Thargomindah

Thargomindah (frequently shortened to Thargo) is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Bulloo, Queensland, Australia.

Thargomindah (frequently shortened to Thargo) is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Bulloo, Queensland, Australia. The town of Thargomindah is the administrative centre for the Shire of Bulloo. In the 2016 census, Thargomindah had a population of 270 people. It was founded on Wongkumara and Kalali territory.On 17 April 2020 the Queensland Government decided to reorganise the nine localities in the Shire of Bullo, resulting in six localities. Thargomindah, previously being 43.0 square kilometres (16.6 sq mi) of the area immediately surrounding the town of Thargomindah, was enlarged through the incorporation of all of Bullawarra (except for a small portion in the south of Bullawarra which was absorbed into Bulloo Downs), all of Dynevor and all of Norley, creating a locality of 15,213 square kilometres (5,874 sq mi).

Margany (also known as Marganj, Mardigan, Marukanji, Maranganji) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Margany people. The Margany language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Quilpie Shire, taking in Quilpie, Cheepie and Beechal extending towards Eulo and Thargomindah, as well as the properties of Dynevor Downs and Ardoch.Gunya (Kunya, Kunja, Kurnja) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Gunya people. The Gunya language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Paroo Shire Council, taking in Cunnamulla and extending north towards Augathella, east towards Bollon and west towards Thargomindah.Kullilli (Kalali, Garlali, Galali) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Kullilli people. The Kullilli language region spans Channel Country in South West Queensland, encompassing the township of Thargomindah and areas of the Bulloo, Paroo, and Quilpie Shires.The town was first settled in the 1860s at a crossing of the Bulloo River. The town takes its name from the parish, which in turn was named after the Thargomindah pastoral run, which is a Aboriginal word meaning echidna.A post office was established in 1870 and a telegraph line connected the town to Cunnamulla in 1881.Thargomindah Provisional School opened on 1 April 1884. In 1892 it became Thargomindah State School.The 1890s saw the town prosper as the service and administrative centre of a pastoral district. An extension of the Western railway line to the town was planned for many years; however it never eventuated.The railway did reach Cunnamulla in 1898 and Quilpie in 1917.Thargomindah was one of the first towns in Australia to produce hydroelectric power from 1898 until 1951. The old bore into the Great Artesian Basin was a source of energy when electric street lights were lit and coupled to a turbine driven by the bore's natural water pressure. The generator was taken from a unit powered by a steam engine and purchased by the Bulloo Divisional Board becoming the first municipality owned power plant. After that power was supplied by diesel generators until 1988, when the town was connected to the state power grid via Cunnamulla. The power station is still operating with a daily opening to the public.St Edmund's Anglican Church at 60 Dowling Street (27.9963°S 143.8229°E? / -27.9963; 143.8229? (St Edmund's Anglican Church)) was dedicated 22 October 1960 by Archbishop Reginald Halse. Its closure on 28 May 2003 was approved by Venerable Gary Frederick Harch, Archdeacon of the West. It is now used as a private home.At the 2006 census, Thargomindah had a population of 203.In the 2016 census, Thargomindah had a population of 270 people.On 17 April 2020 the Queensland Government decided to reorganise the nine localities in the Shire of Bulloo, resulting in six localities. Thargomindah, previously being 43.0 square kilometres (16.6 sq mi) of the area immediately surrounding the town of Thargomindah, was enlarged through the incorporation of all of Bullawarra (except for a small portion in the south of Bullawarra which was absorbed into Bulloo Downs), all of Dynevor and all of Norley, creating a locality of 15,213 square kilometres (5,874 sq mi).

Thargomindah has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh), very closely bordering on a hot arid climate (BWh), which is found in the western part of the shire. Summers are sweltering and generally dry except when monsoonal incursions into the continent bring heavy rain, whilst winters are warm and dry with cool to cold mornings.