| Mitchell Queensland |
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 Looking downstream on the Maranoa River on the eastern side of Mitchell |
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  Mitchell
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| Population: | 1,003 | ||||||
| Established: | 1864 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 4465 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 26°28′59″S 147°57′58″E / 26.483°S 147.966°ECoordinates: 26°28′59″S 147°57′58″E / 26.483°S 147.966°E | ||||||
| Elevation: | 336.3 m (1,103 ft) | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Maranoa Regional Council | ||||||
| State District: | Warrego | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Maranoa | ||||||
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Mitchell is a town in the Western Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is on the Warrego Highway, 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of Charleville.[1]
The Warrego Highway passes through town to form the main street, Cambridge Street. The Maranoa River flows around the northern and eastern sides of the town before flowing into the Balonne River.[2]
The town services the local area, a cattle and sheep farming district.
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History
Before the arrival of Europeans, the Maranoa region was occupied by the Mandandanji Aboriginal people. Based on archeological excavations in the Mount Moffatt area, it has been deduceed that the Aboriginals had lived there for around 19,500 years.
The town is named after Sir Thomas Mitchell explorer and Surveyor General of New South Wales, who explored the area in 1846.[3] In 1854, Edmund Morey established the property of Mitchell Downs. When the original homestead was largely destroyed by a flood in 1864, Thomas Close acquired the building's ruins established the Maranoa Hotel. A post office operated on Mitchell downs from 1865 and in 1878 the community was officially named Mitchell.
The 15th Prime Minister of Australia Francis Forde was born in Mitchell. He is Australia's shortest serving Prime Minister, with a term lasting just eight days. He was also Australia's longest living Prime Minister,[4] until surpassed by Gough Whitlam on 21 January 2009.
In 1902, after a short stand-off, bushrangers Patrick and James Kenniff were captured South of Mitchell at a location now known as arrest creek. Patrick was hanged in 1903 for the murder of Constable George Doyle and Albert Dahlke and James was released after 12 years imprisonment and died peacefully in 1940[5].
Mitchell was once the administrative centre of the Shire of Booringa local government area. The town now belongs to the Maranoa Regional Council.
Great Artesian Spa
The Great Artesian Spa was opened in 1998 and is situated in the town’s aquatic centre. There are two pools of artesian water, one heated and the other designed for those who prefer a cooler experience. Both spa pools have been designed with disabled access in mind and facilities include a chairlift to allow easy access for physically disabled people.[6]
The water used in the spa pools is renewed regularly and comes from the Great Artesian Basin, one of the largest artesian basins in the world, which underlying approximately one-fifth of Australia. It covers a total area of more than 1,711,000 square kilometres, and has been relied upon for the town water supply since 1927.[7][8]
See also
References
- ^ Queensland holidays - places to visit - outback - Queensland holidays. Retrieved 1/3/2009
- ^ Queensland natural resources and water - "Maranoa river at Mitchell". Retrieved 1/3/2009
- ^ Queensland Natural Resources and Water - Place Name Search - Retrieved 7 December 2006
- ^ Prime Minister - Francis Michael Forde - Scaramouche, 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- ^ The Kenniff centenary moot.Mitchell Queensland 22nd June 2002.
- ^ visit Mitchell - relaxation - Great artesian spa. retrieved 1/3/2009.
- ^ Queensland natural resources and water - The great artesian basin. Retrieved 1/3/2009.
- ^ regional council - Booringa online - "Mitchell". Retrieved 1/3/2009.
External links
- Booringa Shire Council - Official site
- Roma Regional Council - Official Site
- Maranoa Online - Mitchell page
- Maranoa Online A portal servicing the Maranoa - a region encompassing Mitchell
- visitmitchell.com.au - a tourism information site.
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