cunnamulla TOW N
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Paroo Shire
Visit Cunnamulla where the handshakes are stronger and the smiles lasts longer. Immerse yourself in a true outback experience. Discover meaningful connections with people and places. Just ask the larger than life Cunnamulla Fella! The township of Cunnamulla was created by Cobb & Co. on the third of September 1879, when the first coach drove through from Bourke. Today it is the only surviving south-west town along the original route. The mighty Warrego River is on the edge of town. Kayaking, fishing, swimming… There’s a perfect place for a bush picnic. Cunnamulla locals are sharing folk, so don’t be shy when asking for the best spot to throw in a line. Hire a kayak and discover the secrets of this natural wonderland. Keen ‘twitchers’ will love discovering the region’s native birds in their natural environment too. Cunnamulla has some of the best natural sandhills in Australia. Just seeing them is an eye-catching feast. Picture vibrant red sand hills contrasting with brilliant blue skies. It’s photo heaven! If ‘sight-doing’ is more your thing, then get ready to burn a few calories with some sand-boarding. Climb up to the top of the sandhill then feel the rush as you carve up the sand on the way down.
Top Things to do in Cunnamulla ●
Visit the Larger than Life Cunnamulla Fella
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Spot the Cooper Creek turtle and native birdlife
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J ourney back 100 million years in the Artesian Time Tunnel
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Stake out the perfect fishing hole
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ncover town stories of the Cunnamulla U Heritage Trail
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Wander the banks of the Warrego River at the Weir
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Enjoy sunset drinks from the River Walk
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Sand-board down stunning sandhills
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Follow the looped walking track to the Bushlands
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Capture birdlife at the Evaporative Ponds
ARTESIAN TIME TUNNEL
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MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN
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ARCHIE ST CLAIR
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Who is the Cunnamulla Fella Cunnamulla Fella and Song Experience the Great Artesian Time Tunnel Heritage Trail www.cunnamullatourism.com.au
18 Riverwalk Map 22 Cunnamulla Bushlands 26 Bird List 32 Fishing Guide
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who is the cunnamulla fella? Since Cunnamulla and the Paroo Shire’s settlement in the 1860s with the taking up of Cunnamulla Station, primary industry has always been the mainstay of the community, in particular sheep and cattle.
Cunnamulla Fella Story & Song Never was this more so than in the 50s and 60s when Australia was riding on the sheep’s back, wool was pound for pound and cattle were worth their weight in gold. This vibrant era provided endless employment opportunities for young lads just out of school when most finished at year eight to work on the sheep and cattle stations. These young fellows, many only 15 or 16, worked long, hard hours from sun up to sun down often seven days a week mustering sheep, chasing scrubbers and breaking in horses. At the end of a hard day’s work they would squat around the campfires on their saddles or swags yarning about the day’s events. The town was booming as the large properties employed so many men. When they came to town the pubs would overflow and these young fellas could be seen squatting around the streets in the classical pose. It was around this time that Stan Coster wrote the song The Cunnamulla Fella, later immortalised by the late Slim Dusty. The lines from the song that refer to the Cunnamulla Fella are:
“Now I’m a scrubber, runner and a breaker too, I live on damper and wallaby stew, I’ve got a big cattle dog with a staghound cross, I never saw the scrubber we couldn’t toss, ‘Cause I’m the fella from Cunnamulla Yes I’m the Cunnamulla Fella” As a tribute to all these young fellas who worked the land and the late Slim Dusty, a project by the Paroo Shire Council, which had taken two years to bring to completion, came to an end as the Cunnamulla Fella was unveiled to the public on Friday 18 November, 2005. The idea to turn a folk legend into a reality was first accepted by the Council late 2003 when it was decided to run a nation-wide competition asking those interested to sketch up in any medium their vision of the Cunnamulla Fella. It was felt if such a project could be brought to completion it would be a fitting tribute to the late Slim Dusty who together
with his family and band members had performed in Cunnamulla many times over the years. In fact many Slim Dusty fans were broken hearted at the news of his death and requested Council to do something in memory of Slim. The Council received around 50 entries in the art competition from all over the country. The winner however, chosen by Council in early 2004, was of a young squatting stockman after a hard day’s work, sketched by Michael Nicholas from Brisbane, who also had strong family connections with Cunnamulla. Mike had worked in Cunnamulla as a Policeman in 1960 and witnessed for himself the way of life in western Queensland. The sculptor Archie St Clair was Territory born and bred and from his early teens had been involved with the cattle industry, amongst other things, as a ringer, stockman, rodeo rider, bull catching, competing in work championships, station manager and helicopter mustering contractor. For years he had been perfecting the art of bronze sculpturing specialising in monuments and outback heritage related pieces. On Monday 10th October the completed Cunnamulla statue was transported from the city of Grapevine Texas, where he was created, to Brisbane, and with the help of Brisbane City Council was displayed for two days in the Queen Street Mall. Thousands of people had the opportunity to be photographed with him, read the story and learn more about Cunnamulla and the Paroo Shire. The Cunnamulla Fella arrived home via St. George Freightliners on Tuesday 18th October, 2005, and after finishing touches by Archie, volunteers and Council Staff, was displayed on the lawns of the Shire Hall in the centre of town. On the site where the Cunnamulla Fella now stands as a tribute to all the hardworking stockmen and to Slim Dusty, Stan Coster and others, once stood the New Western Hotel and the public bar where many of the men he honours enjoyed a cold one.
