Richmond - Outback Queensland

1952: electricity supply to Richmond

1955: "semi" all-weather status for aerodrome

1956: swimming pool built

1957: Civic Centre built

1958: additional Artesian bore and improved water
         supply

1961: sewerage scheme in town

1962: water tower

1963: airport strip sealed

1964: Civic Restaurant opened

1965: Recreation Reserve (rugby and cricket field,
         grandstand)

1966: Race Course grandstand built. Also photo-
         finish (second in West)

1976: Flinders Highway completely sealed. Premier
         opens road in Richmond

1985: additions to racecourse complex – administ-
         ration/jockeys/members

1989: graziers Rob and Ian Ievers find fossils that
         were identified by the Queensland Museum
         as being those of a 100 million year old
         marine reptile, later named the Richmond
         Pliosaur.

1995: Marine Fossil Display opened

1999: Stage 1 of the centre officially opened in May

2000: Stage 2 opened in June

RICHMOND & DISTRICT HISTORY

The Aborigines

Original settlers of the Richmond region was the Oonoomurra tribe of Aborigines. Variations of the name are Woonoomurra or Wanamarra.

Their area of domain commenced on Richmond Downs Station on the Flinders River, extended up the Flinders River and nearly to the Diamantina River, south to the Divide and to Kynuna, then west to Cloncurry and north to Cambridge Downs.

The Oonoomurra were the shire's first prolific artists, as evidenced by rock paintings and weavings found up until relatively recent times.

Since its inception as a town in 1882, when it was first surveyed, Richmond has always been noted for its magnificent sheep and cattle country and the wealth of the region.

First Explorer & Settlers

The Richmond area was first explored by
William Landsborough in 1862 when his
party was looking for Burke and Wills.
Landsborough's glowing reports resulted in
settlement of the area by pastoralists.

Landsborough wrote of "...following the
Flinders River through fine pastoral country
and naming O'Connell Creek", next to where Richmond now stands.

William Landsborough

The town of Richmond is on high ground right next to the banks of the mighty Flinders River, the longest river in Queensland and which flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The town received its name after the 3229 sq km Richmond Downs Pastoral Run, established by pastoralists Bundock and Hayes in 1862. This property, Richmond Downs, was named after the Richmond River in northern NSW, from where Bundock and Hayes originated.

Gold

Gold was discovered at the Woolgar River, 113 kms north of Richmond, prior to the town being surveyed. This discovery resulted in hundreds of miners arriving in the region and Richmond became an important depot for Cobb & Co coaches. The town's main street is named Goldring Street, in memory of this era.

In its first year of operation (1880) the Woolgar Gold Field produced 454 kgs of gold, with a total of 567 kgs produced between 1880 and 1887. During this time Woolgar had a population of over 1000 people.

The Railway

The railway reached the town in 1904, making it the terminus and railhead for the Gulf country for the next four years, when the railway pushed on to Julia Creek, further west.

Water

In 1900 the first bore was drilled in Richmond to a depth of 359m. It produced a flow rate of 1.4 million litres per day and hit the surface at 40 degrees Celsius.

Climate

Richmond has a typical western climate with long summers and short winters. Summer extends from September to April. Daily mean average temperatures range from 26 to 38 degrees C with daily minimum mean average temperatures from 8 to 23 degrees C.

The wet season usually begins in early December until March. Average rainfall is approx. 473mm per annum with approximately 41 days of rain per year..

The Environment

The shire of Richmond consists of a mixture of sandy forest, river channels and black soil downs country. The open downs black soil yields an abundance of Mitchell and Flinders grasses providing excellent feed for the cattle and sheep industries. Richmond is sited on top of the Great Artesian Basin that supplies excellent water for the town and outlying properties.

Richmond is a birdwatchers delight with species including kingfishers, bowerbirds, rainbow birds, fryer birds, parrots, finches, budgerigars, quarrion, white corellas and pink galahs, black and white cockatoos, emus, eagle hawks, plain turkeys, brolgas and Jabiru.

Prolific numbers of red kangaroos on the downs, wallaroos, grey kangaroos and wallabies can be seen in the country surrounding Richmond while the Nail Tailed Wallaby can often be seen along the Flinders River bed. Dingoes, wild pigs, foxes and wildcats are feral pests in the area.

Cultural Activities

The Gidgee Wheel Art Shop provides a base for artists as well as retailing their crafts. Richmond Queensland Arts Association and Richmond Amateur Theatrical Group produces live theatrical shows throughout the year.

The Richmond Civic Centre can seat up to 300 people for these and other shows..

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