Tara is on the Darling Downs. The town is at the centre of the locality. Immediately surrounding the urban area of Tara, there are a number of rural subdivisions of 'lifestyle blocks'. The blocks are usually between 13 and 40 ha in area. The population of the 2000 Rural Subdivision blocks exceeds that of the town itself. The Glenmorgan railway line traverses the locality from east to west. It passes through the town which is served by Tara railway station.
History
Baranggum is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Baranggum people. The Baranggum language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Western Downs Regional Council, particularly Dalby, Tara, Jandowae and west towards Chinchilla. The town was surveyed in May 1910 by Leonard Shield. The name Tara was used as the name for a pastoral run on 25 March 1852. It is assumed that it is a reference to the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland. Tara Provisional School opened on 23 January 1911 but was renamed Laurndel Provisional School in 1912. In 1915 it was renamed Burrowes Provisional School. In 1923 it became Burrowes State School. It closed in 1946. It was located to the south-west of Tara just north of the Glenmorgan railway line at. Tara State School opened on 21 August 1912. On 28 November 2004, it was renamed Tara Shire State College. St Joseph's School opened in 1964. Tara Library opened in 1987 and had a major refurbishment in 2009.
Economy
Important industries in the area around Tara include wheat, beef, wool and gas. On 14 March 2011 a blockade against coal seam gas development began at a property called Kenya near Tara. The following day a woman was arrested after she stopped the movement of a bulldozer working for Queensland Gas Company. The next month Bob Irwin was arrested and fined for participating in a rally at the same location. He was protesting against plans to build a coal seamgas pipeline. Local landowner Dayne Pratzky, now an anti-coal seam gas activist, features in the 2015 movie-length documentary Frackman.
Education
Tara Shire State College is a government primary and secondary school for boys and girls at 22 Binnie Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 359 students with 37 teachers and 30 non-teaching staff. The school also includes a special education program. St Joseph's School is a Catholic primary school for boys and girls at 3 Fry Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 26 students with 5 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff.
Facilities
Tara has a library at 31 Day Street operated by the Western Downs Regional Council.
Attractions
Attractions near Tara include Southwood National Park, a remnant area of the southern brigalow belt. The Commercial Hotel has two murals painted by artist Hugh Sawrey, from nearby Kogan. Painted in 1960, they are You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me and Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving.
