At the heart of south-central Queensland, 680km west of Brisbane, Charleville is the largest town and administrative centre for the Murweh Shire, covering almost 44,000 square kilometres. The town straddles the junction of four major roads, including the Mitchell and Warrego Highways, which radiate to the cardinal points of the compass, making it an important waypoint for travellers to and from the vast expanses of western Queensland.
Blessed with rich pastoral land, the shire’s main industries are grazing of beef cattle and sheep for wool production, while associated retail and service activities provide employment for the majority of the town’s 3300 residents. Tourism also makes a significant contribution to the regional economy, with popular attractions in the town and several national parks in the ranges to the north and in lush wetlands to the south.
The town also provides vital long-distance health and education services to remote stations and communities as far afield as Birdsville, 900km to the west. Charleville’s airport is the largest Royal Flying Doctor Service base in southern Queensland, while the School of Distance
