The Big Lap - Yay - Week 1

We left home mid March and travelled across Queensland to the Northern Territory on our ‘big lap’ of Australia. This was third time lucky for us – the first time was delayed due to our beautiful 4^th granddaughter being born; the second due to Covid – so third time lucky! We try not to travel far each day and usually stay about 2 -3 nights, but that might change the closer we get to WA. Travelling through Queensland we stayed at places we already knew and have often stayed before. We waited until the wet season was over to start our trip, and although there were still two cyclones hovering off the Western Australia Coast, we were keeping an eye on them. (They did terrible damage once they crossed the WA coast). We were delayed a week due to the flooding in South East Queensland and when we finally set off we headed to Bowenville Reserve, east of Dalby for a few days. We have been here a number of times, and have seen the improvements that have been made over time. This time we stayed down near the river. The reserve has a few covered picnic tables, a toilet block, and a small playground. It is quite a large area and is free! This few days gave us time to set up the van properly for the trip and to make a list of what we forgot :) . Peter played with his new drone and I did some sewing.

The second day we woke up and the river had risen. Lucky we had planned on two nights there as the road in and out was closed due to flooding.

The third day the river had dropped and we headed to Dalby for some ‘Peter’ coffee and some groceries. Next stop was Wallumbilla fo for a couple of nights. We stopped at Chinchilla for lunch and to see the new 'BIG Watermelon'.

We stayed at the showgrounds with power and water for a donation of $10. There are also toilets, shower and a dump point.

While there we walked around the old station. Peter and I have been there before and we wanted Jonnie to see it. The story of Harry Thompson was interesting. Local legend has it that Harry was actually Steve Hart of Ned Kelly Gang fame. History tells us that he died at Glenrowan, however the bodies pulled from the burnt out tavern were not able to be identified and were assumed to members of the Kelly gang.

We also did the ‘Tourist Route’ drive, which was ok, but not a lot of interesting history to see, only a lot 'this was the site of.....'. Nice countryside though. We did find a tortoise statue where we were going to have lunch but it was very overgrown so we went back to the van to eat.

We planned on staying at Morvan Recreation Oval next and stopped at the town of Mitchell to get bread rolls for lunch. We have never stopped here. What an interesting town. 

Named after the explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell who set up camp on the river he named Maraona in June 1846. He was on an expidetion to find an overland route from Sydney to The Gulf of Carpentaria. We explored the old court house and lovely garden walk that tells the history of the area.

When we pulled into Morvan, it was quite full so we continued onto Augathella. We visit Augathella each time we are out this way and this was the first time we stayed here. There are a number of donation camps around Augathella, we chose the one closest to town. 

The toilets were chained, maybe due to Covid, and not many rubbish bins. We left $5 donation, but probably wont stay there again. We did notice the town, which is famous for its wire sculptures, have a lot less sculptures than last trip. I wonder what’s going on there.

There was a new mural (and I love murals) on the water tower.

 The end of week one and a 3 day snap lock down was put in place for anyone who had been in Brisbane on certain dates. That included us, so we headed to Blackall for our three days isolation, and start of week 2.

See PetalliTravellers on YouTube.

Plans Keep Changing - But That's OK!!

Our plan – that keeps changing – was to stay at Mungallala Rest Area free camp overnight. About 170km from Wallumbilla, it is a large area with toilets and picnic tables. It is an interesting rest area with painted toilets and a time capsule to be opened in 2029. The town is small and is approximately halfway between Mitchell and Morven on the Warrego Highway. Then name means food and water and is located on the Mungallala Creek. The railway came in 1885 and the town developed soon after. There was a cypress mill that was the towns only attraction, but the mill burnt down in 2007, so now it is a great place to stop for lunch or overnight. The rest area west of town is approximately where the Cobb and Co. coaches would stop for the changeover of horses.

We had lunch and decided to go a further 44km to Morven Recreation Ground. It was just after 2pm and there were already many vans there. The grounds have power and water for $10 a night or non-powered sites for $5 per night. It rained overnight and was drizzling the next day, so we decided to stay another night.

The town is not very big and is also on the mail route from Brisbane to Charleville. It was originally known as Sadlier's Waterhole by travellers and Cobb and Co, who would stop there. Named after Captain TJ Sadlier and his wife who camped there. In 1876, a post office was opened and it was called Morven. The town was officially surveyed in 1889 and the name became official. Morven does have a library and a museum. We didn't go into the museum as the two days we were there it was raining slightly. The museum looked good so maybe next time. There is a little grocery store, where we did try to buy some groceries, but the lady was not very welcoming - bordering on rude – and all the bread on display was reserved, and all the milk expired the next day or two. We didn't bother buying anything, and waited until Augathella to stock up on a few groceries. 

Leaving Morven the next day we travelled 93km along Landsborough Highway to Augathella. We have been here a few times, always from Charleville, so it was good to try this part of the highway. There are 3 free camps at Augathella, situated on the Warrego River: one behind the pub, one across the road from the pub and one over the river from the pub.

The Australian story Smiley originated in Augathella, and tells a lot about the history of the town. The main street has many wrought iron sculptures and murals depicting the towns history.

The area started with pastoral runs in the 1860's and and the tracks from Charleville and Tambo lead to Burenda Station and joined at a camp spot on the Warrego River. This is where the town was established and was originally named Ellangowan. The name was changed to Augathella from the Aboriginal word 'thella' meaning water hole, when the town was surveyed in 1883. Once the railway came the town grew.

As one drives down from the highway to the main street one is greeted by a large sculpture of a meat-ant, the name of the local footie team. It is 5 metres long and made of steel and copper. Across the road is the Friendly Grocer where we picked up some groceries and then back to the highway headed to Tambo.

Augathella Queensland

The weather was getting warmer as we left Charleville. Our next stop for a snack was Augathella.

 It's only a small town 'famous' for it's wrought iron figures ....

... and murals

The street, like many of the towns here, is wide so the bullock drays can turn around.

Their is free camping here across the road from the tourist information centre, We didn't stay ere, but it looked ok.

 The tourist information centre had an interesting dispaly of old photos, but not a lot on tourist information.

There was a quilt guild working in the attached arts centre and they invited me in to have a look.

The local football team is called the Meat-ant Eaters, and there is a large statue in the park.

 Interesting town.

Happy travels

Allison