Chinchilla Local Brochure

Chinchilla and District We invite you to join us in the celebrations of one of Australia’s greatest country events, the Chinchilla Melon Festival, staged biennially.

Whether you choose to have a go at melon skiing, setting a world record in melon smashing, or just be a spectator, this is a unique festival not to be missed.

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we invite you to explore the region we are proud to call our home...

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From Goondiwindi

From St George

From Goondiwindi

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From Brisbane via Toowoomba

Chinchilla Tourist Drives Index

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All drives include gravel roads

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Drive 1 - Energy Drive – Chinchilla / Kogan/Condamine/Miles/Chinchilla

Please check local road conditions before going on any of the drives

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Please fuel vehicle, and carry water. Mobile coverage may not be available.

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Mileage correct as we know it

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The reconnaissance for this drive was undertaken in a Toyota Rav 4

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Acknowledgements to Bob & Beres Sorbie for drives and for notes & history local residents Beryl Dwyer, Trevor Blagg, Val Hando, Kay Maguire, and Dr Tony Mathews Ph.D (Extracts from Footsteps through Time), Edgar F Penzig (Extracts from The Sandy Creek Bushranger)

Drive 2 - Auburn Road, History Trail & Barakula Forest Drive 3 – Chinchilla Weir, Archers’ Crossing, Brigalow & return Drive4 - Fossicking sites, Cactoblastis Monument & return Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre Warrego Highway Chinchilla Q 4413 Ph (07) 4679 4471 Email chinchilla.vic@wdrc.qld.gov.au Website: www.wdrc.qld.gov.au

For more information please visit the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre and The Chinchilla Museum 3

Drive No 1Energy Drive Chinchilla – Kogan – Condamine – Miles - Chinchilla

3 Hour return drive (allow extra for stops).

Some gravel roads. Facilities & fuel in Kogan, Condamine, Miles Not all roads have mobile coverage. Please be aware of your odometer readings if driving around towns or diverting from this itineray 0.00 Zero trip meter outside the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre. Travel East along the Warrego Highway towards Dalby.

1.3km On the left you will see Silos. Grain (wheat and sorghum) is road transported to silos, stored and then loaded on to rail.

3.6km Brigalow trees – extending along the right hand side of the road. They have silver green foliage and dark, furrowed, bark. They grew densely throughout this area and were cleared to make way for agriculture to commence 9.8km The Boonarga Cactoblastis Memorial Hall. Call in and read the interpretive sign. The hall was completed 4

in 1936 as a monument to the Cactoblastis moth and larvae that stopped the invasion of prickly pear in the 1920/30s. Prickly pear covered an area much larger than Great Britain – 60 million acres of country was infested. The Hall is the only building in the southern hemisphere built in honour of an insect. For more on Cactoblastis visit the Chinchilla Museum or the Visitor Information Centre for directions to the site of the old Bug Farm 13.5km On the right Kogan Creek Power Station can be seen in the distance.

16.9km Approaching Brigalow School and Township turn right into Banana Bridge Road, crossing the Condamine River.

20.4km Rich grazing and agricultural land can be seen throughout this area.

27.2km Kogan Creek Power Station – turn right into the Public Viewing Area Carpark, talk a short walk to the interpretive signs detailing the operations of the station.

CS Energy, a Queenland Government owned electricity generator, has partnered with solar thermal technology provider AREVA, on a 44 megawatt solar addition to the existing 750mw power station. The solar addition will enable the power station to produce more electricity with the same amount of coal, making it more efficient and reducing its greenhouse intensity. Exit the carpark and turn left back onto Banana Bridge Rd 28.2km Gravel road for approx 10km.

35.3km In the paddock on the left is an excellent stand of Cypress Pine. Timber is a local industry and Cypress pine trees is one of the few timbers that is resistant to white ant attack.

40.5km Turn left at the junction of Banana Bridge Rd and Condamine-Kogan Rd – proceed west into the village of Kogan.

Travel approx 300m to the Memorial Hall which is situated on the left hand side of the road. The public picnic tables have tile mosaic tops, these where made by the children of Kogan Primary School. Designs depict scenes from the Kogan area.

