Texas, Queensland

Bigambul (also known as Bigambal, Bigumbil, Pikambul, Pikumbul) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Bigambul people. The Bigambul language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Goondiwindi Regional Council, including the towns of Goondiwindi, Yelarbon and Texas extending north towards Moonie and Millmerran.{{Cite web|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/4?embed=true|title=Bigambul|website=State Library of Queensland|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=5 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905125929/https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/4?embed=true|url-status=live}}

Texas sits on Bigambul land, the Indigenous people of the region who inhabited the area for thousands of years prior to colonisation in the 1840s.{{cite web|url=http://www.nntt.gov.au/applications/claimant/QC01_6.html |title=National Native Title Tribunal: Bigambul People Claimant application |access-date=26 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902220747/http://www.nntt.gov.au/applications/claimant/QC01_6.html |archive-date=2 September 2006 |url-status=dead }}

Texas, at one time, relied on its importance of grazing. It was settled in 1842 and was named after the largest nearby landholding in the area, known as Texas Station.

The origin of the town's name is generally regarded as a reference to a territorial dispute. The land in the area was first settled by the McDougall brothers, who found squatters there on returning from the goldfields. Once their legal right to the land was recognised, they named their property in honour of the dispute between the United States and Mexico over territory in Texas.

Texas Provisional School opened on 1 March 1887. On 1 January 1900, it became Texas State School.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-01 |title=Our school |url=https://texasss.eq.edu.au/our-school |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Texas P-10 State School|archive-date=13 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313194738/https://texasss.eq.edu.au/our-school |url-status=live }}{{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}}

Land in Texas was open for selection on 17 April 1877; {{Convert|140|mi2||abbr=}} were available.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1361846|title=Proclamations under the New Land Acts.|date=2 March 1877|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|access-date=19 February 2020|location=Queensland, Australia|page=3|via=Trove|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827084837/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1361846|url-status=live}}

File:RM 1901 waits under looming skies at Texas station, Queensland, ~1991.jpg

Texas was connected by the Texas railway line from Inglewood in November 1930 with the town being served by the Texas railway station ({{coord|-28.8568|151.1722|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Texas railway station (former)}}).Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, June 1988, pp129-136 The line was closed in 1994, but officially remains operational. However, the station is officially abandoned.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2020 |title=Railway stations and sidings – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005070354/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}

File:Queensland State Archives 4355 Drying tobacco Texas Southern Queensland c 1930.png

Up until about 1986, tobacco farming was an important industry in the area and many Italian families settled the area to run and work the tobacco farms. The tobacco industry had begun to be important in the late 1800s. In the 1870s, Chinese workers began to be employed on the Texas Station to grow the crop for local use. "They were employed because they had grown their own tobacco before, so you use somebody who can already grow something instead of reinventing the wheel," local historian Robyn Griffin explained. "Smoking had become quite fashionable, and they would've also sold some of it to manufacturers."Jon Daly, '[https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-12-30/rise-fall-of-australia-great-tobacco-town-texas/100729030 Texas 'gold leaf': The rise and fall of Australia's last great tobacco town.'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230000321/https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-12-30/rise-fall-of-australia-great-tobacco-town-texas/100729030 |date=30 December 2021 }}, ABC News, 30 December 2021. Later, during the 1900s, much of the region's tobacco was grown in the Dumaresq Valley beside the Dumaresq River.

The current Texas Library was opened in 2010 with minor refurbishment in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|title=Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017|date=November 2017|website=Public Libraries Connect|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|url-status=live}}

In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the town of Texas had a population of 693 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL354000|name=Texas (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=30 October 2008|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of Texas had a population of 1,159 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31600|name=Texas (SSC)|accessdate=21 August 2016|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Texas had a population of 843 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32802|name=Texas (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Texas had a population of 790 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32775|name=Texas (Suburbs and Localities)|accessdate=18 May 2023|quick=on}}

The town is located just {{convert|2|km|mi}} from Queensland's southern border with New South Wales, close to Bonshaw, New South Wales. The locality across the New South Wales border is also known as Texas, having a shared history as being part of the Texas pastoral run.{{Cite web |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230694679/view |title=Map showing Texas pastoral run in 1860 |publisher=Reuss and Browne |access-date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812064044/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230694679/view |url-status=live }}

State Route 89, a road with two names, runs through the locality, entering from the east as Stanthorpe – Texas Road (Mingoola Road, Fleming Street and High Street in the town) and exiting to the north-west as Inglewood – Texas Road (Greenup Street).{{cite map |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Texas+QLD/@-28.8533444,151.1184781,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ba2900d7dd85a6b:0x400eef17f20a950!8m2!3d-28.854722!4d151.168333 |title=Texas, Queensland |publisher=Google Maps |access-date=23 October 2021 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305072437/https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Texas+QLD/@-28.8533444,151.1184781,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ba2900d7dd85a6b:0x400eef17f20a950!8m2!3d-28.854722!4d151.168333?shorturl=1 |url-status=live }}

