Roma, Qld

We left Lara Wetlands and drove to Blackall, where we stayed the night as wanted to watch the Adelaide Crows play Geelong in the AFL Preliminary Final.  Booked into Blackall Caravan Park and with temperature at 36 degrees gave the air conditioning another work out. Had a bit of a drive around town before returning to the Van for the game.  After sun went down temperature was much more bearable.  Crows won the game so next game will be the Grand Final!!  Caught up again the next day with Kathy and Neville who stayed the night and with temperature around 37 degrees we spent most of the day in the Van with air conditioning.

The Blackall Black stump
"Beyond the black stump"

Kathy and Neville left before us next day but we caught up with them down the track with a blown tyre on their Caravan. I helped put spare wheel on in 39 degree temperature, which was far from pleasant.  Off they went down the road again only to have to stop when the spare tyre blew out. I thought our spare wheel would fit and it did, much to Kathy and Neville's surprise and relief. Stopped for lunch at Augathella (dry and dusty) and checked the wheel nuts before detouring to Charleville where they could purchase new tyres for the Van.  Checked into Bailey Bar Caravan Park where we were squeezed in and after a hot windy day we showered and headed to the RSL for cold drinks and a nice dinner in air conditioning!

Stopped at Tambo for coffee and saw this Border Collie minding the sheep. Never moved the whole time we were there!!
No wonder he was so skinny - was as thin as a sheet of corrugated iron!!

Drove out to the Evening Star caravan park, was very dusty and windy so decided to go into Charlieville.

Neville organised new tyres to be fitted first thing in morning so we picked up our spare wheel which was kindly lifted back on by the Service man.  Continued on Warrego Highway stopping in Morven for coffee then onto Mitchell and finally Roma where we visited the bakery for lunch!  Kathy and Neville arrived and had booked into the Roma Gun Club on recommendation from people they had met travelling.  Great for an overnight stop - approx 20 vans camped and participated in their Happy Hour meeting travellers and locals.

In the morning after hitching up the van we drove to the Roma Saleyards for a free guided tour of the cattle sales.  Roma Saleyards is the largest cattle selling centre in Australia with 300,000-400,000 head of cattle sold through the facility annually. Cattle are usually sold by cents per kilogram of their live weight.  In some cases, very light weaner calves, pregnant cows and cows with calves are sold at dollars per head.  Auctions are conducted twice weekly with a store sale every Tues and a prime sale every Thurs. A store sale is comprised of cattle purchased for fattening or to breed from (usually attracts around 7,000 head of cattle).  A prime sale is comprised of cattle fattened on grass, fodder crops or grain and are ready to be sold for meat production.

The tour guide giving a brief introduction before we move into the sale yard area.

The auctioneers in action selling the penned group, however if one is not wanted or to be sold separately a mark is painted on its back - note the man holding the long pole.

Waiting to be auctioned

On the day of the sale, licensed agents represent sellers and buyers.  After the sale cattle are weighed and moved for delivery or into spelling yards.  From there they are trucked to their destination, which takes place on the evening of the sale or the next day.

We witnessed a store sale and under the guidance of a tour guide, was able to get up close to the buyers and auctioneers to watch the sales.  Amazing how the auctioneers pick up when a buyer is bidding as we could not see any movement whatsoever!  Thoroughly enjoyed this informative and interesting tour and would recommend to anyone.

All the pens with groups of cattle to be auctioned

This group is being weighed after the sale and the kg price shown on the group.

After a coffee at the Bakery in town we continued on the Warrego Highway to Miles, Chinchilla and onto Dalby. Kathy and Neville decided to stay another night at the Roma Gun Club.  Because our AFL team the Adelaide Crows made it into the Grand Final, we made the decision to go to the Gold Coast for the weekend and watch the Grand Final with both Todd and Briony.  This would also give us the opportunity to spend time with our kids and see Todd and Tenelle's home for the first time.

Stayed a night at Dalby Pioneer Caravan Park then headed to Toowoomba on Warrego Highway, turned off onto New England Highway towards Warwick then turned off 15kms before Warwick and headed to Boonah via Clintonvale, Aratula and Kalbar.  Stopped at Boonah Showgrounds for lunch and decided to stay night.  Had a walk around town in the heat and was happy that the evening cooled down considerably.

From Boonah we drove to Canungra where we stayed at the Showgrounds.  Very busy as it was a long weekend.  Once again the air conditioner was used as temperature rose to 38 degrees.  Departed early in the morning and headed to Kirra Beach Caravan Park where we stayed for 3 nights (long weekend).

