Wieambilla is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] This locality and its surroundings are extensively used for coal seam gas harvesting.[3] In the 2021 census, Wieambilla had a population of 78 people.[1]

Wieambilla
Queensland
Wieambilla is located in Queensland
Wieambilla
Wieambilla
Coordinates26°58′03″S 150°24′35″E / 26.9675°S 150.4097°E / -26.9675; 150.4097
Population78 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density0.2945/km2 (0.763/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4413
Area264.9 km2 (102.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)Western Downs Region
State electorate(s)Warrego
Federal division(s)Maranoa
Suburbs around Wieambilla:
Nangram Crossroads Crossroads
Condamine Wieambilla Montrose
The Gums Tara Tara

History

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The locality takes its name from the name of a parish, which in turn was named after a pastoral run operated by Charles George Temple Chauvel in the 1850s, which may have been named after the Wieambilla Creek.[2]

Wieambilla Sawmills Provisional School opened in 1915 and closed circa 1926.[4]

Shootings

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Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and a neighbour, Alan Dare, were murdered on 12 December 2022 at a rural property in Wieambilla. The perpetrators, brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train, and Gareth's wife, Stacey Train,[5] were later shot and killed by Queensland police.[6] Gareth was a known conspiracy theorist who alleged the Port Arthur massacre was a false flag operation[5] and that Princess Diana was killed in a 'blood sacrifice'.[7] Nathaniel was a former school principal.

Demographics

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In the 2016 census, Wieambilla had a population of 93 people.[8]

In the 2021 census, Wieambilla had a population of 78 people.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Wieambilla". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 12 December 2022.  
  2. ^ a b "Wieambilla – locality in Western Downs Region (entry 47759)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Environmental health". The State of Queensland; Queensland Health. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  4. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  5. ^ a b Smee, Ben (13 December 2022). "Wieambilla shooting: property owner Gareth Train posted regularly on online conspiracy website before police killed". the Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  6. ^ Read, Chloe; Wuth, Robyn; Cosoleto, Tara (13 December 2022). "Six dead, including two police officers, after shooting and siege at rural property". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  7. ^ Chamberlin, Thomas (13 December 2022). "Three shot dead by police after two officers, member of public killed in ambush". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wieambilla (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.