Interpretive signs also outline stories of Kogan. A unique sculpture of a stockman – “The Man Who Steadies His Lead” is inspired by a well known Hugh Sawrey painting.

Perform a U Turn and travel along the Kogan- Condamine Rd. 43.8km A little way in on the left, was the old Cobb & Co coach route. At that spot as the coach, travelling from Condamine crested the hill, it was held up by two bushrangers.

56.6km Turn right into Chinchilla-Kogan Rd 60.3km Turn right into Kummerow’s Road – Linc Energy – Gravel road for approx 4kms.

63.9km Turn left – 2nd gate – into Linc Energy Research and Demonstration Facility. Linc Energy Ltd. Research and Demonstration Plant, Undergound Coal Gasificiation, has been active on this site for over 10 years, producing cleaner power and fuels, using Gas to liquid technology.

Follow the road to the car park and call at reception for more information.

Return to gate and 00.00 your trip meter before turning right onto Kummerows Rd. 3.5km Turn left onto Chinchilla-Kogan Road. Grazing and agricultural land.

7.2km At the T-Junction turn right onto the Kogan Condamine Road.

11km Wambo Creek. This site was an overnight stop and changing station for Cobb & Co coaches as they travelled to Dalby.

24.3km Travel straight towards Condamine.

33.6km “Condabilla” property is on the right it is a large fish.

The fish are supplied to restaurants throughout the state. Unfortunately they are not open to the public.

38.3km On the right hand side pipelines can be seen, they carry gas.

Origin Energy operates this gas field. The gas from here is supplied, via pipeline, to the Darling Downs Power Station.

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41.7km Turn right into QGC Windibri gas fields. (Qld Gas Company owned by BG -British Gas) There is no access past the security point. Gas from this field is piped to the Condamine Power Station near Miles.

Perform a U-turn and return to the road junction. Turn right.

60.5km Village of Condamine. Spend a little time exploring.

00.00 your trip meter opposite the Condamine Hotel, proceed over the Condamine River –its headwaters situated at Killarney NE of Warwick.

0.5km At the T-Junction turn right to go to Miles – Leichhardt Highway – named after the explorer from the 1800s Ludwig Leichhardt.

12.0km “Rayford Park” is on the right.

Note the striking avenue of palm trees lining the drive, 78 of which were planted in 1938.

12.7km Miles Aerodrome is on the right.

The airstrip was built in 1942 by the Civil Construction Core of the Armed Forces.

The aerodrome was used commercially for many years, it is now accessed by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and non commercial flights.

29.7km On the left is Chinaman’s Lagoon, originally named after Sam Ah Sun or Sam Ah Lee as he was also known. Sam came to Australia to try his luck on the Palmer River Goldfields in 1876. He did not find it to his liking and arrived in Miles in 1880.

He grew vegetables at his camp at the lagoon. Sam could at best be described as a rogue, and well known with the law.

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His last change was for opium possession, for which he received six months in Boggo Road Jail in Brisbane. He never returned to Miles after that episode.

30.7km Turn right on to the Warrego Highway. Miles is a great day trip at a later date. Dogwood Crossing (centre of town) and the Miles Historical Village (800m towards Chinchilla) are both must dos.

38.8km Turn off to the right and travel the short distance to the Condamine Power Station. This is a gas powered Station, gas coming from QGC gas fields at Windibri.

Return to the Junction of the Warrego Highway and turn right.

44.8km Turn left into Ryalls Rd enroute to Cameby Downs Coal Mine.

46.8km Gravel road for the next 500m.

Turn into the gateway of the Cameby Downs coal mine and view the operation.

Cameby Downs is an open cut thermal coal mine, also incorporating a coal handling and preparation plant. Initially 1.4 million tonnes of coal will be railed annually. Stage 2 will see 11.4 million tonnes produced annually for the next 35 to 40 years.

Do a U-turn. Return to the Warrego Highway turn left and continue to Chinchilla (Approx 30km).

