Yowah Explained

Type:town
Yowah
State:qld
Coordinates:-27.9681°N 144.6361°W
Pop:126
Postcode:4490
Area:2909.5
Timezone:AEST
Utc:+10:00
Lga:Shire of Paroo
Stategov:Warrego
Fedgov:Maranoa
Near-N:Quilpie
Near-Ne:Humeburn
Near-E:Eulo
Near-Se:Eulo
Near-S:Thargomindah
Near-Sw:Thargomindah
Near-W:Thargomindah
Near-Nw:Quilpie

Yowah is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Paroo, Queensland, Australia.[1] [2] In the, the locality of Yowah had a population of 126 people.

The town is known for its opal mining and numerous opal fields that lie around the town as well as the "Yowah nut", a local type of opal distinctive to the region.

Geography

Yowah is in western Queensland, 938km (583miles) west of the state capital, Brisbane and 132km (82miles) west of Cunnamulla.

Access to Yowah is via a bitumen road. Driving in to Yowah at night not recommended due to animals on road.

History

The Yowah pastoral station was formed on Yowah Creek in the mid 1860s by Vincent James Dowling consisting of the Bargoon, Dundoo and Bundoona outstations. In 1868, the Queensland government established the Yowah Native Police barracks under Sub-Inspector James Gilmour.[3] [4] [5]

The area was first leased in 1883 to prospective settlers and opal mining has been the central operation within the district since the first opal fields were discovered.Population swells during the Winter months as many "regular" and "one off" visitors enjoy the weather and the friendly welcome this town offers.

Yowah State School opened on 22 January 1998. It was one of the smallest state primary schools in Queensland; in 2012, there were three students.[6] The school closed in 2017 due to a lack of students.[7] It was at 5 Harlequin Drive . Its website has been archived.[8]

In August 2014, the town committee built two artesian spas.[9]

Demographics

In the, the locality of Yowah had a population of 142.

In the, the locality of Yowah had a population of 141 people.

In the, the locality of Yowah had a population of 126 people.

Education

There are no schools in Yowah nor nearby. Distance education and boarding schools are options.

Facilities

Paroo Shire Council operates the Rural Transaction Centre which accommodates a tourist information centre, a public library, cafe, internet and tourist information.[10]

There is also a caravan park and general store which sells groceries and fuel and has an ATM.

There is a public hall and flying doctor rooms with the Doctors attending every Friday. Craft group, indoor bowls and meals/bar two nights a week at hall and a weekly dinner and "duck race" to raise monies for SES/Flying Doctor etc at Caravan Park, during the Winter months.

The town is serviced by the State Emergency Service and the Rural Fire Service. There are two airfield runways which are lit at night.

There are no pumping or storage facilities in the town and the town relies on natural artesian pressure for its water supply. Surplus artesian water discharges into a bore drain. There are no standby facilities for Yowah and if the bore fails there would be a need to transport water from one of the other water supplies in the town for the duration of the problem. The water quality has been deemed to be safe, chemically.[11]

Events

Yowah Opal Festival is a yearly festival (3rd weekend in July) to promote and celebrate opal mining in the area. Sales, exhibitions and nightly entertainment on offer. [12]

Attractions

Yowah has a free fossicking area (fossicking licence available at the general store).

There is a heritage trail in which to explore the surrounding localities.[13]

There is also a free camping area, with amenities (toilets, showers and laundry).

Artesian spas is a community run facility which offers two geothermally heated baths at 57°C (134.6°F). The Great Artesian Basin sources the spas and the only communal source of drinking water.

External links

Notes and References

  1. 16 November 2019.
  2. 16 November 2019.
  3. News: Advertising . . XXV . 3093 . New South Wales, Australia . 7 March 1868 . 20 July 2023 . 8 . National Library of Australia . 26 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726072916/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18714872 . live .
  4. News: THE GAZETTE. . . XXII . 3,204 . Queensland, Australia . 6 January 1868 . 20 July 2023 . 3 . National Library of Australia . 26 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726072910/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1289782 . live .
  5. News: Cunnamulla. . . IV . 182 . Queensland, Australia . 13 March 1869 . 20 July 2023 . 3 . National Library of Australia . 26 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726072914/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215451269 . live .
  6. Web site: Yowah State School. Department of Education and Training. https://web.archive.org/web/20120221091959/http://yowahss.eq.edu.au/wcms/. 21 February 2012. dead. 27 January 2011. dmy-all.
  7. 18 April 2019.
  8. Web site: Yowah State School . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180318173915/https://yowahss.eq.edu.au/Pages/default.aspx . 18 March 2018 . 6 December 2022.
  9. Web site: 2022-07-17 . Artesian Waters Caravan Park Bore Baths - Issuu . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717202444/https://issuu.com/vinkpublishing/docs/yowah_town_book_2021/s/12164184 . 2022-07-17 . 2022-07-17 .
  10. Web site: Yowah Library. Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20180102130950/http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/visit-us/find-a-public-library/branches/paroo/yowah_library. 2 January 2018. live. 22 January 2018. dmy-all.
  11. Book: Drinking Water Quality Management Plan . Paroo Shire Council . 2018 . Paroo . 46 . English.
  12. Web site: Opal Nut Festival. Cunnamulla Tourism Info. 27 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110216160239/http://www.paroo.info/Events/Yowah-Opal-festival-2010.aspx. 16 February 2011. dead. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Yowah. Paroo Council. 27 January 2011. 1 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200401115233/http://www.paroo.qld.gov.au/yowah. live.