Yowah

Yowah is an outback town and locality in the Shire of Paroo, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, Yowah had a population of 141 people.[1]

Yowah
Queensland
Yowah
Coordinates27.9681°S 144.6361°E / -27.9681; 144.6361
Population141 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density0.04846/km2 (0.1255/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4490
Area2,909.5 km2 (1,123.4 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Paroo
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal Division(s)Maranoa
Localities around Yowah:
Quilpie Quilpie Humeburn
Thargomindah Yowah Eulo
Thargomindah Thargomindah Eulo

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, 938 kilometres (583 mi) west of the state capital, Brisbane and 132 kilometres (82 mi) west of Cunnamulla.

Access to Yowah is via a bitumen road.

History

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. In the 2006 census Yowah had a population of 142.[4]

In 2015 the town committee built two artesian water spa pools.

Yowah State School opened on 22 January 1998.[5] 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]

Attractions

Yowah has a Rural Transaction Centre which accommodates a tourist information centre, a public library, cafe, internet and tourist information. There is also a caravan park and general store which sells groceries and fuel and an ATM. There is also a free camping area, with amenities. There is a free fossicking area (fossicking licence available at the general store). Opal settings, custom jewellery as well as workshops are available at RABKA Gold and Silversmiths in Matrix Drive.

There is a heritage trail in which to explore the surrounding localities.[8]

Events

Yowah opal festival is a regular festival to promote and celebrate opal mining in the area.[9]

Yowah Nut Opal. This nut has been cracked in half.

Facilities

Paroo Shire Council operates the Yowah Library, Yowah Rural Transaction centre, Harlequin Drive, Yowah, via Cunnamulla.[10]

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.

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

Precious Opal mixed in the iron stone of a Yowah nut

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Yowah (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. "Yowah – town in Shire of Paroo (entry 38762)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  3. "Yowah – locality in Shire of Paroo (entry 42664)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Yowah (Paroo Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  5. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  6. "Yowah State School". Department of Education and Training. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  7. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. "Yowah". Paroo Council. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  9. "Opal Nut Festival". Cunnamulla Tourism Info. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  10. "Yowah Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
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