THE TOWNSHIP OF KOGAN Cobb & Co coaches used the Kogan hotel as a change station. Here, the passengers could have a meal and stretch their legs while the horses were being changed over.

Kogan is known as “Sawrey Country” after the renowned artist Hugh Sawrey who lived on his mother’s nearby property.

During Beryl and Nelson Dwyer’s ownership of the Kogan hotel, Sawrey, between his shearing jobs around the district, painted nineteen murals on the walls of the pub.

Beryl and Nelson provided paint (ordinary house paint) for Sawrey to use.

After the sale of the pub, the new owners, cut the murals from the walls and sold them at an auction. Sawrey is reported to have been furious with this decision. The owners argued that they could not protect the valuable works.

The inaugural Art@Kogan Festival (to celebrate Sawrey Country) was held in 2009. This saw an influx of some 2,000 visitors into the township. The festival is planned to be held every two years.

On the morning of the 30th of May 1865 at 8am, two men Harry Howard and Patrick Gray held up the Cobb & Co. Coach. The passengers initially thought it was a joke, and told the driver to drive on. However, when the masked man fired a shot, the coach was promptly stopped by the driver.

When the coach arrived in Kogan, three of the male passengers quickly obtained weapons and horses, returned to the scene of the robbery and searched unsuccessfully for the villains. The two felons, as often the case, flashed their ill-gotten gains around and were quickly caught. Harry Howard aged 22, died in the Petrie Terrace jail in Brisbane before trial. Gray was sentenced to serve 25years, with the first year in irons, for firing at the coach driver. He attempted to escape in 1866, was caught and given a severe flogging.

CONDAMINE - HOME OF THE FAMOUS CONDAMINE BELL Condamine in the home of the famous Condamine Bell. Samuel William Jones who was a blacksmith in Condamine was the first to manufacture stock bells from a cross cut saw or pit saw. He gave them the name, Bull Frog Bells. These bells could be heard over a far distance in the bush, than the existing cast bells. Consequently, stock was much easier to find in the thick scrub.

The Condamine River has claimed many lives during flood times. The iron boat that can be found in the park by the river is a memorial to the victims of one such tragedy. Five members of one family were drowned on the 7th of February 1927 while attempting to cross the river. They were, Susanna Elizabeth Kocho 39 and her two children aged 8 and 2 and Annie Ellen Kocho 39 and her niece aged 13. Descendants of these people still live in the district. Also drowned were the children of Mr. J. Liddle, the boatman. They were Edna Thora Liddle aged 10 and Ronald Fredrick Liddle aged 8 years.

THE CONDAMINE RIVER The Condamine River is a part of the Murray Darling Basin, it drains the northern portion of the Darling Downs from Mt Superbus (SE Qlds highest peak), on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range Queensland and although only about 100km from the Queensland coast, the Condamine River flows north west across the Darling Downs.

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Drive No 2 Auburn Road History Trail and Barakula Fores Drive 3 Hour return drive (allow extra for stops) Some gravel roads.This drive needs to be self catered. There are no facilities along this drive. Please fuel your vehicle, and carry water. Not all roads have mobile coverage.

Along this trail there are several interpretive signs, the reading of which will enrich your knowledge of a by-gone era.

0.00 Zero trip meter outside the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre. Travel West along the Warrego Highway towards Miles.

12.0km At this spot in the Rocky Creek area, looking to the right through the trees, you can see a waterhole. From this waterhole the water was pumped to power the steam engine for the old government sleeper mill.

On the left, just past the edge of the road, the old rail bed and some sleepers can still be seen. The line was constructed to bring logs from the Barakula Forest to the sleeper mill for processing.

12.2km Site of the old sleeper mill on the right hand side.

2.5km The Old brickworks. Many of Chinchillas buildings were constructed from bricks made on sight here.

16.3km On the left hand side is the site of the Logyard school. Stop and read the interpretive sign. A short walk along the track, reveals the fence and gates to the schoolgrounds. The empty paddock evokes memories of the sound of children at play.

2.9km On the right is the site of the old Chinchilla aerodrome. Some young men of Chinchilla learnt to fly here before joining the RAAF in 1939-1940.

