Editing Channel Country

{{Short description|Bioegion in Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = region
| name = Channel Country
| state = AU
| image = 
| caption = 
| image2 = IBRA 6.1 Channel Country.png
| caption2 = The [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|interim Australian bioregion]]s,<br />with Channel Country in red
| image2_alt = 
| pop = 
| est = 
| area = 304094.37	
| lga = 
| lga2 = 
| lga3 = 
| lga4 = 
| stategov = 
| fedgov = 
| logo = 
| url = 
| near-n = [[Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion|Mitchell Grass Downs]]
| near-ne = [[Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion|Mitchell Grass Downs]]
| near-e = [[Mulga Lands]]
| near-se = [[Mulga Lands]]
| near-s = [[Broken Hill Complex]]
| near-sw = [[Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields]]
| near-w = [[Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields]]
| near-nw = [[Tanami bioregion|Tanami]]
| near = Channel Country
| footnotes =
}}

[[Image:Channel Country.jpg|thumb|upright|Overhead Channel Country / Cooper Creek]]
[[File:Queensland State Archives 5283 Bulloo River crossing Quilpie January 1955.png|thumb|[[Bulloo River]] crossing, 1955]]
The '''Channel Country''' is a region of [[outback]] Australia mostly in the state of [[Queensland]] but also in parts of South Australia, [[Northern Territory]] and [[New South Wales]].<ref>[http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/ChannelCountryBioregion.htm Channel Country Bioregion] New South Wales Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.</ref><ref name="anra"/> The name comes from the numerous [[Braided river|intertwined rivulets]] that cross the region, which cover 150,000&nbsp;km².<ref name="ag">{{cite book |title=The Australian Geographic Book of Corner Country |last=Reardon |first=Mitch |year=1995 |publisher=[[Australian Geographic]] |location=Terrey Hills, New South Wales |isbn=1-86276-012-8 |pages=93 }}</ref> The Channel Country is over the [[Cooper Basin|Cooper]] and [[Eromanga Basin|Eromanga]] geological basins and the [[Lake Eyre Basin]] [[drainage basin]]. Further to the east is the less arid [[Maranoa, Queensland|Maranoa]] district.

==Geography==
[[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]] and [[Windorah, Queensland|Windorah]] are the most prominent towns in the area. Other settlements include [[Betoota, Queensland|Betoota]] and [[Bedourie, Queensland|Bedourie]]. [[Haddon Corner]] is also located in the Channel Country. The Channel Country is the location for a majority of [[Min Min light]] sightings. It is also home to at least two important bird areas, [[Lake Yamma Yamma]] and the [[Lake Machattie Area]].

The Channel Country features an arid landscape with a series of ancient [[flood plain]]s from rivers which only flow intermittently. The principal rivers are [[Georgina River]], [[Cooper Creek]] and the [[Diamantina River]]. When there is sufficient rainfall in their catchment area these rivers flow into [[Lake Eyre]], South Australia. In most years the flood waters are absorbed into the earth or evaporate, however. One of the most significant rainfall events occurred in 2010 when a monsoonal low from ex-[[2009–10 Australian region cyclone season#Tropical Cyclone Olga|Cyclone Olga]] created a period of exceptional rainfall.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201002/s2808740.htm |title=Channel Country rain will boost cattle feed |access-date=18 May 2010 |date=3 February 2010 |work=[[ABC Rural]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref>

===Land use===
The primary land use is cattle grazing which has replaced sheep grazing.<ref name="bsc">{{cite web |url=http://www.boulia.qld.gov.au/ |title=Boulia: Capital of the Channel Country |access-date=18 May 2010 |publisher=[[Boulia Shire Council]] }}</ref> It is estimated that in the Queensland section alone there are between half to one million head of cattle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/30_7211.htm |title=Focus on the Channel Country |author=Ben Lynes |access-date=18 May 2010 |date=August 2007 |publisher=The State of Queensland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725153022/http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/30_7211.htm |archive-date=25 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The area's towns and cattle stations are serviced by a mail run that is operated by [[West Wing Aviation]] which delivers goods and passengers as well as mail.<ref name="West Wing">{{cite web |title=West Wing Aviation Mail Runs |url=http://www.westwing.com.au/mail-runs.html |access-date=12 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904003218/http://www.westwing.com.au/mail-runs.html# |archive-date=4 September 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2013, the Queensland Government placed caps on water extraction from the region's river{{which|date=October 2022}} to prevent the introduction of [[Cotton#Cultivation|cotton growing]]. At the same time open-cut mining was banned but coal seam and underground mining have been permitted after changes were made to the [[Wild river|Wild Rivers]] legislation.<ref name="csgum">{{Cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/coal-seam-gas-underground-mining-get-green-light-in-queensland-western-river-catchments/story-fnihsrf2-1226688521382 |title=Coal seam gas, underground mining get green light in Queensland western river catchments |author=John McCarthy  |access-date=2 June 2014 |date=31 July 2013|newspaper=The Courier-Mail |publisher=News Limited }}</ref>

