Roma, Queensland: Difference between revisions
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Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:GeoGroup Template:Infobox Australian place Roma is a rural town and locality in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia.<ref name=qpnt>Template:Cite QPN</ref><ref name=qpnl>Template:Cite QPN</ref> It is the administrative centre of the Maranoa Region. The town was incorporated in 1867 and is named after Lady Diamantina Bowen (née di Roma), the wife of Sir George Bowen, the Governor of Queensland at the time. In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Roma had a population of 6,838 people.<ref name=Census2021/>
Geography
[edit]
Roma is in the Maranoa district of South West Queensland. It is situated at the junction of the Warrego and Carnarvon highways. It is also a major town on the Western Railway Line from Toowoomba and Brisbane.<ref name="globetransport">Template:Cite web</ref>
It is the centre of a rich pastoral and wheat-growing district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
[edit]Mandandanji
[edit]Prior to British colonisation, the Aboriginal peoples of the Mandandanji Nation occupied this region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mandandanji (also known as Mandandanyi, Mandandanjdji, Kogai) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Mandandanji people. The Mandandanji language region is within the local government boundaries of the Maranoa Region, particularly Roma, Yuleba and Surat, then east towards Chinchilla and south-west towards Mitchell and St George.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
British exploration
[edit]The first documented British explorers to enter the region were Sir Thomas Mitchell and Edmund Kennedy on their 1846 expedition. Mitchell named a nearby hill Mount Abundance due to the rich plains he encountered around what is now Roma. He called these plains the Fitzroy Downs in honour of the newly appointed Governor of New South Wales, Charles Augustus FitzRoy.<ref name="mitchell">Template:Cite book</ref>
Mitchell and Kennedy encountered a community of around 200 Aboriginal people in this vicinity. After initial friendly communication, hostilities arose with Kennedy's men dispersing a group of Mandandanji after they tried to burn down the explorer's encampment.<ref name="mitchell" />
Arrival of British pastoralists and frontier conflict
[edit]When Mitchell returned to Sydney from his expedition, he encouraged his friend and head colonial government bureaucrat, William Macpherson, to take up land on the Fitzroy Downs. Macpherson's son, Allan Macpherson, subsequently took 20 men and around 10,000 head of sheep and cattle from his property at Keera on the Gwydir River and headed for the Fitzroy Downs. In October 1847, he established the Mount Abundance pastoral station, which covered 400,000 acres from Muckadilla Creek on the west to Bungil Creek on the east. The township of Roma now stands on the part of the station where Macpherson decided to graze his cattle.<ref name="collins">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In August 1848, James Blyth attempted to establish a sheep station on Bungil Creek but the resident Mandandanji drove him off, spearing Blyth in the leg, killing his stockman and taking 3,000 of his sheep. This incident was the start of a lengthy war between the Aboriginal people of the area and the colonists. In late 1848, Macpherson had several skirmishes with Aboriginal people around Bungil Creek, killing an indeterminate number. By April 1849 the Mandandanji had killed seven of Macpherson's stockmen, and the local Crown Lands Commissioner, John Durbin, with his contingent of mounted Border Police troopers was called in to give armed assistance. Despite this, Macpherson was defeated and forced to abandon his Mount Abundance station in May 1849.<ref name="collins" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Upon their exit, Macpherson and Durbin requested the government to mobilise the newly formed Native Police force to eliminate Aboriginal resistance in the region. Subsequently, in July 1849, Frederick Walker led his Native Police troopers against the "Fitzroy Downs blacks", shooting many during a large skirmish. In late 1850, the Mandandanji regrouped to attack Paddy McEnroe who had attempted to re-establish the Mount Abundance pastoral station. They killed one of his shepherds, burnt down a hut and took 400 cattle. Roderick Mitchell, the local Crown Lands Commissioner who had replaced Durbin, led a reprisal raid consisting of his police troopers and nearby squatter colonists, which recovered the cattle and killed 13 Aborigines.<ref name="collins" />
In 1851, a large Native Police barracks was established at nearby Wondai Gumbal which housed up to 35 troopers. These troopers under officers George Fulford, James Skelton and Richard Dempster, conducted several patrols of the Mount Abundance area, shooting Aborigines when hostile contact was encountered. In November 1852, Mandandanji resistance on the Fitzroy Downs was finally crushed when Skelton dispersed with "severe means" a large group of Aborigines, killing at least six including Mandandanji leader Possum Murray (Bussamarai).<ref name="collins" />