17.1km Junction of the Auburn Rd and Barakula Forest Rd. After reading the interpretive sign, continue straight along the Auburn Rd

2.0km Turn right onto Auburn Road

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25.8km Horse Creek 26.5km Throughout this area are large sub-surface coal deposits.

27.4km The Dingo Barrier Fence. Drive over the grid with your windows down and listen to the sonic deterrent. The Dingo Barrier Fence exists because of the need to protect the sheep industry from the ravages of dingoes and wild dogs.

This fence joins with the New South Wales Border Fence and the South Australian Dog Fence to form the longest man made structure in the world. The Northern End is between Jandowae and Jimbour on the Darling Downs. The Southern end is in South Australia, 5400kms away.

In 1930 it was estimated that there was 32,000kms of dog netting in the state. 1975 saw the cost of wild dog decimation to the rural industries in Queensland, reliably calculated at between $40 million and $50 million annually.

31.6km At the Branch Creek area, pull over to the left hand side and observe the flat treeless land on either side of the road.

This was once a sheepfold.

36.8km The Crossroads. These roads not only serve as access roads, but form a very effective fire break to the halt the spread of bushfires. This break is known to locals as ‘The Big Break’. The Chinchilla wattle Acacia chinchillensis grows well in this area. Chinchilla is home to approx 60 wattles.

46.2km Spinifex can be seen growing beside the road. Good examples can be found on the right hand side.

46.3km Cannon Creek. This is the last waterway to run into the Murray-Darling Basin system. The water from here flows into the Condamine River, then into the Balonne River, and on to the Darling River – Australias longest continuous river.

47.2km Little Hellhole Creek. This region was the haunt of one Frank ‘Darkie’ Gardiner, “the architect of nearly all the bushranging in New South Wales, during the 1860’s” (Extract from The Sandy Creek Bushranger – Edgar F Penzing) NOTE 2

32.7km Speculation Creek. Slow down and look for the interpretive sign on the left hand side.

51.9km Shelter shed on the left hand side.

Approximately 6km north from this point, Auburn Road crosses the top of the Great Dividing Range, 342m above sea level.

DO NOT GO STRAIGHT AHEAD. Turn right on to the Barakula Forest Drive. Gravel road for approx. 22km

32.8km Guymer Baby Grave. A short walk down the walking track will take you to the grave of the Guymer baby. One of many lonely bush graves of this district.

55km Wild horses frequent the forest.

Stallions are very territorial and mark their territory with mounds of manure. Please do not approach them.

34.2km The interpretive sign details the history of the first oil bore to be drilled in Australia.

56.7km Along the ridge on the left hand side, for approx. 100m eroded areas forming small caves can be seen. These provide habitat for many native animals of the forest.

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59.7km Turn left at the Tourist Drive sign.

60.1km Site of the old forestry camp.

Follow the circular track. Note the slab remains of the forestry workers huts. In the clearing sit the old stockyards, a bush scene unchanged over the years. Travel approx. 400m back to the crossroads and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD as indicated by the Tourist Drive Sign. Please do not turn left or right.

60.8km Termite mounds can be observed on both sides of the road along this section.

65.3km Follow the Tourist Drive sign.

66.6km Acacias, Narrowleaf Ironbark, White Mahogany, Spotted Gum, Woolly Oak, and Flat Stemmed Wattle all grow on this stony ridge. The rare Hando Wattle (Acacia handonis), is also found here. It was named, in 1984 after a Chinchilla resident, Val Hando, to honour her work in the botanical field. From mid August through to the end of September, the wildflowers turn the forest into a profusion of colour.

The Hando wattle blooms from July until August; the other wattles July, August, September; a spectacular golden display.

74.1km Turn left and return to Chinchilla giving another chance to stop along the Auburn Rd and revisit some of the historic sites.

Sheepfolds In the mid 1800s, sheperds were employed to look after the station owners’ flocks. These men were usually Scottish or Chinese, and they camped in the bush with their flocks.

