about the town....
Betoota, population 0, is the "gateway from the east", being just over 700km from Charleville and approximately 167 Km from Birdsville in south western Queensland, Australia.
It is 70 metres above sea level with an annual rainfall of 200ml to 400ml.
In 1885, the Queensland Government decided to set up a customs post at Betoota collecting a toll for stock as they travelled the stock route. This practice continued until Federation in 1901.
Betoota was also once the site of a Cobb & Co. change station.
Except for surrounding cattle stations, Betoota stands alone in the middle of a vast gibber plain.
It was surveyed as a town in 1887 and quickly grew to three hotels, a police station, store and post office. The remaining hotel was built in the late 1880's and was a favourite resting and refuelling spot for visitors until it closed in October 1997.
The town boasts an impressive racetrack, which comes alive the third weekend in September each year as part of the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival and a dry weather airstrip makes it a pleasure for the enthusiast to attend the very successful race and gymkhana meetings.
Site updated : 2012 Feb 14
Welcome to our Betoota website !
"The town was surveyed in 1888 by Surveyor J W Hood on instructions from the Surveyor General dated 22nd December 1887. His field noted record on the cover that the name was to be the Township of Cooyea (the Parish name in which the Town is situated), however inside the cover is the reference to the Town of Teeta. Teeta is the name of a waterhole nearby. The plan number is shown on the cover of the field notes as C380.1 (C standing for Cooyea) but the plan shows B380.1 standing for Betoota. Another interesting fact is the town was once
known as Beetoota from 1895 to 1915 according to the post office book. The area appears to be in the Karuwali Aboriginal tribe area according
to the Tindale map of the tribes of Australia. I can find no reference to the origin of the name in any writings, however there is a reference to TOOTA, TAMMI meaning Fat. DOOTA has the meaning of Fat also.
These references are from tribes in the area and not from other parts of Australia"
How beautiful Betoota is
The jewel in Queensland's crown
It stands alone, mid wind and stone
Till rain comes pouring down
Betoota! Betoota!
We pledge our love to thee
We'd love you more and miss you less
If you only had a tree!
Patricia Cox � July 2003
Betoota Cup Saturday 25th August