Editing Roma, Queensland (section)

=== Township of Roma ===
In 1862, the [[Government of Queensland]] issued instructions for a town to be created in the [[Maranoa Region]]. Surveyors [[Robert Austin (explorer)|Robert Austin]] and [[A.C. Gregory]] chose a site adjacent to Bungil Creek on Stephen Spencer's Mount Abundance pastoral station. This site became the township of Roma. Initially consisting of nothing more than three [[pub|public houses]], Roma was named after Lady [[Diamantina Bowen]] (Contessa Diamantina di Roma), wife of the first [[Governor of Queensland]], [[George Bowen]].<ref name="mcmanus" /><ref>{{cite journal|last=Ashton|first=Paul|date=2006|title=Australians and Greeks: Volume III: The Later Years By Hugh Gilchrist. Sydney: Halstead Press, 2004; PP432 notes, appendicies, bibliography, index; clothbound, $49.95|journal=Public History Review|volume=12|pages=120–122|doi=10.5130/phrj.v12i0.194|doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[File:Steam locomotive 'Pioneer' on the Western Railway construction site between Roma and Mitchell, ca. 1885.jpg|thumb|right|Steam locomotive 'Pioneer' on the Western Railway construction site between Roma and Mitchell, ca. 1885]]
[[File:StateLibQld 2 74929 Apparatus for separating natural gas from artesian water at the Roma Gas Works, Queensland, ca. 1906.jpg|thumb|right|Apparatus for separating natural gas from artesian water at the Roma Gas Works]]

[[File:Romavilla Winery, circa 1910.jpg|thumb|left|[[Romavilla Winery]] founded in 1866 by [[Samuel Symons Bassett]]]]
[[File:Queensland State Archives 2524 Kueyers vineyard Roma c 1898.png|thumb|left|Kueyers vineyard Roma c 1898]]
[[File:Queens Arms Hotel and Hunters Emporium building Roma Queensland 1975.jpg|alt=Queens Arms Hotel and Hunters Emporium building in Roma, Queensland 1975|thumb|Queens Arms Hotel and Hunters Emporium building in Roma, Queensland 1975]][[File:Romavilla Winery, circa 1910.jpg|thumb|left|[[Romavilla Winery]] founded in 1866 by [[Samuel Symons Bassett]]]]
[[File:Queensland State Archives 2524 Kueyers vineyard Roma c 1898.png|thumb|left|Kueyers vineyard Roma c 1898]]
[[File:Queens Arms Hotel and Hunters Emporium building Roma Queensland 1975.jpg|alt=Queens Arms Hotel and Hunters Emporium building in Roma, Queensland 1975|thumb|Queens Arms Hotel and Hunters Emporium building in Roma, Queensland 1975]]
In 1863 [[Samuel Symons Bassett]] brought Queensland's vine cuttings to Roma and established the [[Romavilla Winery]] in 1866 on [[Bungil Creek]] north of Roma.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Paul D. |title=Bassett, Samuel Symons (1840–1912) |work= |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |chapter=Samuel Symons Bassett (1840–1912) |access-date=2020-05-24 |chapter-url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bassett-samuel-symons-80 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811164938/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bassett-samuel-symons-80 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1864, Reverend Adam McIntyre of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] commenced services at pastoral stations in the Maranoa district with the intention that he would be established as a permanent minister in Roma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Presbyterian Churches On The Downs - Downs Folk|url=http://downsfolk.wikidot.com/presbyterian-churches-on-the-downs|website=Downs Folk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524032308/http://downsfolk.wikidot.com/presbyterian-churches-on-the-downs|archive-date=2020-05-24|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> However, on 22 May 1866 he died at Brucedale pastoral station on Bungil Creek south-east of Roma ({{Coord|-26.8892|148.9312|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Brucedale pastoral station}}), now in [[Tingun]] .<ref>{{cite news|date=7 June 1866|title=NOTES AND NEWS.|page=2|newspaper=[[Dalby Herald And Western Queensland Advertiser]]|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215452020|access-date=25 May 2020|via=Trove|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204072326/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215452020|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Captain Starlight]], a cattle rustler, was tried and acquitted in the [[Roma Courthouse]] in February 1873.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1309393 |title=ROMA DISTRICT COURT. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=18 February 1873 |access-date=23 October 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204072326/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1309393 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Roma State School, the first school in Roma, opened on 21 March 1870 and closed on 31 December 1986.<ref name=":0">{{Cite QldSchool|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref>