Each night the sheep were herded into a 10

sheepfold. These were constructed of a roughly circular picket fence made of wattle stakes tied together, with only one opening or gateway. In this opening the shepherd lit his fire and, along with his dogs, spent the night guarding his flock against attacks from dingoes. As these men were paid on the increase of the flock, every sheep and lamb was precious.

The ground in these sheepfolds were pounded so hard by the animals’ hooves, that even today, nothing but sparse grasses grow here.

Francis ‘Darkie’ Gardiner Born in Scotland and arrived in Australia on the 17th November 1834. He was the mastermind behind many exploits of the infamous Ben Hall, with whom he was closely associated. Gardiner never killed anybody, however, he certainly shot quite a few. He shot a Sergeant Middleton in the hand, jaw and thigh, when the good sergeant tried to arrest him in Fogg’s shanty near Lambing Flat NSW. He eventually moved north to the Hell Hole Creek area in the Barakula Forest, where he stayed for some time.

The local people used to take greater care of their possessions when ‘Darkie’ was around. He was arrested near Rockhampton at the Apis Creek gold diggings where he had a store. After serving 9 years of a 32 year sentence, he was freed, on the condition he left the country. He moved to San Francisco where he opened a bar. He died there in 1903.

Drive No 3 Chinchilla Weir/ Archers Crossing Brigalow Return 1.5 Hour return drive (allow extra for stops) Some gravel roads. This drive needs to be self catered.There are toilet facilities at Chinchilla Weir and Brigalow township.

Please fuel your vehicle, and carry water.

Not all roads have mobile coverage.

00.0 Please zero your tripmeter in front of the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre, head along Warrego Hwy towards Miles.

0.2KM Turn left (opposite Service Station) and drive up and over the railway overhead bridge this brings you into Chinchilla’s main street, Heeney Street. Follow in a straight line 1.6km Give Way sign, turn to the right and follow road around past the High School and Showgrounds (on the left). Keep going straight ahead.

3.1km Drive over the grid and turn immediate right into Racecourse Rd, sign will state Racecourse, PoloCrosse and GunClub.

3.8km The Racecourse is on the left. There are several race meets held throughout the year with the Christmas Races being very popular. Local and visiting horses are involved in racing here.

4.2km Chinchilla Gun Club and Polocrosse Club on the left. Polocrosse was introduced in the mid 1950’s, the watermelon pink shirts of our local team have become famous throughout the state. Players from Chinchilla have represented Queensland at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and other venues for Australian titles. More information for these clubs and events are available from the Visitor Information Centre.

Perform a U-Turn and return to the intersection of Racecourse Rd and Chinchilla Tara Road.

5.3km Turn right into Chinchilla-Tara Rd, follow road towards Tara.

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10.6km Chinchilla Weir – Turn left at Entrance to Weir. Follow road around to the left and past the free camping area (maximum 2 nights stay) and up to boat ramp, car park, toilets and picnic area. This area is very popular on weekends with water skiers. Return back to Chinchilla – Tara Rd. 00.00 Please zero your trip meter and turn left into Chinchilla -Tara Rd 0.1km Cross the Condamine River.

0.7km Turn left into Avenue Road. This is an extensive cotton/grain growing area.

3.4km Turn left into Hopeland School Rd. Large stretch of Brigalow trees grace the roadside along here.

7.3km Large storage dams for cotton irrigation on the right hand side. Emus can sometimes be spotted around this area.

10.4km Turn left into Archer’s Crossing Rd. Start of gravel road.

14.5km Archers Crossing picnic area, on the banks of the Condamine River. This is a popular fishing and canoeing spot for locals.

Perform a U-Turn, return to the grid and 00.00 your trip meter.

3.8km Left turn into Hopeland School Road.

End of gravel road.

5.9km Turn left, then immediately right and continue along Hopeland School Rd. The original Hopeland School was established in 1937. Its first students started on the 8th Feb that year. In 1987, the school celebrated its golden jubilee, with over 800 people attending. Sadly it is now closed.

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10.1km Turn right into 16 Mile Hall Rd. 12.4km Left turn into Free’s Rd. 16.0km Turn right into Banana Bridge Rd. 19.1km Turn left into the public viewing area of the Kogan Creek Power Station.

