South West Queensland 2016

27 February 2016.

Off on our next adventure - a little different this time as we have some work to do on the way.  Left home and travelled via Kilkivan, Wondai to Tingoora where we turned onto the Durong Road to Chinchilla.  A little further on to Condamine where we made camp beside Caliguel Lagoon.  Very hot and once the water skiers left we had the place to ourselves.

28 February 2016.

Today journeyed through Surat to our destination at St George where we have three weeks work minding the Pelican Rest Caravan Park.  The work was pretty full on and no time for leisure but we did manage a drive out to Beardmore Dam and a walk along the river.  After our work finished we had a couple of days to do a few things which included a cruise on the Balonne River which was quite enjoyable.  Also went for a drive almost to Dirranbandi then turned off to Thallon (huge silos) and down to Mungindi where we visited the One Ton Post which is the original survey peg erected by JB Cameron in 1881.  This peg marks the completion of his three year task surveying the straight section of the Qld/NSW border from Cameron Corner to the Barwon River.  Completed our round trip by calling in at the Nindigully Pub where a great deal of improvements have been made on the river bank since our last visit.  Drove back to St George passing the cotton fields which are being harvested at the moment and visited Buckinbah Weir.  Also enjoyed? a game of golf at the St George course.

23 March 2016.

On the move again heading west to Bollon where we found a campsite on the banks of Wallam Creek.  Very nice spot but the weather hasn't cooled off much yet.

24 March 2016.

Still heading west to Cunnamulla where the countryside is looking quite green as they received a couple of inches of rain in a storm recently.  Many goats, emus and other wildlife on the road.  Pulled up stumps at the Warrego Riverside Park where we will spend a few days over Easter.  A lovely park with nice gardens and green grass although still hot.  Visited the Cunnamulla Fella Centre which houses the Visitor Centre, Art Gallery, Artesian Time Tunnel and Museum.  Spent a very enjoyable few hours here.  Well done Cunnamulla!  The Cunnamulla Fella is a bronze statue honouring the characters that have passed through and settled in the area and the song was written by Stan Coster and sung by Slim Dusty. Wandered the main street - not much happening over Easter but a tidy well kept little town with lovely gardens.  Visited the Robber's Tree called after Joseph Wells who held up the Qld National Bank in 1880 and hid in the tree after a mishap with his horse.  He was soon found, tried and hung - the last person to be hung in Qld for the offence of robbery under arms.  Also climbed the local sandhill - the highest point in the area for a view over the town.  

Decided to go for a drive further afield so continued west to Eulo which is situated on the Paroo River.  Went for a look at the Billabong which is a haven for wildlife - black swans, cormorants, brolgas, pelicans, galahs etc. Continued on to Yowah - a settlement in the middle of nowhere where people fossick for opals contained in "Yowah Nuts".  Bigger than we expected - a smaller version of Lightning Ridge.  Returned via Eulo (which used to be famous for its lizard races but which have been stopped by the do-gooders) and enjoyed a cold beer at the Eulo Queen Hotel named after the infamous Isabel Gray hotelier, opal dealer, sly grog shop owner and lady of ill repute.  She amassed fortunes, lost them and eventually died broke in a mental hospital in Toowoomba .  Returned to Cunnamulla passing lots of emus and goats.

