Wieambilla is a rural locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] This locality and its surroundings are extensively used for coal seam gas harvesting.[3] In the 2021 census, Wieambilla had a population of 78 people.[1]
| Wieambilla Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Wieambilla | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°58′03″S 150°24′35″E / 26.9675°S 150.4097°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 78 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.2945/km2 (0.763/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4413 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 264.9 km2 (102.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Western Downs Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Warrego | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Maranoa | ||||||||||||||
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History
The locality takes its name from the name of a parish, which in turn was named after a pastoral run operated by Charles George Temple Chauvel in the 1850s, which may have been named after the Wieambilla Creek.[2]
Wieambilla Sawmills Provisional School opened in 1915 and closed circa 1926.[4]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Wieambilla had a population of 93 people.[5]
In the 2021 census, Wieambilla had a population of 78 people.[1]
Shootings
Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and a neighbour, Alan Dare, were murdered on 12 December 2022 at a rural property in Wieambilla. The perpetrators, brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train, and Gareth's wife, Stacey Train,[6] were later shot and killed by Queensland police.[7] Gareth was a known conspiracy theorist who alleged the Port Arthur massacre was a false flag operation[6] and that Princess Diana was killed in a 'blood sacrifice'.[8] Nathaniel was a former school principal.