Oontoo Queensland | |
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Coordinates | 27°39′04″S141°01′03″E / 27.6511°S 141.0175°E |
Location |
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LGA(s) | Shire of Bulloo |
State electorate(s) | Warrego |
Federal division(s) | Maranoa |
Oontoo is an abandoned outback town within the locality of Durham in the Shire of Bullo, Queensland, Australia. [1]
Oontoo is in South West Queensland, immediately east of the border with South Australia. [2]
As at 2025, there are no buildings in the town. The land use is grazing on native vegetation. [2]
The township of Oontoo once existed in the area along the banks of the Cooper Creek. [3] The Queensland Government offered approximately 70 town lots for sale on 11 April 1886. [4] A border customs post was established at Oontoo in 1886 on a 1 square mile (259 ha) piece of land resumed from Nappa Merrie cattle station. [5] The post was created to collect taxes from drovers who crossed to Queensland border travelling down Strzelecki Creek. [6]
The first customs officer was Mr Ivory who arrived in 1886 and lived in a tent until a house was completed the following year. In 1887 the post was also used as a depot for materials used in the construction of the rabbit proof fence. [5]
A shanty public house followed soon afterward with a more substantial stone hotel built by Thomas Costello in 1888. The hotel had eight rooms, kitchen, stables and a store. [5] Several race meetings were held in the town starting in 1888. [7] The town soon boasted a store, doctor and school. [3]
Severe flooding occurred in 1891 with Cooper Creek breaking its banks after 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain fell in the area in January. [8]
By 1897 the population had shrunk to 14. [3]
The customs post was closed in 1902. [9]