| Augathella Queensland |
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Memorial Hall, Augathella |
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Augathella
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| Population: | 395[1] |
| Postcode: | 4477 |
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Shire of Murweh |
| State District: | Warrego |
| Federal Division: | Maranoa |
Augathella ( /ˈɔːɡəθɛlə/) is a town in western Queensland, Australia, and is part of the Murweh Shire. Augathella lies on the Matilda Highway, is 85 kilometres (53 mi) north of the town of Charleville, and 748 kilometres (465 mi) west of Brisbane (Queensland's capital). The town lies on the banks of the Warrego River. At the 2006 census, Augathella had a population of 395.[1]
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The town came into being initially as a resting place for bullock teams lying at the convergence of three bullock tracks from Morven, Tambo, and Charleville. Originally called Burenda it was renamed Ellangowan (still the name of the local watering hole) and when gazetted in 1883 called Augathella. A service centre sprang up to service their needs and the needs of the burgeoning grazing industry.
The town's service centre was bypassed by the new Matilda Highway during the 1980s. Some new businesses have slowly encroached back onto the highway frontage. There is a growing arts centre in the town, a public swimming pool, a bowls club and there is an annual rodeo. Augathella has some polocrosse teams.
Today, grazing is still the predominant industry of the area. The town is situated on the Warrego River (an Aboriginal word meaning river of sand).
Since 2011 the entrance the town has been marked by 4.5m steel and copper giant sculpture of a meat ant[2] - in a reference to its former junior football team, named the “Mighty Meat Ants”.[3]
See photos, particularly of town murals, here