In 1858, the Mount Abundance pastoral station was sold to Stephen Spencer who was able to peacefully re-occupy the property with his family, 13 stockmen and 1,000 head of cattle. A new Native Police barracks was formed in 1859 on Bungil Creek under Sub-Lieutenant William Morehead which ensured British control of the region.<ref name="mcmanus">Template:Cite book</ref>
Township of Roma
[edit]In 1862, the Government of Queensland issued instructions for a town to be created in the Maranoa Region. Surveyors 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 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>Template:Cite journal</ref>
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>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1864, Reverend Adam McIntyre of the 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>Template:Cite web</ref> However, on 22 May 1866 he died at Brucedale pastoral station on Bungil Creek south-east of Roma (Template:Coord), now in Tingun .<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Captain Starlight, a cattle rustler, was tried and acquitted in the Roma Courthouse in February 1873.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Roma State School, the first school in Roma, opened on 21 March 1870 and closed on 31 December 1986.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite QldSchool</ref>
St John's School was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1881.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Roma was the site of Australia's first oil and gas discoveries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During World War II, Roma was the location of 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>Template:Cite book</ref>
Roma Special School opened on 25 January 1982 and closed on 31 December 1995.<ref name="qfhs">Template:Citation</ref><ref name="schoolclosures">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2004, Roma had a low unemployment rate of 2.9%,<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2010, a Santos project study investigated the possibility of introducing treated CSG produce water into Roma's existing underground aquifer which supplies the town's water needs, including drinking water<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
[edit]In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Roma had a population of 6,848 people. 78.2% of the people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were the Philippines 2.4%, New Zealand 1.6%, England 1.1%, India 1.1% and South Africa 0.5%. 83.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Tagalog 1.4%, Filipino 0.7%, Punjabi 0.7%, Mandarin 0.4% and Afrikaans 0.2%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 27.2%, Anglican 21.8%, No Religion 18.4% and Uniting Church 5.3%. The median age stood at 33, below the national average of 38.<ref name=Census2016>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref>
In the Template:CensusAU, the locality of Roma had a population of 6,838 people.<ref name=Census2021>Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>
Heritage listings
[edit]Roma has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- State Butchers Shop, 75 Arthur Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Roma Government Complex (former Roma State School), 42 Bungil Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Hibernian Hall, 38–44 Hawthorne Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Roma Court House and Police Buildings, McDowall Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Hunter's Emporium, 86 McDowell Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Romavilla Winery, 77 Northern Road<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- Mount Abundance Homestead, Warrego Highway, Bungeworgorai<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
- War Memorial and Heroes Avenue, Wyndham Street<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>
Climate
[edit]Roma experiences a semi-arid influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with very hot, somewhat humid summers and mild, dry winters with regular frosts. Average maxima range from Template:Convert to Template:Convert in July; modified by its position on the far south of the Carnarvon Range Template:Convert above sea level. Rainfall is moderate to low, averaging Template:Convert, and peaks in summer due to severe thunderstorms. Although the town is too far inland to be affected by tropical cyclones and monsoonal rain depressions, on 2 March 2010, Template:Convert of rain fell, causing significant flooding in the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Extremes have ranged from Template:Convert on 3 January 2014 to Template:Convert on 10 August 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Flooding
[edit]The town is situated on Bungil Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River. In March 2010, Roma experienced its worst floods in over 100 years. Flooding also occurred in April 2011, a year of record rainfall in Roma.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In early February 2012, Roma was devastated by its worst floods in history, eclipsing the level reached in 2010; 444 homes were inundated, twice as many that were flooded in the two previous years.<ref name="qfcu">Template:Cite news</ref>
Having experienced three successive years of flooding, in May 2012, one insurer, Suncorp, announced it would not issue new policies to Roma residents, unless action was taken to mitigate the flood risk in Roma.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Industry and economy