In 2021, 11 [[coal seam gas]] exploration licenses were granted to [[Origin Energy]] by the state government, covering 250,000 hectares of the region.<ref name="wdo">{{cite news |last1=McCosker |first1=Maddelin |last2=Pengilley  |first2=Victoria |date= |title=What does Origin Energy backing out of gas exploration mean for the Channel Country? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-23/origin-energy-backs-out-gas-exploration-channel-country-fracking/101456466 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref> Origin subsequently announced it is withdrawing from the region with a view to sell its exploration permits to another energy company or forfeit the sites.<ref name="wdo"/>

===Bioregion===
The [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia]] Channel Country Bioregion covers a larger area, extending into South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales and includes the town of [[Innamincka, South Australia|Innamincka]].<ref name="anra">{{cite web |url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/rangelands/overview/qld/ibra-chc.html |title=Rangelands – Overview – Channel Country |access-date=11 September 2009 |work=Australian Natural Resources Atlas |publisher=[[Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005083746/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/rangelands/overview/qld/ibra-chc.html |archive-date=5 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name= “QRE”>{{cite web | url=https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/42657ca4-848f-4d0e-91ab-1b475faa1e7d/qld-regional-ecosystems.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Date=20220211T095434Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEPr%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaDmFwLXNvdXRoZWFzdC0yIkYwRAIgJucLCKxlkGks4Vg%2FPiMo0oYPiYTgnasAqtTl%2FP7EbIgCIHmppFEZNOpGSYSNsq18%2BIBwEDlqx5DnDlZ3dnsfQQRiKoQECEMQAxoMMjY1MzI2Mjk4NjAyIgzn69OPgU%2FCIwVsF6Iq4QPfh6DJe3MiwO66Vy8uFD3I5eJ%2B4g%2FOgKWQKZhYdHsBc4tS0ilvhhWuDeJMKRkDyEuK2WswMMGYVp%2FOYU7Wnz3TB7yBMTJXeBNsxTeN2iHQB7vfXcpnAF33pVc%2BspOCzsb8h%2Fkj9Txj9Ne8jtajgSkOYGi4UAEv8Q6sxu%2F9%2BKuGQ1%2FMibfvnk54ZI5nkbbO7LCtZbSaVdUlXUf92rTuKKuehvSgDd%2BPT0yTKAkKSDq3u07E6JkeU6Kh2Xj9HuJJZ5CYANHw41039iViZAjQj8cGyiarjVkibtnfPfq7DY8cCEyVQjbFTCIeVnrzEFjYiv4C%2Bqmul7jlUujo7iU2TiIy80%2BqM%2BgdbIoXQ6ixHk8AAch6QBlex1M9cKKdqdbDXMVq76WPRrSoNKuOPwbj6sQJfmsiAdOn%2FjBzO0edZgaIwo2M%2FgZz8HAo%2BbAFsi7sQSiMkzR2pxfudtE5a54Jj9RpY3%2FdulLZ7Gf3SPP6%2FIMyvvP4f1WHkjbZeQxtTb231JFCi9CXCy7EQretJ7ysNn%2BsAuKTPyKqehsDj7RgSEFI%2FMi7gYuGhgKxrXt9sOKErCMcN5nWNqJdyIBq3HI5AvUpbmc9tptXanFWdGRUs7kR3obSBRwFRxPu32gFAFfBRW%2BvMNvfmJAGOqYBoA9yelrxXdSPDWQoai6LVZ825Ah7jkFM4tgVjk4ETBUS3lOVjRYTMRE%2FxnwJrBP2a7Z5WapAooDfEcmJG03DnZyT%2Fb%2BCBriXpDb2FCw5PooJS8HJ9Ze%2Fnl6OtD93n59iat0WAoKnJu1BkdUxBXtfcIPKIMuGFpIEj1yZLXCAuQzrctycx5euw2zcZ50Y0nwGW27YE7N1m6zHCfZ1Oft6xUbhBB7LHw%3D%3D&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT3RVOAXVHQ7KEDKC%2F20220211%2Fap-southeast-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=898842f29bbf92e4b22c918a4b9773e6fa67c2303642d6a774603a83dac1a993 | title= Queensland’s regional ecosystems  |website= Queensland Government |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=RAKES>{{Citation | author1=Stanton, J. P. (James Peter) |author-link= Peter Stanton | author2=Morgan, M. G | author3=University of New England. School of Natural Resources | title=The rapid selection and appraisal of key and endangered sites : the Queensland case study | publication-date=1977 | publisher=the University of New England School of Natural Resources | pp=3 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/13374273 | access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>

