Tuesday 31 May 2016

Centre of Queensland - Muttaburra

Muttaburra is the closest town to the center of Queensland and the name is derived from the local Aboriginal tribe of Muttaburra,  which means the meeting of the waters - being the rivers Thompson and Landsborough. 
We were following the Heritage Trail,  and our first stop was The Pump Hole, just before Muttaburra. This is a free camp where explorer Landsborough camped. We wouldn't camp here.
A skeleton was found in 1963 in this area and was named Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni after the town and the property owner, Doug Langdon,  where the skeleton was found. Two replicas are found in the town. Barb the dinosaur is on the east side of town and is made of old and no longer needed barbed wire.

There are a few shops open in town, a pub and general store. Most structures have been removed or destroyed,  but heritage boards tell of what was there. Two buildings that remain are the Cassamatis Store and house.  These have been preserved from the 1930’s,  and is now a museum.
There is a lot of public art in and around the town, many made from scrap metal. These two are from outside the school and depicts school life of old. 


This one is across the road and named Shearer - and - Sheep. 

Following the Heritage Trail we went to the pioneer bore, again from the Great Artesian Basin. This is the only water supply for the town. We then headed out to the Union Hole. This is also a free camp, and not a bad one. This is where shearers carted water to their camp sites during the shearers strike of 1891, that eventually led to the formation of the ALP.

We then headed back to one of the Union Camps. It is so good that the people of the area have allowed this to remain,  for over 100 years. I would assume that some parts have been rebuilt or restored. 




On the way back to Muttaburra we came across an obviously new picnic area beside the overflow lake from the artesian bore. There was a shaded table and water available,  and some more art. We had lunch here.

In the centre of town was the second Muttaburrasaurus replica. This one is the life size of the skeleton found near here. The Muttaburrasaurus was a plant eater.

On the way out we saw some more art.

And this sad Singer sewing machine in someone's garden. 

We also drove down to look at another free camp at Broadwater,  which wasn't to bad, but if we were to stay in Muttaburra we would stay at the council caravan park, more basic than Aramac, but for $12 a night power and water, and the deal pay for two get two free, who would pass that up?

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