Urandangi
Urandangi is an outback town in the locality of Piturie in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia.
Geography
The town is located on the banks of the Georgina River in Central West Queensland, north west of the state capital, Brisbane and south west of the regional centre of Mount Isa.Urandangi is in the Channel Country. All watercourses in this area are part of the Lake Eyre drainage basin, and most will dry up before their water reaches Lake Eyre.
The predominant land use is grazing on native vegetation.
The Marmanya Aboriginal community is located in Urandangi.
Climate
Urandangi has a subtropical desert climate with very hot, erratically wetter summers and very mild, very winters. On average, the town is extremely sunny: experiencing 199.4 clear days & only 50.5 cloudy days per annum. The wettest recorded day was 16 December 1984 with of rainfall. Extreme temperatures ranged from on 18 December 2019 to on 30 June 2002 and 5 July 1984.The original weather station has data available for precipitation, temperature and 3 pm conditions ; but lacks recorded climate data after 2012.
A newer weather station at the town's aerodrome opened in 2012. It records temperature and precipitation data.
History
Waluwarra is an Australian Aboriginal language of Western Queensland. Its traditional language region is the local government area of Shire of Boulia, including Walgra Station and Wolga, from Roxborough Downs north to Carandotta Station and Urandangi on the Georgina River, on Moonah Creek to Rochedale, south-east of Pituri Creek.An unnamed township was established 2 August 1883. On 12 December 1884, it was officially named Urandangi. The name is believed to be derived Aboriginal words, uranda-ngie, meaning much gidyea.
The township was a centre for travellers and drovers where a stock route crossed the Georgina River. By 1920 Urandangi had a pub, two stores, post office, police station and a dance hall.
Urandangie Provisional School opened circa 1898. On 1 January 1909 it became Urandangie State School. It closed circa 1910, but reopened on 30 January 1922. It closed circa 1933.
On 11 April 1994 Urandangi State School opened.
In March 2023, Urangangi was inundated with over of floodwater resulting in the evacuation of the entire town. Due to the extent of the damage, it is uncertain if the town will survive. In August 2023 and December 2024, the school was officially open but was not operating as there were no students enrolled.
Facilities
In 2023 prior to the floods, Urandangi's only major facility was the Urandangi Hotel. It was also the town's post office, grocery store, petrol station, and Centrelink office.Education
Urandangi State School is a government primary school for boys and girls on the Urandangi North Road. It had only 8 students enrolled in 2015. In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 8 students with 2 teachers and 2 non-teaching staff. In 2022, the school had an enrolment of 12 students.There are no secondary schools in Urandangi. The nearest government secondary school is in Mount Isa but too far for a daily commute. The Spinifex State College in Mount Isa offers boarding facilities. Other boarding schools or distance education would be options.