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welcome back old fella Back from all his travels, growing famous in the songs The Cunnamulla Fella has returned where he belongs, Finally his place of birth has reached out, calling him – He’s retiring from his rambling of the world with Stan and Slim. It was Stan who penned the words that introduced us to his name, And Slim then sang about him, bought a rat-bag rogue to fame, And the whole world recognized him, though they never saw his face, At last that world can visit, now he’s come back to his place. So welcome home Old Fella, it’s good to see you back From all those y ears spent trampling on the endless touring track; Now at last the time has come for you to settle down Do you notice all the changes as you overlook the town? As you sit upon your pedestal, an icon of folklore Does your memory return you to those days of yore? Do you ever feel the nostalgia for those early care free days? Do I see sweet reminiscence in your calm reflective gaze? Do you miss the mates who joined you in the days you chose to roam? Can you feel them here beside you as you settle in at home? Do you miss the night-time silence or the raging bullock roar? Do you wish that you could wander through the scrubby hills once more? In my fancy I can see you, as at breakneck speed you ride In the pursuit of feral scrubbers, your dogs there by your side, And breaking horses wild of eye, their habits unattractive, Their spirits full of malice, their behaviour counteractive. In your brightly coloured shirt round western bars and halls, With mates you’d drink and sometimes fight – a good time had by all, And there were other pleasures too, away from drinks and fights, And sometime loving came your way on moonlit starry nights. You’ve seen a lot of country with your constant moving round, Had your share of escapades, covered lots of ground; That way of life is over now, you’ll no more freely wander The country side at leisure, just to see what’s over yonder. So welcome back, Old Fella, where you started long ago – Glad to have you with us, here beside the Warrego; Your friends will gather round you and will join you in a song, We’re proud you chose to stay here in the place where you belong. JANINE HAIGE & TERRY ROGERS (T.J), NOVEMBER 2005
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the cunnamulla fella Now I’m a scrubber, runner and a breaker too I live on damper and wallaby stew I’ve got a big cattle dog with a staghound cross I never saw the scrubber we couldn’t toss
‘Cause I’m the fella from Cunnamulla Yes I’m the Cunnamulla Fella Now once when I was drovin’ on a cattle trail I met a little girl named Adavale I said Marry me Ada and I’ll be the fella And we’ll settle down in Augethella
I’ll be the fella from Augethella Yes I’ll be the Augethella Fella Oh she said her daddy’s name was Charleville She had a lot of kiddies and a lot of bills So I grabbed my horse that was nice and handy And I never stopped till I reached Dirranbandi
I was the Dandy at Dirranbandi Yes I was the Dirranbandi Dandy Now in my moleskin trousers and my Williams boots, Aboard an outlaw as he leaves the chutes In my gooseneck spurs I rake their fiery hide And the girls all shouted around the ringside
For he’s the fella from Cunnamulla Yes he’s the Cunnamulla Fella Now I’ve done a little fighting in the western bars Done a little lovin neath the moon and stars I wear bright clothes with shirts full of colour And the girls know me as that certain fella
Yes he’s the fella from Cunnamulla Yes he’s the Cunnamulla Fella Oh he’s the fella from Cunnamulla Yes he’s the Cunnamulla Fella The Cunnamulla Fella is a song written by Stan Coster and sung by Slim Dusty. The town of Cunnamulla has erected a statue of the Cunnamulla Fella as a tribute to Stan and Slim and to the ‘ringers’ of the bush.