[edit]Roma is the major provisional centre for the Maranoa District, South West Queensland for government and industry business. It is on the western fringe of the Surat Basin energy / resources boom.Template:Citation needed
Agriculture
[edit]The Maranoa's agriculture industry is worth approximately $620 million annually, 64.3% being generated from crops. 58.7% of businesses in the Maranoa are in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, which employs 32.7% of the region's workforce.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2005 was a record year for Roma saleyards processing 390,000 head of cattle. Roma is home to the largest store cattle saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere. Saledays are Tuesday (for the big sales) and Thursday (for the fat cattle)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Forestry plantations include Hardwood and Cypress Pines. Roma and the Maranoa region is home to Australia's most active native Cypress Pine sawmilling.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Oil and Gas
[edit]In 1906 natural gas was used for lighting in Roma. The industry has expanded as more reserves were discovered.Template:Citation needed
Origin Energy's Spring Gully Coal Seam Gas Development is about Template:Convert north of Roma and its projects include an Template:Convert gas pipeline to Roma's neighbour town of Wallumbilla to connect with the Template:Convert Roma to Brisbane Pipeline hub there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Santos GLNG is developing CSG fields in the district and is undertaking the project on behalf of a joint venture arrangement with Santos Limited, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, TotalEnergies and Korea Gas Corporation. The projects are spatially intensive and include production and monitoring wells, underground gas storage, injection wells, fixed above-ground gas field facilities, water management infrastructure, and above and below-ground gas and water pipelines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Water
[edit]Bore water for the town is obtained from the Artesian Basin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Media
[edit]Various LPON Narrowcast Services are also available on 87.6 FM (United Christian Broadcasters) 88.0 FM (R FM) 87.8 FM (Switch Gold) with 95.9 FM (Switch FM) also available on higher power around the town's CBD.Template:Citation needed
4ZR is Roma's local radio station, broadcasting on 1476 AM. It is operated by Resonate Broadcasting who also operates 4VL in Charleville and 4LG in Longreach.<ref>1476 4ZR AM website Template:Webarchive, Resonate Broadcasting. Retrieved 20 November 2016.</ref>
Hit 95.1 Maranoa (part of the Southern Cross Austereo – operated Hit Radio Network) is Roma's main FM Radio Station, broadcasting on 95.1 FM.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Western Star is Roma's local newspaper.<ref>The Western Star Template:Webarchive. APN News Media. Retrieved on 27 April 2012.</ref>
Roma is served by local free-to-air TV transmissions from ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Austereo, Imparja and Central Digital Television.Template:Citation needed
Education
[edit]Roma State College is a government primary and secondary (Early Childhood to Year 12) school for boys and girls (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 871 students (including students from Wallumbilla, Yuleba, Muckadilla, Amby and Surat) with 86 teachers (76 full-time equivalent) and 59 non-teaching staff (45 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017">Template:Cite web</ref> The college operates from three separate campuses:<ref>Our School Template:Webarchive Roma State College</ref>
- Junior Campus (Early Childhood to Year 2) at 28 Bowen Street (Template:Coord)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Middle Campus (Years 3-6) on Cottell Street (Template:Coord)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Senior Campus (Years 7-12) on Timbury Street (Template:Coord)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A special education program (certified through the National Disability Insurance Scheme) embracing the full range of disabilities is available at all three campuses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
St John's School is a Roman Catholic primary and secondary (Preparatory to Year 12) school for boys and girls at Bowen Street (Template:Coord).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 697 students with 61 teachers (55 full-time equivalent) and 27 non-teaching staff (19 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2017" />
Sport
[edit]Rugby league, Soccer, Cricket and Basketball are all popular team sports in Roma. The Roma District Rugby League founded in 1914 operates in the region, the Roma Cities Gladiators, Arthur Beetson's former team is the local senior club which has dominated the competition since the 1980s. There are also local junior clubs for boys and girls. The Roma & District Soccer Association has mainly junior teams. The Roma and District Cricket Association operates both senior and junior teams.<ref>Roma and District Cricket Association</ref> The Maranoa Basketball Association is home to the Maranoa Heat based in Roma.
