WAGGAMBA SHIRE HANDBOOK An Inventory of the Agricultural Resources and Production of Waggamba Shire, Queensland. Queensland Department of Primary Industries Brisbane, December 1980. WAGGAMBA SHIRE HANDBOOK An Inventory of the Agricultural Resources and Production ofWaggamba Shire, Queensland. Compiled by: J. Bourne, Extension Officer, Toowoomba Edited by: P. Lloyd, Extension Officer, Brisbane Published by: Queensland Department of Primary Industries Brisbane December, 1980. ISBN 0-7242-1752-5 FOREWORD The Shire Handbook was conceived in the mid-1960s. A limited number of a series was printed for use by officers of the Department of Primary Industries to assist them in their planning of research and extension programmes. The Handbooks created wide interest and, in response to public demand, it was decided to publish progressively a new updated series. This volume is one of the new series. Shire Handbooks review, in some detail, the environmental and natural resources which affect farm production and people in the particular Shire. Climate, geology, topography, water resources, soil and vegetation are described. Farming systems are discussed, animal and crop production reviewed and yields and turnoff quantified. The economics of component industries are studied. The text is supported liberally by maps and statistical tables. Shire Handbooks provide important reference material for all concerned with rural industries and rural Queensland. * They serve as a guide to farmers and graziers, bankers, stock and station agents and those in agricultural business. * Provide essential information for regional planners, developers and environmental impact students. * Are a very useful reference for teachers at all levels of education and deserve a place in most libraries. I commend this series to students of agriculture and all whose business is associated with the land and rural people. /Vl/L,'JULULU**~ (Mike Ahem) MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES ui ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS P.P. I. Contributors J. Bourne, Extension Officer, Agriculture Branch, Toowoomba (previously Extension Officer, Goondiwindi). P. Lloyd, Extension Officer, Agriculture Branch, Brisbane. T.J. McDonald, Supervising Botanist, Botany Branch, Brisbane. S. Mill, Agricultural Economist, Economic Services Branch, Brisbane (previously Agricultural Economist, Goondiwindi). D. Pollard, District Adviser, Beef Cattle Husbandry Branch, Goondiwindi. B. Powell, Soils Scientist, Agricultural Chemistry Branch, Brisbane. I. Whan, Agricultural Economist, Goondiwindi. C. Younger, District Adviser, Sheep and Wool Branch, Brisbane (previously District Adviser, Goondiwindi). Other Contributors Dr. R.S. Dick F.R.G.S.A., Reader in Geography, University of Queensland. B.P.I. Officers Providing Technical Assistance A. Greasley, Supervising Agronomist, Agriculture Branch, Brisbane. D.A.K. McNee, Assistant Director Extension, Agriculture Branch, Brisbane. J. Mullins, Soil Conservationist, Development Planning Branch, Toowoomba. E. Weston, Senior Agrostologist, Agriculture Branch, Toowoomba. Sources of Information Information supplied by the following organisations is gratefully appreciated. Australian Bureau of Statistics Bureau of Meteorology C.S.I.R.O. Division of Woodland Ecology Queensland Department of Forestry Queensland Water Resources Commission University of Queensland Department of Animal Production Handbook Preparation The Handbook was typed by Misses Gusterson and Beckman, Agriculture Branch, Brisbane, and maps were prepared by Drafting Section, Brisbane. Coloured maps were supplied by E. Weston and photographs were supplied by E. Weston, J. Mullins, Dr. R.S. Dick and T.J. McDonald. Information Branch provided special typing facilities and printed the Handbook which was bound and trimmed by the Government Printer, Brisbane. Contents 1. INTRODUCTION Page 1.1 Shire History 1 1.2 Agricultural History 1 1.3 Geology 6 1.4 Topography 8 2. CLIMATE 2.1 Introduction 11 2.2 Rainfall 12 2.3 Temperature 16 2.4 Humidity 18 2.5 Sunshine and Cloud 19 2.6 Evaporation 20 2.7 Wind 21 2.8 Drought 21 2.9 Climate and Agriculture 23 3. WATER RESOURCES 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 Surface Water 33 3.3 Underground Water 3.4 Irrigation 42 3.5 Future Irrigation Development 43 4. SOILS 4.1 Introduction 47 4.2 Soil Associations 47 4.3 Soil Conservation 59 4.4 Areas Available for Agricultural Development 64 VI 5. VEGETATION age 5.1 Vegetation Communities 75 5.2 Poisonous Plants 82 6. FARMING SYSTEMS 6.1 Major Industries 87 6.2 Fanning Systems 87 7. CROP, PASTURE AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE 7.1 Agricultural Crops 103 7.2 Horticultural Crops 129 7.3 Native Pastures 129 7.4 Sown Pastures 135 7.5 Beef Cattle 140 7.6 Sheep 145 8. RESEARCH 8.1 Early Research 151 8.2 Queensland Department of Primary Industries 151 8.3 C.S.I.R.O. 154 8.4 Goondiwindi Pastoral Veterinary Centre 158 9. OTHER PRIMARY INDUSTRIES 9.1 Forestry 161 9.2 Mining 162 10. GOONDIWINDI: A REGIONAL CENTRE OF THE SOUTHERN BRIGALOW 10.1 Introduction 163 10.2 The Urban Field 164 10.3 Population Growth 167 10.4 The Pattern of Employment and Changes over 168 Twenty Years (1958-1978) 10.5 Service Establishments 173 Vll 11. ECONOMICS Page 11.1 The Rural Economy 175 11.2 Marketing of Rural Products 175 11.3 Gross Margins 176 11.4 Capital Investment 183 11.5 Profitability of Farming Systems 186 12. