Eromanga, Queensland

Eromanga Queensland
Oil pumpjack near Eromanga
Eromanga
Coordinates	26°49′S 143°16′E / 26.817°S 143.267°ECoordinates: 26°49′S 143°16′E / 26.817°S 143.267°E
Population	400 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	4480
Location	1,062 km (660 mi) W of Brisbane 316 km (196 mi) W of Charleville 106 km (66 mi) W of Quilpie
LGA(s)	Shire of Quilpie
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Eromanga: Windorah Jundah Adavale Tanbar Eromanga Quilpie Durham Nockatunga Norley

Eromanga is a small town and locality in the Shire of Quilpie in South West Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] At the 2011 census, Eromanga had a population of 400.^[1] However, the town of Eromanga has a population averaging from 30-40.^[4]

Geography

The town lies on the edge of what is called the Eromanga Inland Sea, which existed in the Early Cretaceous. The Eromanga region has abundant oil wells and opal mines. There are also agricultural industries such as cattle and sheep as many pioneering property owners came and took up land in the 1860s. Dinosaur fossils, including Australia's largest dinosaur a titanosaur species of sauropod, have also been found here making it an area of interest for palaeontologists.^[5]

Eromanga has been touted as the town in Australia located the farthest from any ocean.^[6] However, this claim does not stand up to scrutiny.^[7] See Pole of inaccessibility for approximations of other locations in Australia that could also make such claims.

History

The name of the town Eromanga goes back as far as about 1860. The name is thought to have come from an Aboriginal word that means "hot gale plain" or "windy plain", though the language and dialect is unknown.^[2][3]

Eromanga Post Office opened by October 1902 (a receiving office had been open from 1892).^[8]

Eromanga Provisional School opened on 5 July 1897 but closed in 1908. In 1910 it reopened as Eromanga State School but closed again on 28 February 1911. The school reopened on 23 October 1917 but closed again. It reopened in 1919 until it closed on 22 March 1936. It reopened on 28 May 1956 and closed again on 11 December 1981. It reopened 29 January 1990.^[9][10]

Education

Eromanga State School is a government primary (P-7) school located in Donald Street (26°40′10″S 143°16′08″E / 26.669308°S 143.268804°E).^[11] Between 2010 and 2013, the school had between 5 and 6 students enrolled; all students have an individual learning plan. There is one permanent teacher, a teacher aide (partly funded by the community) plus visiting teachers from other schools.^[12]

Popular culture

Due to its name, the town was referenced in the first episode of Volume 2 in the anime Ninja Nonsense, in the second episode of Strawberry Marshmallow, and again in episode 18 of Samurai Flamenco for its similarity to the term ero manga (literally meaning erotic manga).^[13]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Eromanga (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
2. "Eromanga (town) (entry 11831)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
3. "Eromanga (locality) (entry 42940)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
4. "About Eromanga". Vistaprint. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
5. Another dinosaur found on Qld cattle station ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
6. "Eromanga - Places To Visit - Outback - Queensland Holidays". Tourism Queensland. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
7. Ken Blanch, Eromanga's Boast Doesn't Hold Water!, Courier Mail, 9 November 1985.
8. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
9. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
10. "Agency ID5199, Eromanga State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
11. "Queensland State and Non-State Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
12. "Annual Report 2012". Eromanga State School. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
13. Ninja Nonsense Vol. 2: Psychedelic Summer