Roma is home to a parkrun which has run every Saturday since 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Amenities
[edit]
Hotels, pubs, and churches feature prominently near the centre of town. The ten hotels are within easy walking distance with most adjacent to another hotel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
St Paul's Anglican Church which is part of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, is a copy of a 13th Century English Church in the shape of crucifix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Roma Uniting Church is at 48–50 Bungil Road (Template:Coord).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Roma Lutheran congregation holds their services at the Uniting Church.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Roma Public Library is situated with the Roma Community Arts Centre located at 38-44 Hawthorne Street<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is part of the Maranoa Regional Council Library Service. The Maranoa Regional Council Library Service is part of the Rural Libraries Queensland service with online resources and library collections found at the Rural Libraries Queensland website. Public WiFi is provided via a ISDN High Speed Internet Connection to Brisbane (powered through the National Broadband Network).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Roma branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 57 Arthur Street.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The town is well serviced by four Caravan Parks, the Villa Holiday Park,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Big Rig Tourist Park,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Roma Clay Target Club Caravan Park,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Ups N Downs Caravan Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Attractions
[edit]Local tourist attractions include the Big Rig and Oil and Gas Museum, Romavilla Winery and Roma Saleyards. The winery is the oldest in Queensland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Roma is also known for its bottle trees.<ref>Gunders, Peter (18 December 2014) Roma's roadside living treasures Template:Webarchive, ABC Southern Queensland. Retrieved 16 December 2019.</ref> With a girth of 9.51 metres, one specific bottle in Edwardes Street is promoted as one of Roma's tourist attractions.<ref>Attractions: Roma's largest bottle tree Template:Webarchive, Outback Queensland website. Retrieved 16 December 2019.</ref>
Events
[edit]Since 1977, Roma has hosted an annual 'Easter in the Country' event.<ref>Information Template:Webarchive, Roma's Easter in the Country website. Retrieved 16 December 2019.</ref><ref>(9 April 2009) Easter in the country Template:Webarchive, ABC Southern Queensland. Retrieved 16 December 2019.</ref>
The annual Roma Show is held in May.<ref>Sherrington, Matt (21 April 2017) Roma showgoers in for a cracker of a time Template:Webarchive, Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 16 December 2019.</ref><ref>Hancock, Molly (14 May 2018) Celebrating 132 great years of Roma Show Template:Webarchive, The Western Star. Retrieved 16 December 2019.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]- Samuel Symons Bassett — established the Romavilla Winery
- Arthur Beetson — Australian rugby league captain and an "Immortal"
- Willie Carne — Australian rugby league international
- Albert Fuller Ellis — phosphate prospector
- Malcolm Farr — political journalist and commentator
- Wally Fullerton-Smith — Australian rugby league international
- Arthur 'Nat' Gould, military aviator
- A. M. Hertzberg — businessman and mayor
- Ray Higgs — Australian rugby league international
- Patrick Holland — novelist
- Dexter Kruger — supercentenarian, lived his life in regional Queensland as a grazier and veterinary surgeon
- Darren Lockyer — Australian rugby league player, captain of the Brisbane Broncos
- Fabian "Fabe" McCarthy — Australian rugby union international
- Ray Meagher — actor, amateur rugby player
- Bruce Scott — politician
- Brent Tate — Australian rugby league international
- Robin Thorne — Australian rugby league player
See also
[edit]References
[edit]<references />
External links
[edit]- Template:Cite web
- Town maps: east and west
- Queensland Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines (map)
- Queensland Gas Transmission and Distribution (government department of energy)
- Template:Cite EB1911
- Queensland Small Towns Documentary Project 2018: Roma, State Library of Queensland
