Tambo, Queensland


Tambo is a rural town and locality in the Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia. In the, Tambo had a population of 367 people. Cattle and tourism are the major industries of the town. A number of heritage buildings survive from the earliest days of settlement.

Geography

Tambo is in Central West Queensland, Australia, on the banks of the iland river. Tambo is southeast of the town of Blackall via the Landsborough Highway, and approximately north west of the state capital, Brisbane.
The Barcoo River runs through the town and sits near the Grey Range – part of the "Roof of Queensland" section of the Great Dividing Range.
The Landsborough Highway—part of the National Highway network linking Brisbane and Darwin—passes through Tambo. Tambo is also connected to Alpha by the Dawson Development Road.
The Carnarvon National Park lies to the east of the town.

History

Indigenous

The area on which the town of Tambo now sits was home of many different Aboriginal groups including the Wadjaling, Wadjalad, Wadjabangai, and Pitjara.

19th century

The first European exploration of the district was by Sir Thomas Mitchell, popularly known as "Major Mitchell", in 1846. For approximately the next 15 years the area was unused until selectors began taking land in 1861.
The town of Carrangarr was founded in 1863, making it the oldest town in western Queensland. Like much of the west, sheep became the mainstay of the economy. The settlement was renamed Tambo in 1868.
The name Tambo comes from an Indigenous Australian word, meaning hidden place, or "resting place, fish, shady waters, hidden waters, a secluded spot, hidden place and native yam."
A branch of the Queensland National Bank was first established in 1875.
Tambo State School opened on 28 February 1876.

20th century

Tambo was the location of Qantas' first fatal accident. An Airco DH.9 crashed on 24 March 1927 with the loss of three lives after the plane stalled while landing.

21st century

In the, Tambo had a population of 345, a small decline from the 2001 census population of 357. Around 7% of the population of Tambo identity as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and around 6% were born outside Australia.
Tambo was cut off for eight days during the 2010-2011 Queensland floods.

Climate

Temperatures in Tambo range from 35 °C in summer to 21 °C in winter. Minimum temperatures in winter often drop below freezing. The average annual rainfall is 535.7 mm, the majority of which falls between December and March.

Heritage

The "Tambo Heritage Trail" includes 17 buildings within the town's precinct of historical importance. They include:
Tambo has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
The chief industries of the town and district are grazing properties for sheep and cattle. There was a sawmill which closed in 2011. The sawmill reopened March 2018.

Amenities and attractions

The heritage-listed former Courthouse in Arthur Street contains the Tambo Visitor Information Centre and the Tambo Library. The Courthouse was built in 1888.
Tambo is also famous for its Tambo Teddy Workshop, set up by 3 local women in 1992 to help promote the wool industry after years of drought had cause wool prices to fall.
One of these teddies was given to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan. when they visited Australia.
There have been numerous commercials advertising the teddies, along with these facts.
The Tambo branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the Royal Carrangarra Hotel in Arthur Street.
Tambo State School opened on 28 February 1876 and caters for students in years P-10. Distance education services are provided for students in years 11 and 12.

Governance

Until 2008, Tambo was the administrative centre of the Shire of Tambo. In 2008, as part of the Queensland Government's amalgamation of local government areas, the Shire of Tambo was abolished and Tambo is now a part of the Blackall-Tambo Region.