Blackall

Blackall is a rural town and locality in the Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia.

Blackall is a rural town and locality in the Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Blackall had a population of 1,416 people.The town is the service centre for the Blackall-Tambo Region. The dominant industry in the area is grazing.Yalleroi is another town in the north of the locality (24.0680°S 145.7591°E? / -24.0680; 145.7591? (Yalleroi (town centre))).

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. During the 1860s the town developed as a service centre for the surrounding pastoral properties. A survey of town allotments was conducted in 1868.Barcoo Post Office opened on 1 April 1864. It was renamed Blackall in 1868.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 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 bore in 1885, which now supplies the town with water from the Great Artesian Basin. The water temperature is 58 degrees Celsius.There is an artesian spa bath at the aquatic centre and locally produced soft drinks are made from the artesian water.The first Methodist church in Blackall opened on Easter Sunday 13 April 1884. On Thursday 23 January 1913 a new Methodist church opened. The present church building (now the Blackall Uniting Church) was established circa 1956-1958.Blackall claims to be the home of the original Black Stump, which marks the original Astro Station established in 1887. Places west of this point are said to be 'beyond the black stump'. The Black Stump was moved from its original location to make it more accessible to tourists, and can now be found on the boundary of the Blackall State School grounds, Thistle Street, Blackall. Blackall has many attractions for public use and entertainment, including the Blackall showground, the local pool and the historic Blackall Woolscour.In December 1890 the Australian Labor Party constitution and rules were drawn up at Blackall, during the founding of this party.In Australian folklore, the best known citizen of the town was the sheep shearer Jack Howe. In 1892, he shore a total of 321 sheep at Alice Downs station in 7 hours and 40 minutes, a record for hand shearing that still stands, and was only broken by a shearer using a machine driven handpiece in 1950.The Blackall and Yaraka railway line branched off from the Central Western railway at Jericho. The line opened to Blackall in 1908 and ran all the way to Yaraka. the Jericho - Yaraka branch line closed on the 14 October 2005 and has since been dismantled. Former stations on the line (now all abandoned) within the locality were (from Jericho heading south):

Ballast railway siding (23.8267°S 145.9310°E? / -23.8267; 145.9310? (Ballast railway siding))

Lancevale railway station (23.9137°S 145.8841°E? / -23.9137; 145.8841? (Lancevale railway station))

Yalleroi railway station (24.0675°S 145.7563°E? / -24.0675; 145.7563? (Yalleroi railway station))

Glenusk railway station (24.2543°S 145.6006°E? / -24.2543; 145.6006? (Glenusk railway station))Sandy Creek railway siding (24.3124°S 145.5519°E? / -24.3124; 145.5519? (Sandy Creek railway siding))

Blackall Wool Scour railway siding(24.3947°S 145.4880°E? / -24.3947; 145.4880? (Blackall Wool Scour railway siding))

Blackall railway station (24.4185°S 145.4646°E? / -24.4185; 145.4646? (Blackall railway station))

Glenstuart railway station (24.4809°S 145.2027°E? / -24.4809; 145.2027? (Glenstuart railway station))

Malvernton railway station (24.5051°S 145.1198°E? / -24.5051; 145.1198? (Malvernton railway station))

Benlidi railway station (24.5567°S 144.8676°E? / -24.5567; 144.8676? (Benlidi railway station))

Mekaree railway station (24.6011°S 144.7128°E? / -24.6011; 144.7128? (Mekaree railway station))

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School was established in 1917 by the Sisters of St Joseph. The opening ceremonies were conducted on Saturday 21 July 1917 by Archbishop James Duhig.The Blackall War Memorial commemorates those soldiers who died in World War I. The memorial was dedicated on the 25 April (Anzac Day) 1927 by James Charles Minnis (former mayor of Blackall and a former soldier). The honour roll of those who died in World War II was added later.

According to information published by the Blackall Shire Council, the Cominos opened a café in the 1920s in Shamrock Street, Blackall which they called the Central. A few years later it was taken over by the Logos Brothers who installed a news agency at one side. The Queensland Country Women's Association met at the cafe to farewell their secretary Mrs R.A.G. Malcolm in September 1929.Blackall Ambulance commenced operations in November 1923 led by Superintendent W.J. King (from Rockhampton). On 15 October 1927 the first permanent building was officially opened by the Mick Kirwan (the Queensland Minister for Public Works) assisted by Frank Bulcock, the local Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Barcoo. On 14 April 1984 the current building in Coronation Drive was officially opened by Roy Hauff.Blackall Methodist Church - This stone was set by - Mr F J Green - To the memory of the - Pioneers of the District - and dedicated to the - Glory of God - by the Rev S J R Murr L Th - on 8th February 1958 - The Rev J L Savage , Minister.

A plaque records: (This has discrepancies with the original foundation stone) Blackall Methodist Church - This stone was set by - Mr F J Green - To the memory of the - Pioneers of the District - and dedicated to the - Glory of God - by the Rev S J Murr Lth - on 8th February 1956 - The Rev J L Savage, Minister.

Blackall's population was more than 3,000 in 1965. A declining population has coincided with the decline in the wool industry in the district.At the 2011 census Blackall had a population of 1,588.In the 2016 census the locality of Blackall had a population of 1,416 people.The new Blackall Hospital opened on 25 November 2020. It cost $20.11 million.

The town has a semi-arid climate according to Köppen (BSh).

The Black Stump is in Thistle Street behind the Blackall State School (24.4238°S 145.4697°E? / -24.4238; 145.4697? (The Black Stump,Blackall)).The Major Mitchell Memorial is in the centre of Shamrock Street (opposite Short Street, 24.4242°S 145.4644°E? / -24.4242; 145.4644? (Major Mitchell Memorial)). It commemorates Thomas Mitchell's exploration of the district.The Australian Labor Federation Memorial is at the intersection of Shamrock Street and Short Street (24.4244°S 145.4646°E? / -24.4244; 145.4646? (Australian Labour Federation Memorial)). It commemorates the meeting of shearers that led to the foundation of the Australian Labor Party.Blackall Memorial Park is on the south-east corner of Shamrock Street and Hawthorne Street (24.4258°S 145.4685°E? / -24.4258; 145.4685? (Blackall War Memorial)) in front of the Blackall Cultural Centre. Blackall War Memorial and other memorials and honour rolls are located either within the park or within the cultural centre.Blackall Woolscour is in Evora Road (24.3949°S 145.4878°E? / -24.3949; 145.4878? (Black Woolscour)). Guided tours are available.