Tambo (Queensland)

Tambo is a town located in Central West Queensland, Australia, on the banks of the Barcoo River. Tambo is 101km southeast of the town of Blackall via the Landsborough Highway, and approximately 862km north west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the, Tambo had a population of 345.The town was settled in 1863, making it the oldest town in western Queensland. Like much of the west, sheep became the mainstay of the economy. The town takes its name from an Indigenous Australian word, meaning "hidden place", or, "resting place, fish, shady waters, hidden waters, a secluded spot, hidden place and native yam."Today, cattle and tourism are of major importance to the town. A number of heritage buildings survive from the earliest days of settlement. The Carnarvon National Park (Salvator Rosa section) lies to the east of the town.HistoryIndigenousThe area on which the town of Tambo now sits was home of many different Aboriginal groups including the Wadjaling, Wadjalad, Wadjabangai, and Pitjara.European exploration and settlementThe first European exploration of the district was by Sir Thomas Mitchell, popularly known as "Major Mitchell", in 1846. Tambo was originally known as Carrangarra. The settlement was renamed Tambo in 1868. For approximately the next 15 years the area was unused until selectors began taking land in 1861. The town was founded in 1863.