Charleville, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Charleville is a town in south western Queensland
, Australia
, 758 kilometres by road west of Brisbane
(the Queensland capital). It is the largest town and administrative centre of the Murweh Shire
, which covers an area of 43,905 square kilometres. Charleville is situated on the banks of the Warrego River
, and is the terminus for the Warrego Highway
.
in 1847. A hotel was built in 1865, and a town began to grow to service the region. It was situated near Gowrie's Crossing, a permanent waterhole, now on the outskirts of the modern town. Gowrie Station had been established around the crossing along a natural stock route, for the grazing of sheep and cattle. The town was gazetted in 1868 with very wide streets to enable bullock teams of up to 14 pairs to turn with their wagons. Members of the Roma based Skinner family established a store in the town in 1872 that became known as the Warrego Stores.
Cobb and Co
, the legendary Australian stagecoach
company, established a coach building business in the town in 1886, however, the railway arrived in 1888, beginning the long demise of coach transport in the area.
In 1902 Charleville was the location of an unsuccessful attempt by Clement Lindley Wragge
to fire cannons into the clouds in order to break a drought. The cannons used remain on display in Charleville today.
In 1922, Qantas
established an airmail service between Charleville and Cloncurry
. At the same time, this was Qantas's first regularly scheduled route and the second scheduled air route in Australia.
Charleville was also one of the compulsory stop over/check points during the London
to Melbourne
MacRobertson Air Race
in 1934. The winners of the great race were Tom Campbell Black
and C. W. A. Scott. Their triumph was reported in Time Magazine as:
s hit western Queensland, with Charleville being badly affected. Floodwaters peaked at 8.54 metres, over 1,000 homes were inundated, and almost 3,000 persons evacuated. More recently, the district suffered flooding again in 1997, 2008 and March 2010.
There is a children's book called "The Flood Grungies" it is written by Michelle Sheehan and illustrated by Donna Reynolds. It is about the notorious Charleville floods and features the Cosmos centre, the water tower and other famous landmarks.
, a historical museum, wildlife sanctuary (including a bilby
reserve), and the Cosmos Centre. It was also enshrined in music by Slim Dusty
in his country music
song "Charleville."
. The Westlander rail passenger service links the town to Brisbane
.
Charleville would have been the southern end of the stillborn land grant
Transcontinental railway to Point Parker
on the Gulf of Carpentaria
.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 758 kilometres by road west of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
(the Queensland capital). It is the largest town and administrative centre of the Murweh Shire
Murweh Shire Council
The Shire of Murweh is a Local Government Area in the Maranoa region of Queensland, Australia. The administrative centre and largest town in the shire is Charleville.-History:...
, which covers an area of 43,905 square kilometres. Charleville is situated on the banks of the Warrego River
Warrego River
The Warrego River is situated in south west Queensland and north west New South Wales, Australia. It is the northernmost tributary of the Darling River....
, and is the terminus for the Warrego Highway
Warrego Highway
The Warrego Highway is located in southern Queensland, Australia. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 750 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River, which is the endpoint of the highway...
.
History
The first European exploration of the area was conducted by Edmund KennedyEdmund Kennedy
Edmund Besley Court Kennedy was an explorer in Australia in the mid nineteenth century. He was the Assistant-Surveyor of New South Wales, working with Sir Thomas Mitchell...
in 1847. A hotel was built in 1865, and a town began to grow to service the region. It was situated near Gowrie's Crossing, a permanent waterhole, now on the outskirts of the modern town. Gowrie Station had been established around the crossing along a natural stock route, for the grazing of sheep and cattle. The town was gazetted in 1868 with very wide streets to enable bullock teams of up to 14 pairs to turn with their wagons. Members of the Roma based Skinner family established a store in the town in 1872 that became known as the Warrego Stores.
Cobb and Co
Cobb and Co
Cobb and Co is the name of a transportation company in Australia. It was prominent in the late 19th century when it operated stagecoaches to many areas in the outback and at one point in several other countries, as well....
, the legendary Australian stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
company, established a coach building business in the town in 1886, however, the railway arrived in 1888, beginning the long demise of coach transport in the area.
In 1902 Charleville was the location of an unsuccessful attempt by Clement Lindley Wragge
Clement Lindley Wragge
Clement Lindley Wragge was a meteorologist born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England. After training in law, Wragge became renowned in the field of meteorology, winning the Scottish Meteorological Society's Gold Medal and starting the trend of using people's names for cyclones...
to fire cannons into the clouds in order to break a drought. The cannons used remain on display in Charleville today.