Take a short walk to the interpretive signs detailing the operations of the power station.

Exit the carpark and turn right onto Banana Bridge Road.

26.4km Cross the Condamine River. This is the site of the original ‘Banana Bridge’ after which the road was named.

During the 1922-23 drought the dairy farmer south of the Condamine lobbied the Council of the day for a bridge in order for them to get their cream to the factory faster. (Archers Crossing was being used at this stage). Council agreed, provided the farmers supply the timber at cost. During construction, debris from a flood banked up against the bridge posts and skewed the alignment, hence it being named “Banana Bridge” In 1973 a new bridge was constructed and the bend ironed out.

Not far from this spot is a tree marked with an ‘L’, the explorer Ludwig Leichhardts mark.

In 1844, Leichhardt and his party were on expedition to Port Essington. Learn more about Leichhardt and see his monument opposite the Visitor Information Centre.

29.5km T-Junction. Turn right onto the Warrego Highway. Continue into the village of Brigalow. Toilets located here.

31.0km Storage silos. These silos were built in 1963 for storage of grain. The total capacity of the silos, steel bins and sheds

was 11,600 tonnes of grain. They were decommissioned in 1996.

31.2km Turn left into Brigalow-Canaga Rd. Historical Cemetery sign. Cross the railway line, being aware of coal trains, and continue straight.

36.0km Turn right into Haystack Rd. Approx 100m on the left is a small Historical Lutheran Cemetery. Headstones date back to 1911. The infant mortality rates were very high. There was once a Lutheran Church nearby. 100m further along the Brigalow-Canaga Rd was the site of the Noola Plains School.

Perform a U-Turn, return to the junction and turn right into Warrego Highway.

49.6km Boonarga Cactoblastis Memorial Hall on the left. Call in and read the interpretive signs. This hall is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It was erected in 1936 to commemorate a significant scientific and economic event, the successful eradication of the pricky pear infestation by the introduction of the Cactoblastis moth larvae.

It is the only building in the Southern Hemisphere built in honour of an insect.

59.6 Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre Chinchilla Weir is a freshwater playground for locals and visitors. Water skiing, canoeing, swimming and fishing are some of the activities to be enjoyed.

There is free camping for a maximum of two nights, some power and barbecues are available. Donations can be made at the Information Centre. It is a shady, relaxing place where you can photograph

a spectacular western sunset or bird watch (there are over 50 species regularly sighted here).

Archers Crossing This was the only crossing point on the Condamine River for people living south of the river. All vehicles, stock, etc had use this crossing until the Banana Bridge was built. The water level was much lower at that time as the Chinchilla Weir had not yet been built.

Chinchilla Weir Chinchilla Weir is a concrete faced earthfill structure and is the only storage for the Chinchilla Weir Water Supply Scheme.

Chinchilla Weir was officially opened in 1974.

Approximately 5000 people were counted through the gates at the official opening.

The opening was followed by an aquatic carnival and a Grand Ball was held in the evening.

Chinchilla Weir is a freshwater playground for locals and visitors. Water skiing, canoeing, swimming and fishing are some of the activities to be enjoyed.

There is free camping for a maximum of two nights, some power and barbecues are available.

A shady, relaxing place where you can photograph a spectacular western sunset over the water.A top rate bird watching spot with over 50 species regularly sighted here.

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Drive No 4 Fossicking Sites, Cactoblastis & Return 1 Hour 10 minutes return drive (allow extra for stops).

Some gravel roads. To be able to fossick for Petrified Wood a current Queenland Fossicking Licence must be obtained.

Fossicking Licences are available from, and fees payable to, the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre This drive needs to be self catered. There are no facilities along this drive.

Please fuel your vehicle, and carry water.

Not all roads have mobile coverage.

0.00 Zero your tripmeter at the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre.

Travel West (towards Miles) approx. 300m along Warrego Highway 0.2km Turn left and travel up and over the railway overhead bridge. Continue along the Camphor Laurel lined main street (Heeney St).