experience the artesian time tunnel and great artesian basin Come into the Cunnamulla Visitor Centre and experience the Artesian Time Tunnel transporting you back in time 100 million years, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It was during this period that water became trapped in sedimentary rock layers, only surfacing through mound springs, the natural pressure release valves of the artesian basin. Stories of Aboriginal dreamtime follow natural water courses which were the same tracks followed by early pioneers, pastoralists and miners. The stories of the six Aboriginal language groups living in this area, on Kunja country, will be told in Stage two of the Exhibition soon to be commenced.
The Great Artesian Basin Fact sheet ●
T he Great Artesian Basin covers an area as large as 1,711,000 square kilometres or approx 1/5 of the Australian continent.
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T he Artesian Basin starts at the tip of Queensland and underlies parts of New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory. (Refer map opposite)
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T he age of the water is estimated to be approx 2 million years old and dates back to as far as the “Ice Age”.
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T he Aboriginal people have been utilising the Artesian Water through “Mound Springs” for many years prior to European Settlement. Mound Springs are places where the artesian aquifers naturally flow to the surface.
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T he first ever bore to be sunk was in 1878 on “Kallara” Station (located north west of Tilpa, NSW).
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T he first bore to be sunk in Queensland was 100km South East of Cunnamulla on a property by the name of “Noorama” in 1887.
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T he average temperature of the Artesian Basin is between 30–50° and a max of 100° in some places.
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I n 1999 the Commonwealth and State Governments installed what is called the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative – GABSI Scheme. This is a joint incentive by property owners and the government to conserve water through the capping of flowing bores and install a piping system to reduce the amount of water wastage and evaporation that occurs through the use of bore drains on properties.
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ear to date the GABSI Scheme has saved more Y then 18,538 MEGALITRES of water and has involved 306 properties.
Cunnamulla Fella Centre Centenary Park, Jane Street, Cunnamulla Qld 4490 P: 07 4655 8470 www.cunnamullatourism.com.au E: cunnamullainfo@paroo.qld.gov.au
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heritage trail – cunnamulla HERITAGE TOWN, ESTABLISHED 1867 Cunnamulla originated as a settlement in the 1860s at the intersection of two major stock routes, one running from St George to Thargomindah and the other from Charleville to Bourke. The name of the town is derived from an Aboriginal term meaning “long stretch of water” referring to the Warrego River which passes through the town.
A PROUD PASTORAL HISTORY... Our town has a proud pastoral history with wool growing and beef production still being the main industries in the area. We also have organic wheat and organic lamb production, and harvesting of feral pigs and goats that add to the diversification of the town and district. Cunnamulla was established soon after William Landsborough’s exploration of the district in 1858. Tinnenburra woolshed, completed in 1896 by James Tyson, was the largest in the world with 101 blade stands. The Tyson properties carried 500 000 sheep and once stretched from Wyandra to beyond the NSW border on the western side of the Warrego River – approximately 10 000 square miles. After shearing the wool was carted by teamsters to North Bourke then ferried by paddle steamer to the seaboard where it was shipped overseas for sale. The Cunnamulla Fella Visitor Information Centre in Centenary Park hosts an excellent museum based on life in the outback, information on the basics of wool growing with a full shearing stand display as well as a model of Killara Shearing Shed built by the late Dan Gwydir. Take a seat in our cinema and enjoy a presentation on the inland sea, “The Great Artesian Basin” and why it’s the lifeblood of the outback. We then take you back 100 million years when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and the underground water formed the opals of today with our interactive “Time Tunnel”. Wander through the Art Gallery with continually changing exhibitions from local and renowned artists of Australia.