Lara Wetlands

We have heard good reports about Lara Wetlands but had never stayed there and with friends caretaking the area, decided we would factor a stay into our travels.

Lara Station is 28kms south of Barcaldine and is well set up for bush camping. Very pretty spot with plenty of bird life and a guided tour of the old homestead which is steeped in history.  There is also an artesian pool, canoes available to explore the lake and fire braziers so we could have a nice fire at night whilst enjoying a few wines. Our NZ friends Kathy and Neville were able to join us for a few nights so had a great time catching up. Drove Kathy & Neville into Barcaldine and showed them around ending up in the Shakespeare Pub for a good lunch then back to camp in time for Happy hour!  The weather was lovely and ended up staying for 6 nights enjoying catching up with Caretakers, Lynn and Janice. Would thoroughly recommend Lara Wetlands to stay and also include the historical tour in your visit.

One of many great sunsets at Lara Wetlands.

Panoramic of the wetlands

Early morning dip in the thermal pool.

A well set out camp kitchen and playground 

Sunrise taken on my way to the thermal pool

Our camp with Neville and Kathy

A big rig set up around the lake at Lara Wetlands - the trailer carries his '79 series and quad bike!

The Funny Dunny!!

View inside the Funny Dunny - what a regal set up for two!

The girls not too anxious to jump in as this is the "cold" swimming hole

Sunday morning bacon and eggs for breakfast - what a perfect setting

Jo the Owner of Lara Station providing historical information regarding the old homestead in the background.  Well worth including the Historical tour on your visit.

Having scones on the verandah visualizing how high society of the day would have spent an afternoon gathering at the Stately Homestead

A section of the small museum in one of the sheds by the old Homestead

Tawny Frogmouth
so well camouflaged that it took us 3 days to spot and a little help from Kathy 

Black winged Stilt
Quite a number of bird species enjoy the wetlands

Ducks visiting late afternoon

This little fella came wandering through camp during Happy Hour one evening

Barcaldine

After stopping at Longreach for lunch we drove onto Barcaldine in the strongest head wind we have encountered for some time (although we had encountered a strong wind accross the Barkley) then decided to settling into the Barcaldine Tourist Park - was recommended to stay at the Showgrounds however they were just packing up from a Field Day Event so was not sure if was open for camping.  Friendly Owners of the Barcaldine Tourist Park arranged  Damper and Billy Tea for Happy Hour plus stories and poems told by Tom Lockie, a local identidy who runs the Artesian Country Tours.  Went to the Shakespeare Pub for tea and met owners Heather and Barry - had a great night.

The next day we went to Visitors Centre and for $2 purchased a Heritage Trail booklet which gives history on various sites around town. With booklet in hand we walked around the town and was impressed by the historical buildings plus extensive information offered.  Barcaldine is a country town situated in the heart of Queensland's Outback and was formed when the rail line forged west from Rockhampton in 1886.  It has an interesting and famous history due to its involvement with the Shearer's Stike of 1891.  It is home to the Tree of Knowledge, the reputed birth place of the labour movement in Australia.  During the 1891 Shearer's Strike the Tree was used as a place of inspiration for the shearers and grew in folk law as the birth place of the Labour Party.

The Tree of Knowledge was a Ghost Gum which grew outside the Railway Station for around 180 years. In 2006 it was poisoned by an unknown culprit and after its death the Tree was taken to Brisbane to undergo a world's first preservation process which protected it from fungal and insect attack.  It was then taken back to Barcaldine and placed under the award winning timber structure.

After preservation the Tree was placed under an award winning timber structure

The Tree of knowledge lit up at night.

World War One Memorial Clock - marble clock honours 292 local men who served during the first world war, including the 38 fallen. 

Sidney Williams & Co of Rockhampton built this Windmill in 1917 with a wheel diameter of 8m, is direct acting with a stroke of 6cm and will pump in wind speeds as low as 3km per hour.  It originally pumped the artesian water at Back Creek before being moved into town after the bore was no longer needed.

Masonic Lodge - the comet Freemason's lodge was built in 1901 and is built from iron and timber.  It has a painted facade which has been designed to make the building look like brick.

The Shakespeare Hotel - the original hotel was shifted from Pine Hill by rail in 1886.  It was pulled down and replaced with a larger structure in 1914 with 40 rooms and 250 ft of verandahs but was destroyed by fire in 1924. The new building code resulted in the present day hotel which was opened in December 1925

After a very interesting walk around we stopped at the Shakespeare Hotel for another great meal and drink before heading back to the Van in time for another Happy Hour!

