Artesian spa development aims to attract visitors to outback Queensland

A newly opened artesian spa complex in south-west Queensland is aiming to boost visitor numbers travelling to the town of Yowah.

Utilising hot water from the Great Artesian Basin, the $140,000 spa development aims to establish Yowah as a destination on the spa tourism trail, and is particularly aimed at the ‘grey nomad’ market.

With a population of around 100, Yowah, west of Cunnamulla, has declining in recent years due to the dwindling local opal industry. However, the Yowah Opal Miners Group has advanced the artesian spa complex as a way of revitalising the town.

Yowah Opal Miners Group spokesman Danny Burnes told the ABC that facility’s water was in plentiful supply and came out of the ground at about 53 degrees Celsius.

Burnes said artesian water was prized by many people for its relaxation and therapeutic effect, stating "(the water) has been coming out at 500,000 litres a day for over 100 years, so yes, we've just tapped into it.

"Everyone seems to enjoy them, people who have been to other places - Moree, Lightning Ridge and Ilfracombe. There are a lot of grey nomads that follow that trail."

Burnes said the plan was to attract more visitors to the town and keep them there longer, adding "opal mining is dwindling, the older generation is getting out (and) we need something to keep people in town.”

5th December 2012 - MOREE ARTESIAN AQUATIC CENTRE OPEN, BUT NOT YET FULLY OPERATIONAL

23rd April 2012 - MOREE ARTESIAN AQUATIC CENTRE COMPLETION DELAYED