

The town was completely isolated by floodwater in 1949 after surrounding areas were inundated by heavy rainfall. Low cloud and more rain prevented relief food supplies from being delivered by air from a RAAF Dakota.

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 158 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 115 people, with 20.5% of the population identifying as Indigenous.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Windorah had a population of 104 people.

Climate

Windorah is diverse in many aspects. The temperature may range from maximums in summer that approach 50 °C or 122 °F to minimums in winter that are below 0 °C or 32 °F. The annual rainfall has recorded falls between a low of 86 millimetres or 3.39 inches and a high of 988 millimetres or 38.90 inches. Other weather extremes include 25 morning frosts in 1977, 10 dust storms in 1987 and four hailstorms in 1985.

Economy

Cattle crossing the Thomson Developmental Road, north of Windorah, 2019

Sheep and cattle grazing are the mainstay of the district; however, recently oil and gas industries have developed in the area. Many locals also work on the Shire Council and the Dingo Barrier Fence.

Education

Windorah State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 8 Victoria Street (25°25′13″S 142°39′15″E / 25.4202°S 142.6542°E / -25.4202; 142.6542 (Windorah State School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 7 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 3 non-teaching staff (1 full-time equivalent). In 2022, the school had 10 students.

Attractions

Sunrise at Windorah

Windorah has been described as "The Heart of the Channel Country".

Every year since 1998 Windorah hosts the Windorah International Yabby Races on the street outside the hotel. In each race, up to 10 yabbies are placed in the centre of a ring; the winner is the first yabby to reach the perimeter of the ring, a distance of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). It is held on the Wednesday before the Birdsville Races (first weekend in September) to take advantage of the many people travelling through Windorah to Birdsville. The event raises money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, community facilities and other charities.

Amenities

The Windorah Library is operated by the Barcoo Shire Council and located in Maryborough Street.

Windorah also has a racecourse, shire hall, information centre and museum.

Facilities

Windorah Cemetery, 2019

Windorah Primary Health Care Centre has nurses who help manage chronic conditions and provide emergency care. It is at 25 Cecil Street (25°25′15″S 142°39′22″E / 25.4209°S 142.6561°E / -25.4209; 142.6561 (Windorah Primary Health Care Centre)). It coordinates air ambulance transport with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Windorah Cemetery is managed by the Baroo Shire Council. It is on Cecil Street to the north of the town (25°24′55″S 142°39′12″E / 25.4153°S 142.6534°E / -25.4153; 142.6534 (Windorah Cemetery)).

Windorah has the following emergency services:

• Windorah Police Station on the eastern corner of Maryborough Street and Victoria Street (25°25′18″S 142°39′25″E / 25.4216°S 142.6570°E / -25.4216; 142.6570 (Windorah Police Station))
• Windorah Ambulance Station at the health care centre (25°25′15″S 142°39′21″E / 25.4209°S 142.6558°E / -25.4209; 142.6558 (Windorah Ambulance Station))
• Windorah SES Facility (25°25′14″S 142°39′08″E / 25.4206°S 142.6521°E / -25.4206; 142.6521 (Windorah SES Facility))

See also

In Spanish: Windorah para niños