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0.9km Continue straight through the second roundabout, the sculpture in the centre of roundabout represents the Cypress Pine.

1.6km At the give way sign turn right into Chinchilla-Tara Rd. Note the High School, TAFE campus and Showgrounds on the left.

3.7km Continue straight ahead. Aerodrome Rd is on the left, Chinchillas small but modern airport is situated a little way along this road.

5.8km Turn right into Greenswamp Rd. 9.2km On the right is the Gaske property fossicking site. Entry is through the small gate into the fenced off area. You must hold a current fossicking licence.

Opposite the fossicking site is the site of the Greenswamp School, complete with a horse paddocks for the pupils’ horses.

The school opened in 1936 and served the district for the next 14 years.

9.5km The lagoon on the right was once a very popular swimming spot for the residents of Chinchilla and surrounding districts. It would have been a unique attraction in its day, boasting a high diving tower and even a set of starting blocks.

They have since been removed for safety reasons.

10.1km Cross Charley's Creek.

12.4km Turn right into Sturgess/Baking Board Road. Start of gravel road.

13.0km Fossicking site. Bells property on the right. Entry by way of small gate into the fossicking area. You must hold a current fossicking licence.

17.5km Turn right into Clarks Rd. 20.8km Cactoblastis Monument. Pull in and view the signage and the site of the ‘Bug Farm’.

Perform U-turn. Travel to the Junction of Clarks Rd and Sturgess/Baking Board Rd. 24.1km Turn right at the junction into Sturgess/Baking Board Rd. 27.2km Turn right, cross the railway line and turn right onto the Warrego Highway.

End of gravel road.

32.4km Entrance to Thomsons fossicking area on right. Please note that prior arrangements must be made before fossicking on this property.

33.2km The Chinchilla Golf Club is on the right. It is well used by locals and visitors and renowned for its well maintained greens.

34.0km On the left is the road to Barakula Forest. See Drive 2.

34.5km Cross over Charleys Creek bridge.

There is a cement, wheelchair friendly

walkway winding its way along the creek bank, complete with picnic tables. Look for the flowering waterlilies in Summer.

This walk can be accessed from Warrego Highway at this bridge or from Heeney Street (main street) 36.2km Travel back to Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre.

CHARLEY'S CREEK On the 1st October 1844, Ludwig Leichhardt set off from Jimbour Station, on the Darling Down, on his Port Essington expedition.

Nine days later he crossed “…a fine looking stream.” The next day he moved on, but two men from his party had gone missing.

Charley Fisher, Leichhardt’s aboriginal tracker, and a party of men went searching for them. They rode over 70 miles on horseback before they found the men two days later. Leichhardt wrote in his journal “…they would certainly have perished had Charley not found them”. Leichhardt named the “… fine looking stream.” in Charley’s honour.

Monument to Cactoblastis cactorum This monument was unveiled in August 2010. It is a monument to the most successful example of biological control ever. The Prickly Pear grew in impenetrable thickets 1.5m high. In the 1920’s 400,000ha of rich farming land was being lost each year. The infestation covered an area greater than the entire United Kingdom.

Prickly Pear was aptly named ‘The Green Plague’. The larvae of the Cactoblastis moth, ate through that immense area in under four years.

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Chinchilla Region....

The place to live, laugh and experience beauty !

Dalby Visitor Information Centre Thomas Jack Park Drayton Street (07) 4679 4461 dalby.vic@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre Warrego Highway (07) 4679 4491 chinchilla.vic@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Miles Visitor Information Centre Murilla Street (07) 4627 1492 miles.vic@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Disclaimer: All reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the information contained in this publication is accurate and current at the time of publication. Western Downs Regional Council accepts no responsibility for information that is inaccurate or outdated. This publication is a guide only. Any information provided should be viewed as information only and the user accepts sole responsibility and risk associated with the use of this information. Western Downs Regional Council accepts no responsibility or liability for loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of information in this publication.

Reference to third parties and associated services and activities are provided only as a convenience, and as such, Western Downs Regional Council does not endorse any associated organisation, product or service.

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