Taroom
History
Prussian explorer Ludwig Leichhardt passed through the district in 1844, carving his initials and date on a coolibah tree that now stands in the centre of town. Leichhardt's carving is no longer visible following an alleged attempt to remove bark growing over the initials that removed the initials as well. Reporting the rich soils in the area, settlers began taking up land in 1845 and by 1850 a town had been established at a popular camping spot near the Dawson River.
Originally named Bonners Knob the town was renamed Taroom, possibly after the nearby Taroom cattle station, on completion of the first post office in 1856. The name Taroom is said to be an aboriginal Waka word tarum meaning wild lime.
Situated 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Taroom is Hornet Bank Station which was the site of the 1857 Hornet Bank massacre, the genocidal reprisals for which led to the Yeeman Indigenous language group and people being wiped out.
Taroom State School opened on 11 April 1871 as a primary school. In 1964, the school had a secondary department added to provide secondary education to Year 10.
The Taroom War Memorial commemorates residents of Taroom Shire who served in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. It is located at the Ludwig Leichhardt Park in Yaldwyn Street and was dedicated in about 1973.
The Taroom Town Hall was built in 2004, immediately next door to the shire council chambers. It was intended to serve as a civic and recreational centre for the town and has a main auditorium that seats 300 people as well as a commercial kitchen and bar. The hall was awarded a regional commendation by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 2004.
Taroom was part of the Shire of Taroom until the local government amalgamations of 2008 resulted in the Shire of Taroom being split with the northern part (including Taroom itself) becoming part of the Shire of Banana and the southern part becoming part of the Dalby Region, later renamed Western Downs Region.
Economy
Taroom is a major centre for the Queensland beef industry. Other industries includes prime hard wheat and forestry.
Education
Taroom State School is a government P-10 school located in Wolsey Street .
Facilities
The Banana Shire Council has an administration office in Yaldwyn Street; this building is the former Taroom Shire Council Chambers.
Tourism
Taroom has a rare windmill of an unusual design located on the banks of the Dawson River. The windmill was produced by the Steel Wings Company, in North Sydney between 1907 and 1911, one of only six models ever erected. The windmills comprise a steel frame and fan which turns to the wind between a bearing at the bottom and a swivel at the top, all supported by guy-wires. Along with another example in Jerilderie in the Riverina, the fully restored windmills are the only two known working examples in the world designed so their fan is contained and spins within the fully pivoting frame.
There is a lookout at the top of Kelman Street, known as Gilbert's Lookout in honour of John Gilbert, a naturalist with Ludwig Leichhardt's 1844 expedition. There is a memorial to Gilbert at the lookout. Gilbert was killed when he was speared by an Aboriginal at the Mitchell River near Dunbar near the Gulf of Carpentaria. The lookout offers panoramic views of the town and surrounding countryside.
Isla Gorge National Park, Precipice National Park and Expedition National Park are all nearby.
Events
Every January, Taroom holds its New Year Races.
In March there is the annual St Patrick's Day campdrafting competition, while the Golden Horse Shoe campdraft is held every April.
The annual Taroom Agricultural Show is held in May.
Taroom hosts a fishing competition each year in June at the Glebe Weir .
The Australian Professional Rodeo Association hold a rodeo every year in Taroom in July.
In September, there is the annual Leichhardt Festival and the Spring Races.
Heritage listings
Taroom has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Population
Taroom Airport