29 March 2016.

Headed north from Cunnamulla passing through the small settlement of Wyandra and the Angellala Bridge Explosion site.  On the 6th September 2014 a truck carrying 53 tonnes of ammonium nitrate caught fire, crashed and exploded.  The explosion destroyed the rail and road bridges and was felt over 30km away. Luckily no one was killed and the road bridge has been rebuilt although not the rail bridge.  Made our way to the Evening Star Tourist Park adjoining Thurlby Station.  We were made to feel instantly welcome and were invited on the sunset trip to the highest point around.  The sunset was a little disappointing but fresh chicken sandwiches and drinks were provided and made up for the sunset.  A storm passed through - the first rain we have seen since leaving home and a very welcome 20ml was recorded. Meant we could not go on the station tour the next day but we made our way down to the Ward River to see the site where the Smith Brothers landed their plane in 1919 due to mechanical problems.  Also saw the old Cobb & Co track and bridges over the Ward River and were shown lots of aboriginal artefacts. Went on a day trip to Augathella where we saw the giant Meat Ant, the Keniff Tree where the notorious bushrangers used to tether their horses, murals, sculptures, the Q150 shed  and the mural about the 1950's movies "Smiley" which was based on a boy growing up in Augathella.  A nice tidy little town. Headed down to Morven where the museum wasn't open but we visited the house built out of kerosene tins and Sadlier's Water Hole.  Saw the first of the hay trucks heading to Ilfracombe. Returned to Charleville on the Warrego Highway.  Visited the Cosmos Centre Observatory to peer through the telescopes and have a close up view of Jupiter, star clusters and coloured stars.  Very informative and the night sky was spectacular.  Also did a heritage trail of the town visiting all the historical sites including the Vortex Rainmaking Guns which were used in 1902 to try and break the drought (they didn't work but two have been preserved).  Up early on Friday morning as the Burrumbuttock Hay runners were supposed to be passing through at 7am.  Unfortunately they were held up by a wide load and didn't pass through until 9.30am.  Still well worth the wait and was an amazing sight to see.  Well done to all concerned!! Decided to stay another night so we could go on the station tour.  A very educational, informative tour in the extreme vehicle - Craig is a wealth of knowledge and his love for the country is evident.  He also showed us a small sample of his collection of aboriginal artifacts. We were made to feel extremely welcome during our stay having damper cooked for us one night and a hungi another night and many happy hours being enjoyed.  It helped that the season hasn't really started yet and there were only a handful of campers staying.

3 April 2016.

Decided it was time to move on and continued west through Cooladdi and Cheepie to Quilpie.  Still quite hot and there wasn't a lot to see on the way.  Quilpie is another neat tidy little town with a great information centre.  A lot of the history is based on the Durack, Tully and Costello families who arrived in the area in the 1870's taking up selections at Thylungra, Kyabra and "Ray".  Some of the Tully descendants still live on the original selections. Visited Lake Houdraman a beautiful expanse of water surrounded by gum trees and featuring cream water lilies.  Also paid a visit to St Finbarr's church which features an opal altar, lectern and baptisimal font and then enjoyed a spa.  Went for a drive out to Baldy Top/Table Top Lookout to watch the sunset - lovely red colours.

5th April 2016.

Left Quilpie and headed west to Eromanga passing oil fields and donkeys on the way.  Eromanga is famous for being the town furthest from the sea and has an oil refinery that produces about 1.5 million barrels of oil a year.  Recently Australia's largest dinosaurs were discovered on a property near Eromanga.  Continued on from Eromanga to Nockatunga Station where we turned off to Noccundra.  Found a camp site at Noccundra Waterhole on the Wilson River and ventured up to the pub for a cold ale.  The present hotel was built in 1882 of sandstone quarried from Mt Pool near Tibooburra and transported by camel train. 

6th April 2016.

Backtracked to Nockatunga then continued on to Thargomindah.  Not a lot to see on the way although some places had water lying around and the cattle we did see were in good condition.  Thargomindah is the administrative centre for the Bulloo Shire - the third largest shire in Queensland and home to about 300 people.  Went for a walk along the Bulloo River and walked around town visiting the Leahy Historical House and other old buildings.  Did a tour of the hydro power plant which was Australia's first hydro-electric scheme driven by the bore's natural water pressure and ran the street lights until 1951.  Also went down to the old Cobb & Co stone crossing on the Bulloo River.

9 April 2016.

Left Thargo and travelled back to Eulo where we pulled up stumps behind the Eulo Pub and enjoyed a counter meal.

10 April 2016.

Back through Cunnamulla to Bollon where we stopped at the camp site beside Wallam Creek.  Walked into town and down to the weir.

11 April 2016.

Arrived back in St George to look after the Pelican Rest for a few more days before we head for home.

20 April 2016.

Homeward bound and our final stop was at Lake Broadwater outside Dalby.  Very nice as usual and we headed home through Kingaroy calling in to see Jude and Barry for morning tea.