Heading east from the top end

Weather in Darwin was certainly becoming more humid when we left - although the temperature in Katherine was forecast at 48 degrees!  Back down the Stuart Highway we had planned to stay at Gorrie Airstrip but temperature was still 30 degrees plus around 4 o'clock and Helen was looking for some air conditioning relief!  Pulled into Larrimah and set up at Caravan park just behind the Pink Panther Pub.  Air conditioning was quickly on as van temp was 38 degrees and for the first time it stayed on all night! Good for an overnight stay but mozzies everywhere!

Larrimah's Pink Panther Pub, with a very large NT stubbie.

Much better weather the next day and we were entertained along the way with some Red Centre NATS cars returning from the Alice Springs Meet - some on trailers and others being driven. Stopped in at Banka Banka for the night as have always driven by and wondered what it was like.  Quite a few vans camped tonight and we welcomed the cooler evening especially as no power for the A/C.  Glad we stopped, nice lawn in the camp area, however would not be rushing back again to stay.

Banka Banka camp has a couple of old Holdens at the gate.

Attempting some artistic photos - FC Holden

FJ Holden

Continuing south we travelled through a lot of burnt out country with some of the trees burnt out completely - it did not appear to be a controlled burn.  Crossed the border into Queensland and camped at the second waterhole at Camooweal, this is a favourite spot when we travel this way.  Water level had dropped considerably since we were last here so did not stop at our usual spot due to no water view.  Quite a few vans camped at both waterholes.

Having a last read of the NT News before entering Qld
and lucky enough to have a croc on the front page!

One of the very wide loads we had to pull over for and let pass 

Stayed at Mt Isa for a night and did washing, shopping, refuelling and filling of water tank plus was able to watch the Crows have a win as they build up to the AFL Grand Final.  Travelled to Mary Kathleen for a revisit and stayed for 3 nights.  No other campers around us so had a very quiet peaceful 3 nights stay.

Our camp at Mary Kathleen

Sunrise as the moon sets between the trees in the west.

A "Wandering Bare" cairn placed on an old house concrete pad.

All packed up and ready to leave Mary Kathleen when the car would not start - used the Lithium power pack jump start which did the trick however all these lights came on the dashboard including 4WD which was not engaged.  Drove back to the main road to a close parking bay/toilet stop, turned vehicle off for a short time then restarted but lights were still on!  Decided to head back to Mt Isa and see the Toyota Dealer which we did however by the time the Service person came out with his computer, plugged into the car, started the car, all lights had gone off!!! Apparently vehicle needed more time to re-set the computer after the flat battery.  Had we known that we could have travelled further the first time before restarting. However we were also concerned the battery was on its way out.  Back on the road again we headed back past Mary Kathleen and Cloncurry then turned onto the Lansborough Highway towards Winton, stopping at one of our favourite spots the Blue Healer Pub at Kynuna for the night (and of course had a Pub Meal)

Sunset over Kynuna as a single street light shines

Car needed re-booting the next morning again so looks like new battery needs to be bought.  Drove into Winton where we set up at the Caravan Park as once again it was getting quite hot and air conditioning was appreciated.  Went out to see Butch for a new battery however nephew now running the business as sadly Butch is very ill with cancer.

Musical fence is in the background, Helen chose to play the drums.

Ventured down the main street and called into Corfield & Fitzmaurice/Combo Crafts which once was a general store selling all basic essentials for outback survival.  The heritage-listed building now sells craft items and has displays on local wool industry, fossils, opals and a life size dinosaur diorama interpreting the Dinosaur Stampede.  Paid our entry fee to the not so happy lady then enjoyed our time in the display area.  Not real interested in the Dinosaur era but found plenty of information to suit our needs here. Plenty of Dinosaur museums to visit however we did not want to pay the entrance fees to see something we were not really interested in. Visited Arno's Wall - 2m high wall made up of rock from Opalton and studded with a mixture of objects such as washing machines, kitchen sink, various cooking utensils, engines etc etc etc.  Drove around to the Musical Fence which was devised in 2003 by percussionist Graeme Leak - could be entertained for ages with the various music making set ups.  With the day being hot and windy decided to head back to the Van and put air conditioning on.

Life size Dinosaur displayed at Corfield & Fitzmaurice general store

Arno's Wall - 2m high wall made up of rock from Opalton and studded with interesting 'things'