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING 187 Vlll Tables Table No. Page 1.1 Statistics of Rural Industry Development in 5 Waggamba Shire 2.1 Rainfall Recording Stations in Waggamba Shire 12 2.2 Average Monthly and Annual Rainfall for Stations 15 in Waggamba Shire 2.3 Maximum and Minimum Temperatures, 9 am and 3 pm 18 Humidity at Goondiwindi 2.4 Cloudiness at Goondiwindi and Sunshine at 19 Inglewood F.S. 2.5 Average Evaporation from a Class A Pan Evaporimeter 20 - Inglewood Field Station and St. George 2.6 Wind Direction - Goondiwindi Appendix 2.1 Dates of First and Last Frosts for Year at 28 Goondiwindi Appendix 2.2 Goondiwindi - Frost Occurrence and Duration 29 Probabilities Appendix 2.3 Dates of First and Last Heatwave for Year at 30 Goondiwindi Appendix 2.4 Goondiwindi - Heatwave Occurrence and 31 Duration Probabilities 3.1 Floods in Macintyre River at Goondiwindi 39 3.2 Floods at Goondiwindi Exceeding 10 metres 41 3.3 Dates of Floods entering Goondiwindi Town 41 4.1 Soil Associations in Waggamba Shire 48 4.2 Dryland Agricultural Suitability of Soils in 49 Waggamba Shire 4.3 Minimum Soil Conservation Measures Recommended 61 IX Table No. Page 4. 4 Minimum Soil Conservation Measures Required 62 on the Various Soil Units 4. 5 Land Utilisation - Waggamba Shire 65 6. 1 Waggamba Shire - Rural Holdings Classified by 88 Size of Holding 6.2 Waggamba Shire - Number of Holdings Involved in 89 Agricultural Activities 6.3 Waggamba Shire - Rural Holdings Classified to 90 Principal Activity 6.4 Waggamba Shire - Agricultural Establishments 91 Classified According to Predominant Activity 6.5 Waggamba Shire - Holdings Classified According 95 to Area of Wheat for Grain 6.6 Waggamba Shire - Rural Holdings Classified by 95 Size of Meat Cattle Herd 6.7 Waggamba Shire - Rural Holdings Classified by 99 Size of Sheep Flock 6.8 Waggamba Shire - Holdings Classified to Size of 101 Sheep Flock and Size of Meat Cattle Herd 7.1 Waggamba Shire Crop Production 104 7.2 Hay, Green Fodder and Pasture in Waggamba Shire 105 7.A Nutrient Screening Programme of Queensland Cereal 108 Soils in Waggamba Shire 7.B Q.W.R.I. Field Trials - Waggamba Shire 1974-75 109 7.3 Waggamba Shire - Fertilizer Usage on Rural Holdings 111 7.C Wheat Varieties Planted: South Western Downs 113 7.D Yields of Major Wheat Varieties: South Western 114 Downs 7.E Classification of Wheat Delivered to Goondiwindi 115 Table No. Page 7.4 Numbers of Beef Cattle in Waggamba Shire 143 7.5 Beef Cattle Breeds - Waggamba Shire 146 7.6 Sheep Numbers and Wool Production in Waggamba 148 Shire 10-Table 1 Data on the Population and Occupational Structure 169 of Goondiwindi, 1958 and 1978 10-Table 2 Inventory of Service Establishments of Goondiwindi, 171 1958 and 1978 11.1 Gross Value of Rural Production - Waggamba Shire 175 11.2 State Wheat Board Depots in and Adjacent to 177 Waggamba Shire 11.3 Land Values and Productivity 183 11.4 Machinery Investment and Depreciation 184 11.5 Profitability of Farming Systems - Waggamba Shire 185 Graphs and Diagrams 2.1 Rainfall equalled or exceeded in 10, 50, and 90 17 per cent of years at Goondiwindi P.O. (95 years) 2.2 Goondiwindi P.O. Rainfall Percentiles 1879-1979 22 3.1 Discharge of Macintyre River at Goondiwindi 34 4.1 Rainfall Intensity Frequency and Duration - 60 Goondiwindi Fig. 10.1 Goondiwindi's Urban Field 164 Fig. 10.2 Goondiwindi - Urban Land Use After page 173 XI Maps Map 1 Climate and Rainfall Stations and Area After page 12 Subject to Flooding Map 2 Border Rivers System - Generalised Contours After page 36 Map 3 Climatic Features (Condamine-Maranoa Basin) end paper Map 4 Soil Associations (Condamine-Maranoa Basin) end paper Map 5 Composite of Vegetation (Condamine-Maranoa end paper Basin) -1- 1. INTRODUCTION by P.Lloyd and J. Bourne 1.1 Waggamba Shire History Goondiwindi was proclaimed a town in 1860 and the Waggamba Divisional Board was constituted under the Divisional Boards Act of 11 November 1879. Goondiwindi Town was proclaimed a municipal borough on 12 October 1888 with an area of 14 km ^ and a population of 510 persons in 138 dwellings at the 1891 Census. Waggamba Division at that time had 763 persons in 100 dwellings and covered an area of 13 986 km . In 1976 Goondiwindi Town had an area of 15.5 km'- with 3 741 persons and Waggamba Shire had an area of 13 831 km with 2 539 persons. 1.2 Agricultural History by P. Lloyd Both exploration and settlement of Waggamba Shire occurred at about the same time, during the late 1830s and early 1840s.