St John's School was established by the [[Sisters of Mercy]] in 1881.<ref>{{Cite web|title=St John's School|url=http://www.twb.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/primary-schools/roma/st-johns-school/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202044306/http://www.twb.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/primary-schools/roma/st-johns-school/|archive-date=2 February 2017|access-date=29 January 2017|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba|Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Roma was the site of Australia's first oil and gas discoveries.<ref>{{cite web|date=2010|url=http://www.discoveraustralia.com.au/queensland/roma.html|title=Roma Tourism Guide and Travel Deals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226171337/http://www.discoveraustralia.com.au/queensland/roma.html|archive-date=26 February 2011|website=Roma Tourism. Kalhaven Group|access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Roma was the location of [[List of RAAF inland aircraft fuel depots|RAAF No.22 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot]] (IAFD), completed in 1942 and closed on 29 August 1944. Usually consisting of 4 tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for the [[RAAF]] and the [[US Army Air Forces]] at a total cost of £900,000 ($1,800,000).<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Historical Section|title=Logistics units|date=1995|publisher=AGPS Press|isbn=978-0-644-42798-2}}</ref>

Roma Special School opened on 25 January 1982 and closed on 31 December 1995.<ref name="qfhs">{{Citation |author1=Queensland Family History Society |title=Queensland schools past and present |publication-date=2010 |edition=Version 1.01 |publisher=[[Queensland Family History Society]] |isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}</ref><ref name="schoolclosures">{{Cite web |date=20 August 2013 |title=Queensland state school - centre closures |url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2013/5413T3241.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320144902/https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2013/5413T3241.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2022 |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>

In 2004, Roma had a low unemployment rate of 2.9%,<ref>{{cite web |title=ABS employment figure |url=http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/LGA36400Economy12000-2004?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=LGA36400&issue=2000-2004&num=&view= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001082431/http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/LGA36400Economy12000-2004?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=LGA36400&issue=2000-2004&num=&view= |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=14 April 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> which is among the lowest unemployment rates in Australia. 68.5% of the people in the labour force living in Roma were employed full-time, with 21.9% working on a part-time basis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roma Demographics (QLD) Local Stats |url=https://localstats.com.au/demographics/qld/western/south-western/roma |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524084706/http://localstats.qpzm.com.au/stats/qld/western/south-western/roma |archive-date=24 May 2015 |access-date=17 August 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Roma State College opened on 1 January 2006 as an amalgamation of Roma Junior School and Roma Middle School, and the addition of a new senior component.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-18|title=Our school|url=https://romasc.eq.edu.au/our-school|access-date=2021-12-19|website=Roma State College|language=en|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227003757/https://romasc.eq.edu.au/our-school|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Photograph_of_Roma_State_School.jpg|thumb|Photograph of Roma State School]]
In 2010, a Santos project study investigated the possibility of introducing treated [[Coal seam gas|CSG]] produce water into Roma's existing underground aquifer which supplies the town's water needs, including drinking water<ref>{{cite web |title=Santos - Our Responsibilities - Groundbreaking study looks at water solutions to top up Roma town water |url=http://www.santos.com/blog/archive/2010/11/16/aquifer_recharge.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015180140/http://www.santos.com/blog/archive/2010/11/16/aquifer_recharge.aspx |archive-date=15 October 2014 |access-date=2014-10-11 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Roma Managed Aquifer Recharge Study is the first of its kind in Australia. It is also considered experimental in nature as the risks are largely unknown. The Roma CSG Field pilot trial (Hermitage) Stage 4 is in operation (Completed Q4 2012) and Roma CSG Field (The Bend) Stage 4 operation is due to commence Q3/Q4 2014. The project will allow for the injection of up to 24 ML/d of treated coal seam gas water into the Gubberamunda Sandstone aquifer for up to 20 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santos - Water Portal |url=http://www.santoswaterportal.com.au/media/pdf1873/140328_santos_glng_cwmmp_annual_report_2013.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017050749/http://www.santoswaterportal.com.au/media/pdf1873/140328_santos_glng_cwmmp_annual_report_2013.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2014 |access-date=14 April 2018 |website=www.santoswaterportal.com.au |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Water bores have been shut down and hence been restarted at nearby Wallumbilla due to [[methane]] being detected in the Gubberamunda Sandstone aquifer (2014).<ref>{{cite web |title=Water contamination may be linked to coal seam gas wells |url=http://www.qt.com.au/news/contamination-is-confirmed/2219462/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043021/http://www.qt.com.au/news/contamination-is-confirmed/2219462/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=17 August 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=27 May 2014 |title=Methane Contaminated Town Water in Wallumbilla - Shine Lawyers |url=http://www.shine.com.au/methane-contaminated-town-water-wallumbilla/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009141603/https://www.shine.com.au/methane-contaminated-town-water-wallumbilla/ |archive-date=9 October 2015 |access-date=17 August 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>