==History==
[[Indigenous Australian]]s have inhabited the area for approximately 20,000 years, with over 25 tribal groups living in the Channel Country area. A vast trade network had been established running from north to south with goods such as [[ochre]] sent north with shells and [[pituri]] moved south. [[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]] was once a major meeting place for conducting ceremonies and trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/archive/media/gdcc.pdf|title=Georgina-Diamantina Catchment Strategic Plan|date=1 October 2000|access-date=26 October 2013|publisher=Natural Heritage Trust|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185651/http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/archive/media/gdcc.pdf|archive-date=29 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Originally known as ''Diamantina Crossing'',<ref name="qh">{{cite web |url=http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/destinations/queensland-locations/birdsville/index.cfm |title=Birdsville |work=Queensland Holidays |publisher=Tourism Queensland |access-date=11 March 2012 }}</ref> it bore its current name by 1882,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13525962 |title=The far north. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=19 August 1882 |access-date=11 May 2014 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and the name was formalised at the proclamation of the town in 1887.

[[Innamincka Station]] was established in 1872 by Robert Bostock and grew until it covered over {{convert|15000|sqkm|sqmi|0}} and in 1881 it supported a herd of 8,000 cattle.<ref name="frr">{{cite web|url=http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/innamincka.htm|title=Innamincka|publisher=Flinders Ranges Research|year=2012|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025221540/http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/innamincka.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first station and permanent settlement set up along the [[Cooper Creek]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Australian Geographic Book of Corner Country |last=Reardon |first=Mitch |year=1995 |publisher=[[Australian Geographic]] |location=Terrey Hills, New South Wales |isbn=1-86276-012-8 |pages=91&mdash;108 }}</ref> The tender was accepted for the run named [[Caryapundy]] by J. C. Myers in 1872. Myers has also had his tenders accepted for other runs such as Bollwarry, Mount Wood, Teriwinda and Torrens Creek.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60869064 |title=Government Gazette|newspaper=[[Empire (newspaper)|The Empire]] |location=Sydney, New South Wales |date=11 December 1872 |access-date=16 June 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

[[Annandale Station (pastoral lease)|Annandale Station]] was established when Patrick Drinan took up the run in July 1876. Other properties were settled soon afterward including Kaliduwarry and [[Glengyle Station]]s.<ref name="Ref1">{{cite web|url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:207889/s18378366_1940_3_2_100.pdf|title=The South West Corner of Queensland|author=S.E. Pearson|year=1937|access-date=14 May 2016|publisher=[[University of Queensland]]}}</ref> [[Pandie Pandie Station]] was established in the same year by Robert Frew<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diamantina.qld.gov.au/history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503230600/http://www.diamantina.qld.gov.au/history|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 May 2013|title=Diamantine Shire History|year=2012|access-date=9 June 2013|publisher=[[Diamantina Shire]]}}</ref> as was [[Alton Downs Station|Alton Downs]] and Planet Downs.<ref name="smh">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/queensland/birdsville/2005/02/17/1108500202131.html|title=Birdsville|date=8 February 2004|access-date=9 June 2013|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> Nearby Haddon Downs station was also taken up by Frew in 1877.<ref name="uq">{{cite web|url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:207889/s18378366_1940_3_2_100.pdf|title=The South West corner of Queensland|year=1937|access-date=9 June 2013|author=S. E. Pearson|publisher=University of Queensland}}</ref> [[Diamantina Lakes Station]] was also established in 1876 with a partnership between John Arthur Macartney and Hugh Louis Heber-Percy who initially took up the lease.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20905404 |title=Obituary|newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |location=Queensland|date=8 April 1925 |access-date=2 May 2013 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland}}
*[[Cravens Peak Reserve]]
*[[Regions of Queensland]]
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA)}}
{{coord|25|59|47.04|S|140|59|57.52|E|display=title|region:AU_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}

[[Category:Biogeography of Queensland]]
[[Category:IBRA regions]]
[[Category:Lake Eyre basin]]
[[Category:South West Queensland]]
[[Category:Central West Queensland]]