Texas has the following mountains:

• Texas Mount ({{coord|-28.8554|151.2108|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Texas Mount}}) {{convert|501|m}}{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Mountain peaks and capes – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125215033/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{cite QPN|33786|Texas Mount|mountain in Goondiwindi Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• The Blacks Rock ({{coord|-28.9669|151.1429|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=The Blacks Rock}})

Texas Aerodrome is on the Texas-Yelarbon Road, north-west of the town ({{coord|-28.8345|151.1527|type:airport_region:AU-QLD|name=Texas Aerodrome}}).{{Cite web |date=22 October 2020 |title=Airports – Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/f5e72c21-4f70-4cca-a22e-f2265b85ee56 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115071531/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/f5e72c21-4f70-4cca-a22e-f2265b85ee56 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}} The runway is approx {{Convert|830 by 15|m}} of graded gravel. It is operated by the Goondiwindi Regional Council.{{Cite web |title=Aerodromes |url=https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/aerodromes |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Goondiwindi Regional Council|archive-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229002429/https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/aerodromes |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Texas Airport – YTEX – Airport Guide |url=http://airportguide.com/airport/info/YTEX |access-date=28 October 2016 |archive-date=20 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020113904/http://airportguide.com/airport/info/YTEX |url-status=live }}

{{Weather box

|location = Texas, QLD

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 44.6

|Feb record high C = 44.5

|Mar record high C = 40.1

|Apr record high C = 36.1

|May record high C = 31.8

|Jun record high C = 27.8

|Jul record high C = 26.6

|Aug record high C = 35.0

|Sep record high C = 36.7

|Oct record high C = 39.8

|Nov record high C = 43.2

|Dec record high C = 43.5

|year record high C = 44.6

|Jan high C = 33.9

|Feb high C = 32.8

|Mar high C = 31.2

|Apr high C = 27.4

|May high C = 22.9

|Jun high C = 19.4

|Jul high C = 18.9

|Aug high C = 21.0

|Sep high C = 24.6

|Oct high C = 28.1

|Nov high C = 30.6

|Dec high C = 32.9

|year high C = 27.0

|Jan low C = 18.8

|Feb low C = 18.4

|Mar low C = 16.2

|Apr low C = 12.0

|May low C = 8.1

|Jun low C = 4.7

|Jul low C = 3.8

|Aug low C = 4.7

|Sep low C = 8.0

|Oct low C = 11.9

|Nov low C = 15.1

|Dec low C = 17.4

|year low C = 11.6

|Jan record low C = 10.2

|Feb record low C = 8.8

|Mar record low C = 4.9

|Apr record low C = -0.4

|May record low C = -2.9

|Jun record low C = -7.6

|Jul record low C = -6.6

|Aug record low C = -5.2

|Sep record low C = -2.6

|Oct record low C = -2.1

|Nov record low C = 2.8

|Dec record low C = 6.2

|year record low C = -7.6

|Jan rain mm = 88.4

|Feb rain mm = 75.1

|Mar rain mm = 58.7

|Apr rain mm = 34.5

|May rain mm = 39.6

|Jun rain mm = 40.1

|Jul rain mm = 41.0

|Aug rain mm = 33.7

|Sep rain mm = 39.8

|Oct rain mm = 60.5

|Nov rain mm = 67.5

|Dec rain mm = 80.6

|Jan rain days = 7.4

|Feb rain days = 6.3

|Mar rain days = 5.6

|Apr rain days = 3.8

|May rain days = 4.5

|Jun rain days = 5.7

|Jul rain days = 6.0

|Aug rain days = 5.3

|Sep rain days = 5.0

|Oct rain days = 6.7

|Nov rain days = 7.1

|Dec rain days = 7.9

|unit rain days = 0.2mm

|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_041100_All|site_name=TEXAS POST OFFICE|access-date=31 August 2015|date=August 2015}}

|date=April 2015}}

Farming is the dominant industry in the Texas region, although there is also a silver mine. The Whyalla Beef feedlot is located about 25 km from the town.{{Cite web |title=Whyalla Beef |url=https://www.nh-foods.com.au/facilities/whyalla-beef/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=NH Foods}}

Part of the Goondiwindi Region, Texas is administered from the nearby larger town of Goondiwindi.{{Cite web |title=Council Meetings |url=https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/council/council-meetings/home |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Goondiwindi Regional Council|archive-date=28 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228233610/https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/council/council-meetings/home |url-status=live }}

As of 2022, Texas is serviced by three petrol stations. All 3 stations provide diesel fuel.

