| Type: | town |
| Oontoo | |
| State: | qld |
| Lga: | Shire of Bulloo |
| Coordinates: | -27.65°N 141.0167°W |
| Stategov: | Warrego |
| Fedgov: | Maranoa |
Oontoo is a former 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.
The township of Oontoo once existed in the area along the banks of the Cooper Creek.[2] The Queensland Government offered approximately 70 town lots for sale on 11 April 1886.[3] A border customs post was established at Oontoo in 1886 on a 1sqmi piece of land resumed from Nappa Merrie cattle station.[4] The post was created to collect taxes from drovers who crossed to Queensland border travelling down Strzelecki Creek.[5]
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.[4]
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.[4] Several race meetings were held in the town starting in 1888.[6] The town soon boasted a store, doctor and school.[2]
Severe flooding occurred in 1891 with Cooper Creek breaking its banks after 4.5inches of rain fell in the area in January.[7]
By 1897 the population had shrunk to 14.[2]
The customs post was closed in 1902.[8]