Blackall

Blackall is located on the Matilda Highway and is name after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland. The town was discovered in 1846 by explorer Major Thomas Mitchell. Rest, relax and revive at Blackall's Aquatic Centre and home to the artesian spa and swimming pool. Famous for many reasons, blade shearer Jack Howe put Blackall on the map in 1892 at ﾑAlice Downs' when he set a world record by shearing 321 sheep in seven hours and 40 minutes. It actually took another 58 years before anyone could match this feat and that was by machine shears. Blackall was also the first town to start drilling an artesian bore back in 1885. It is also the home of the Black Stump which was used for surveying purposes and permanently marks the original Astro Station established in 1887. Anything west of this point is said to be ﾑbeyond the black stump'.