File:Block B and grounds, Texas State School, circa 2022.png

Texas P–10 State School is a government primary and secondary (Early Childhood to Year 10) school for boys and girls at 1 Flemming Street ({{coord|-28.8506|151.1742|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Texas P-10 State School}}).{{cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=State and non-state school details |url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |url-status=live |publisher=Queensland Government |accessdate=21 November 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |archivedate=21 November 2018}}{{Cite web |date=2019-04-01 |title=Texas P-10 State School |url=https://texasss.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Texas P-10 State School|archive-date=13 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313192813/https://texasss.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 160 students with 16 teachers (15 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff (9 full-time equivalent).{{cite web |title=ACARA School Profile 2018 |url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority |accessdate=28 January 2020 |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |url-status=live }} It includes a special education program.

There are no schools offering education to Year 12 in or near Texas (the nearest being in Stanthorpe and Goondiwindi). Distance education and boarding schools are options.

File:TexasLibrary.JPGTexas public library is at 46 High Street ({{Coord|-28.8550|151.1679|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Texas public library}}). It is operated by the Goondiwindi Regional Council.{{Cite web |title=Find your Library |url=https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/find-library/libraries-3 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Goondiwindi Regional Council|archive-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229042715/https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/find-library/libraries-3 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=28 July 2015 |title=Texas Library |url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/goondiwindi/texas_library |access-date=22 January 2018 |website=Public Libraries Connect |archive-date=22 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122125429/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/goondiwindi/texas_library |url-status=live }}File:TexasMemorialHall.JPG

Texas Memorial Hall is at 50 High Street ({{Coord|-28.8551|151.1682|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Texas Memorial Hall}}). It is operated by the Goondiwindi Regional Council.{{Cite web |title=Texas Community Facilities |url=https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/residents/community-facilities/texas-community-facilities |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Goondiwindi Regional Council|archive-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229022208/https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/residents/community-facilities/texas-community-facilities |url-status=live }}

The Texas branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 27 Broadway Street.{{Cite web |title=Branch locations |url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/ |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018 |website=Queensland Country Women's Association}}

Texas has a swimming pool, bowls club, golf course, showground and a racecourse.{{cite web |title=Texas |url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/texas |access-date=12 May 2013 |publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland |archive-date=15 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515135927/http://queenslandplaces.com.au/texas |url-status=live }}

The Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum is at 50 Fleming Street ({{Coord|-28.8564|151.1727|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Texas Heritage Centre & Tobacco Museum}}).{{Cite web |last=Goondiwindi |title=Texas Museum |url=https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/visit/see-and-do/texas-museum |access-date=2020-08-30 |website=Goondiwindi Regional Council|archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812214824/https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/visit/see-and-do/texas-museum |url-status=live }}

Texas is serviced by the MacIntyre Gazette, Warwick Daily News and Stanthorpe Border Post newspapers. Texas is served by the Border Districts Community Radio Station 89.7 Ten FM which is transmitted from a 4 kW transmitter located on Mt Mackenzie in Tenterfield NSW.

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}

After a visit to Texas in 2002, and being involved in a car accident nearby, American Country/Rockabilly recording artist Jason Lee Wilson memorialised the town in a song "TX, QLD, Australia". The song was included on the Cumberland Runners' 2004 debut album entitled Music to Haul By.

Previously, James Blundell had written and recorded a song entitled "Texas" as the B-side of his first single on the EMI label (EMI 2165), Cloncurry Cattle Song. On the single the writing credits of the two songs were inadvertently switched, but corrected on Blundell's debut, self-titled album (1989). Texas was composed by James Blundell and Doug Trevor, with Blundell and M. Hickson writing Cloncurry Cattle Song.

Lee Kernaghan also referenced the town in his 2002 hit song "Texas, Qld 4385" from his Electric Rodeo album released in 2002.

• James Blundell – singer
• Travis Burns – Rugby League player
• Peter Hitchener – Nine News Melbourne weekend presenter
• Lee Kernaghan – Country Music Singer Singer Texas QLD 4385 (Live at CMC Rocks) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3Pt5JW81uo

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Bayley |first=Jennifer |title=Texas schools : the first one hundred years 1887-1987 |vauthors= |date=1987 |publisher=Texas State School}} — [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1dejkfd/alma99183384113902061 via State Library of Queensland], covers Texas State School and others schools: Beebo, Glenarbon, Glenlyon, Gunyan, Lagoon Flat, Limevale, Raleigh, Silverspur, and Smithfield.

{{commons category-inline}}

• {{cite web |title=Texas |url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/texas |website=Queensland Places |publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland}}
• {{cite web |date=1974 |title=Town map of Texas |url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-texas-1974.jpg |publisher=Queensland Government}}

{{portal|Queensland}}

{{Goondiwindi Region}}

{{Darling Downs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Towns in the Darling Downs

Category:Goondiwindi Region

Category:Localities in Queensland

Category:Australian places named after U.S. places or U.S. history