Tara Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 27°16′36″S150°27′26″E / 27.2766°S 150.4572°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 1,980 (2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 1.532/km2 (3.967/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4421 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 1,292.6 km2 (499.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location | |||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Western Downs Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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Tara is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Tara had a population of 1,980 people. [1]
Tara is on the Darling Downs. The town is at the centre of the locality. Immediately surrounding the urban area of Tara, there are a number of rural subdivisions of 'lifestyle blocks'. The blocks are usually between 13 and 40 ha in area. The population of the 2000 Rural Subdivision blocks exceeds that of the town itself.
The Glenmorgan railway line traverses the locality from east (Goranba) to west (The Gums). There are two railway stations within the locality:
Baranggum (also known as Barrunggam, Barunggam Parrungoom, Murrumgama) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Baranggum people. The Baranggum language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Western Downs Regional Council, particularly Dalby, Tara, Jandowae and west towards Chinchilla. [7]
The town was surveyed in May 1910 by Leonard Shield. The name Tara was used as the name for a pastoral run on 25 March 1852. It is assumed that it is a reference to the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland. [3]
Tara Provisional School opened on 23 January 1911 but was renamed Laurndel Provisional School in 1912. In 1915 it was renamed Burrowes Provisional School. In 1923 it became Burrowes State School. It closed in 1946. [8] It was located to the south-west of Tara just north of the Glenmorgan railway line at 27°17′29″S150°21′05″E / 27.2914°S 150.3515°E . [9]
Tara State School opened on 21 August 1912. On 28 November 2004, it was renamed Tara Shire State College. [8] It celebrated its centenary in 2012. [10]
Myra Provisional School opened in 1911 and closed circa 1929. It reopened circa 1944 and closed circa 1945. [11]
In 1914, a Methodist Church was built in Tara. [12]
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School was established in 1965 by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. From 1978, the school has had a lay principal. [13]
Tara Library opened in 1987 and had a major refurbishment in 2009. [14]
On 14 March 2011 a blockade against coal seam gas development began at a property called Kenya near Tara. The following day a woman was arrested after she stopped the movement of a bulldozer working for Queensland Gas Company. [15] The next month Bob Irwin was arrested and fined for participating in a rally at the same location. He was protesting against plans to build a coal seam gas pipeline. [16] Local landowner Dayne Pratzky, now an anti-coal seam gas activist, features in the 2015 movie-length documentary Frackman .[ citation needed ]
On 12 December 2022, Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were murdered at the nearby locality of Wieambilla. The two constables were based at Tara Police Station ( 27°16′29″S150°27′31″E / 27.2746°S 150.4585°E ) at the time of the incident. [17]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Tara had a population of 2,297 people. [18]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Tara had a population of 1,980 people. [1]
Important industries in the area around Tara include wheat, beef, wool and gas.[ citation needed ]
St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 3 Fry Street ( 27°16′30″S150°27′37″E / 27.2751°S 150.4602°E ). [19] [20] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 26 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). [21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 23 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 4 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). [22]
Tara Shire State College is a government primary and secondary (Early Childhood to Year 12) school for boys and girls at 22 Binnie Street ( 27°16′48″S150°27′32″E / 27.2799°S 150.4588°E ). [19] [23] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 359 students with 37 teachers (36 full-time equivalent) and 30 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent). [21] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 354 students with 39 teachers (38 full-time equivalent) and 28 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent). [22] The school includes a special education program. [24]
Tara has a library at 31 Day Street operated by the Western Downs Regional Council. [25]
Attractions near Tara include Southwood National Park, a remnant area of the southern brigalow belt.
The Commercial Hotel has two murals painted by artist Hugh Sawrey, from nearby Kogan. Painted in 1960, they are You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me and Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving. [26] [27]
After the establishment of the Surat Basin Coal Seam Gas (CSG) development in 2011, a number of residents of Tara reported unusual health conditions which they believed to be related to the CSG development.[ citation needed ] While initially Queensland Health reported that living conditions were the likely cause, many of the reported symptoms (particularly in children) corresponded with typical symptoms of hydrocarbon exposure. Independent water analysis of private dam water has also shown excessive levels of lead and hydrocarbons, however a causal link between water analysis results and CSG activities appears to be a matter of ongoing debate.[ citation needed ]
In 2013, the Queensland Government conducted an inquiry into Coal Seam Gas in the Tara Region and a risk assessment on the health and environmental impacts, concluding that "a clear link can not be drawn between the health complaints by some residents in the Tara region and impacts of the local CSG industry on air, water or soil within the community." [28]
In 2016, the Australian Government conducted a senate inquiry into unconventional mining. [29] Many residents of Tara made submissions to this inquiry. Some residents have accused the state and federal government of attempting to brush these reports under the rug, and providing inadequate resources for testing in order to promote a pro-mining agenda.[ citation needed ]
Lock the Gate Alliance continue to lobby against coal seam gas in the area, and have produced a set of first-hand accounts in short film format called Voices from the Gaslands to highlight the ongoing struggles for the community. [30] [31]
Roma is a rural town and locality in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre of the Maranoa Region. The town was incorporated in 1867 and is named after Lady Diamantina Bowen, the wife of Sir George Bowen, the Governor of Queensland at the time. In the 2016 census, the locality of Roma had a population of 6,848 people.
Oakey is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. The Museum of Army Aviation is located at Oakey Airport.
Quilpie is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Quilpie, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Quilpie had a population of 530 people.
Chinchilla is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Chinchilla had a population of 7,068 people.
Miles is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Miles had a population of 1,746 people.
Western Downs Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia. The Western Downs Regional Council manages an area of 37,937 square kilometres (14,648 sq mi), which is slightly smaller than Switzerland, although with a population of 34,467 in June 2018, it is over 228 times less densely populated.
Goovigen is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Goovigen had a population of 215 people.
Moonie is a rural town in the Western Downs Region and a locality split between the Western Downs Region and the Goondiwindi Region in Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Moonie had a population of 189 people.
Wowan is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Wowan had a population of 216 people.
The Gums is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, The Gums had a population of 159 people.
Kingsthorpe is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Kingsthorpe had a population of 2,159 people.
Warra is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Warra had a population of 205 people.
Brigalow is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Brigalow had a population of 170 people.
Hopeland is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Hopeland had a population of 140 people.
Kumbarilla is a town and rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Kumbarilla had a population of 197 people.
Kogan is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Kogan had a population of 190 people.
Hannaford is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Hannaford had a population of 118 people.
Columboola is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Columboola had a population of 72 people.
Crossroads is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Crossroads had a population of 130 people.
Halliford is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Halliford has a population of 5 people. Kishaan Satha is the current president.
Media related to Tara, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons