Blackall, Queensland

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

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.

[33] Gungabula (also known as Kongabula and Khungabula) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the headwaters of the Dawson River in Central Queensland.

[35] 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.

[3][4] During the 1860s the town developed as a service centre for the surrounding pastoral properties.

[39] 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.

Four years earlier, in December 1886, the first meeting of the first shearers' union, which later became the Australian Labor Party, took place in Blackall.

[49] 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 opening ceremonies were conducted on Saturday 21 July 1917 by Archbishop James Duhig.

The memorial was dedicated on 25 April (Anzac Day) 1927 by James Charles Minnis (former mayor of Blackall and a former soldier).

[54] The Queensland Country Women's Association met at the cafe to farewell their secretary Mrs R.A.G.

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 Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Barcoo.

[56] On 14 April 1984 the current building in Coronation Drive was officially opened by Roy Hauff.

[56] 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 8 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 8 February 1956 – The Rev J L Savage, Minister.

[75] The Blackall-Tambo Regional Council operates a public library at 108 Shamrock Street (24°25′28″S 145°27′54″E / 24.4245°S 145.4650°E / -24.4245; 145.4650 (Blackall Library)) with Internet access provided through a High-Speed ISDN Connection to Brisbane (powered through the National Broadband Network).

[80][81] Blackall is serviced by a number of radio stations: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation transmits ABC Television and its sister channels ABC Kids/ABC TV Plus, ABC Me and ABC News to Blackall through its Blackall relay station, ABBLQ The Seven Network and its sister stations 7Two, 7Mate and 7Flix transmit to Blackall through its regional area affiliate, ITQ The Nine Network and its sister channels 9Gem, 9Go!

It commemorates the meeting of shearers that led to the foundation of the Australian Labor Party.

[92] Blackall is also a timetabled meal stop for Bus Queensland's long-distance bus services: Blackall experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with a highly erratic wet season from December and March and a lengthy dry season from April and November, with cooler nights.

Staff behind the counter at Central cafe, Blackall
A thriving Greek cafe in the 1930s in Blackall, Queensland
Interior view of the Logos Brother's Central Cafe at Blackall, Queensland