Wieambilla
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 | |||||||||||||||
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Wieambilla | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 26.9675°S 150.4097°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 78 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 0.2945/km2 (0.763/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4413 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 264.9 km2 (102.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Western Downs Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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History
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]
In the 2016 census, Wieambilla had a population of 93 people.[5]
In the 2021 census, Wieambilla had a population of 78 people.[1]
Shootings
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,[6] were later shot and killed by Queensland police.[7] Gareth was a known conspiracy theorist who alleged the Port Arthur massacre was a false flag operation[6] and that Princess Diana was killed in a 'blood sacrifice'.[8] Nathaniel was a former school principal.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Wieambilla". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- "Wieambilla – locality in Western Downs Region (entry 47759)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- "Environmental health". The State of Queensland; Queensland Health. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wieambilla (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.