HOW TO DO THE LEICHHARDT HIGHWAY

ROAD TRIP: HOW TO DO THE LEICHHARDT HIGHWAY Stretching close to 700 kilometres from Goondiwindi to Yeppoon and running through the Western Downs from south to north, European explorer Ludwig Leichhardt of whom the Leichhardt Highway was named after has a strong history with our region. Retrace the steps of the highway’s namesake and explore the heritage and history of the Western Downs with this guide. “We love the tight knit community and friendly people of Meandarra. People are more than happy to help out. We love it.”

Jason and Leanne Corcoran

Start here: Moonie

Known as the oil capital of Australia and the site of Australia’s first commercial oil field, no trip along the Leichhardt Highway is complete without a stop in Moonie.

Plan your trip for the one-of-a-kind Moonie Yabbie Races, the town’s equivalent of the Melbourne Cup – only it’s not a flurry of hooves on turf but nippers as locally caught yabbies race to the finish line.

Meandarra

Between Moonie and Meandarra, pay a visit to The Gums, a town with a population of fewer than 200 people on the junction of the Leichardt Highway and Surat Development road.

Push further north to Meandarra to find one of only a few museums that can legally call itself an ‘ANZAC Museum’, the Meandarra ANZAC Memorial Museum.

Tara

While the town of Tara may only have a population of 2,000, it’s home to one of our region’s major biennial events, Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races, that sees the town swell to over 16,000 people. Stop by the Commercial Hotel for a coldie, meal and art tour, with paintings from the famous bush artist, Hugh Sawrey, hanging in the dining room.

Glenmorgan

Get to know the history of the Glenmorgan Branch Line, which was abandoned during the depression in the 1930s, at the old railway station now turned museum.

Swap a history lesson for a nature lesson and pick up a brochure from the Garden Office for a self-guided walk around the Myall Park Botanic Gardens.

Condamine

Continue on to Condamine to see the town’s most iconic claim to fame – the Condamine Bell or “Bullfrog” Bell – an invention by local blacksmith, Samuel William Jones in the late 1800s that became so popular they were sought by graziers from as far as Western Australia.

Miles

Head to the Miles Historical Village Museum and step it out along a streetscape of restored and original buildings dating back to early pioneering years along with the largest collection (read: 4000 pieces) of lapidary items in regional Queensland.

Wandoan

En route between Wandoan and Miles, be sure to stop in the blinkand-you-miss-it town of Guluguba which backs onto the Barakula State Forest. This area is best known for its sea of wildflowers which burst into bloom in each spring.

Drop into the local Visitor Information Centre to pick up a copy of the Miles & Gurulmundi Wildflower brochure and take a selfguided tour of the flower trail.

Arrive at the north-west pocket of the Western Downs, Wandoan, and start with a history lesson at the old Juandah Historical Site.

Head to O’Sullivan Park to meet Mick the dog’s statue, along with the town’s most distinguishing feature, the Wandoan Windmill.

“There’s always something happening in the background. If you don’t turn off the highway, you won’t know what you’ve missed.” Julie Walz

Tummy grumbling? Pop into the Wandoan Cafe to satisfy your cravings.