In 1922, Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
established an airmail service between Charleville and Cloncurry
Cloncurry, Queensland
-Notable residents:*Writer Alexis Wright grew up in Cloncurry.*Association Footballer Kasey Wehrman was born in Cloncurry . He went on to play domestically and in Scandinavia. His achievements include winning a NSL Championship in 1996-1997 with the Brisbane Strikers and being capped several times...
. At the same time, this was Qantas's first regularly scheduled route and the second scheduled air route in Australia.
Charleville was also one of the compulsory stop over/check points during the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
MacRobertson Air Race
MacRobertson Air Race
The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race took place October, 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The idea of the race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and a prize fund of $75,000 was put up by Sir Macpherson Robertson, a wealthy Australian confectionery manufacturer, on the...
in 1934. The winners of the great race were Tom Campbell Black
Tom Campbell Black
Tom Campbell Black, was a famous English aviator.He was the son of Alice Jean McCullough and Hugh Milner Black. He became a world famous aviator when he and C. W. A...
and C. W. A. Scott. Their triumph was reported in Time Magazine as:
"Scott and Black, keeping up their sensational pace, flashed into Charleville, refueled, sped toward the finish where waiting thousands cheered their progress, reported over loudspeakers. With one motor dead, with only two hours sleep since leaving EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the Britons triumphantly set their scarlet torpedo down in MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
at 3:34 p.m. In 71 hr. 1 min. 3 sec. - Just under three days - they had flown halfway around the world."
Flooding
Proximity to the Warrego River was problematic. In April 1990, major floodFlood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s hit western Queensland, with Charleville being badly affected. Floodwaters peaked at 8.54 metres, over 1,000 homes were inundated, and almost 3,000 persons evacuated. More recently, the district suffered flooding again in 1997, 2008 and March 2010.
There is a children's book called "The Flood Grungies" it is written by Michelle Sheehan and illustrated by Donna Reynolds. It is about the notorious Charleville floods and features the Cosmos centre, the water tower and other famous landmarks.
Attractions
Charleville has several tourist attractions, including a museum of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of AustraliaRoyal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
, a historical museum, wildlife sanctuary (including a bilby
Bilby
Bilbies are desert-dwelling marsupial omnivores; they are members of the order Peramelemorphia. Before European colonisation of Australia, there were two species. One became extinct in the 1950s; the other survives but remains endangered....
reserve), and the Cosmos Centre. It was also enshrined in music by Slim Dusty
Slim Dusty
David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush...
in his country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song "Charleville."
Transport
Aviation is served by the Charleville AirportCharleville Airport
Charleville Airport is an airport in Charleville, a town in the state of Queensland in Australia.-Airlines and destinations:-History:During World War II, the United States Army Air Force 63d Bombardment Squadron, assigned to the Fifth Air Force 43d Bombardment Group, flew B-17 Flying Fortresses...
. The Westlander rail passenger service links the town to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Charleville would have been the southern end of the stillborn land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
Transcontinental railway to Point Parker
Point Parker
Point Parker is a desolate place in Queensland on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria opposite Allen Island and south of Mornington Island. The point is distinctive as the coast makes a 135 degree turn at this location.- Transcontinental railway :...
on the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
.
Notable people
- Peter EverettPeter EverettPeter Everett is an Australian television host. He hosted the Australian adaptation of cook show Ready Steady Cook on Network Ten. He is known for appearing on Changing Rooms which aired on the Nine Network in 1998. He also took part in the reality figure skating series Skating on Thin Ice in...
, Australian television presenter - Luke CapewellLuke CapewellLuke Capewell is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Titans. His preferred playing positions are in the halves or the three-quarters...
, Rugby League Player (Gold Coast Titans) - Daryl BeattieDaryl BeattieDaryl Beattie is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.Beattie posted several good results at the beginning of the 1992 500cc Grand Prix season then teamed up with Wayne Gardner to win the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in Japan...
, Australian television motor sports commentator and former professional motorcycle racer
Trivia
- The asteroidAsteroidAsteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
13933 Charleville13933 Charleville13933 Charleville is a main-belt asteroid discovered on November 2, 1988 by T. Seki at Geisei. It was named after the town Charleville in Queensland, Australia and is floating between Jupiter and Mars.- External links :**...
is named in the town's honour .