1. Visitor Information Centre – Original State School Building The first State School was built in 1885 by local carpenter George Emery at a cost of 540 pounds. This building was part of the original school and was moved to its present site in 1995. State education began in Cunnamulla in 1877 with the opening of a provisional school on the site of the present state school. Mr. John William Bragg was the first teacher. Prior to this a private school was conducted by Mr. Granville in an underground cellar on the site of the Club Hotel. This cellar was 16ft. long, 10ft. wide and 7ft. deep. The light came from an open space between the roof of the building and the top of the cellar. Subsequently the school was moved to a building on the site where the Post Office now stands. This building was also used as a Courthouse, and a lockup was situated on the back verandah. The present school caters for children from Preschool to Year 12 and has an enrolment of 100–125 pupils. It is one of the best equipped schools in Queensland and employs approximately 40 staff.
On the Heritage Trail...
We invite you to take the heritage trail, see the unique characteristics of our town and feel what it’s like to LIVE LIKE A LOCAL CUNNAMULLA STATE SCHOOL BUILT IN 1885
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The present Post Office is located on the site where the Cobb & Co stockyards once stood. The building has had very few exterior alterations since it was first built in 1890. Regularity in the mail service was difficult toLOOKOUT SANDHILLS archive. On one occasion the mail from Charleville was delayed when the pack horses took fright and bolted. It took the mailman four days to recapture both horses. Another time, when the mail was four days late, to add insult to injury the mail bags were thrown down in the middle of the street 100 yards from the Post Office.
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3. Trappers Inn Built in 1880, this hotel was first named the “Railway Hotel” as it was understood that the railway line would terminate in this section of town. It is believed that the hotel was intended to be a two storey building but a cyclone in 1892 destroyed the partially built top floor. This hotel had many owners including EM Land and PJ Keannealy. The name was changed in the 1970s to the “Trappers Inn”.
TRAPPERS INN
4. The Warrego Watchman The first regular newspaper in town appeared in 1884 as the “Cunnamulla Express”. Edited by C Carbeek, it was published by the Cunnamulla Newspaper Co. The company changed the name of the publication to “Cunnamulla Argus” in 1888 and, after further name changes it became the “Warrego Watchman” and then the “Cunnamulla Watchman”. The Business was established on this site in 1936 by Jack and Allen Tonkin after their premises in Stockyard Street was destroyed by fire. The company became the Jack Tonkin Printing Co. In 1983 the publication name changed to the “Western Sun”. The company has been in the Tonkin family for over 70 years. The “Western Sun” was purchased by the current owner James Clark on 1st of July 2009 and was changed back to the “Warrego Watchman”.
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5. Memorial Fountain This was completed in 1919 as a memorial to the soldiers who died at Gallipoli. A similar one was built the same year in Wellington, NSW. The palm trees growing alongside the fountain were planted on the 50th Anniversary of WWII. The design is art nouveau and the fountain is heritage listed.
MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN
6. St Alban’s Anglican Hall This building was constructed in 1896. For the next ten years the congregation was served by lay readers until the appointment of the first clergyman. This was the church from which beginning in 1905, the Bush Brotherhood of St. Paul provided pastoral care for the people of Cunnamulla and surrounding districts. Brotherhood Cottage was built around this time. The new church was completed in 1963 and the old building was moved to its present site to serve as a community hall. The structure of the new church was designed to allow for the extremes of our climate. An aerial view of the church shows the roof to be in the shape of a cross.
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7. Osborne Brothers Welding Works (Blacksmith) Richard Challenor established a blacksmith/wheelwright business on this site in 1885, the same year he married Mary Ellen Russell. By 1888 Richard Challenor and Mr. Lint had formed a partnership which continued until 1908. Richard and Mary lived in the cottage at the rear of the shop and raised a family of 5 daughters and 3 sons. Tom Osborne and his wife came from Thargomindah in 1917 and took over the business. Around 1950 Tom’s sons Kelly, Reg, and Stan (Brother) renamed the business Osborne Bros and modernised the building.
8. Saddlery This was built around 1936 by William Florance Malone. Mr. Malone was well known throughout the southwest for his workmanship and fine saddles. He died on 16th August 1955 aged 72. Mr. Malone is buried in the Cunnamulla Cemetery. The saddlery is now a private residence.
9. Railway Station This is one of only three covered railway platforms in Queensland. Constructed in 1930, this building replaces the original building (1898) which was destroyed by fire. The railway line opened on 10th October, 1898. It was originally intended that the line should cross the Warrego River and continue on to Thargomindah and to the South Australian border. Regrettably this did not eventuate. Also the line was planned to continue south to Bourke. The line came from Brisbane to Ipswich, Toowoomba, Roma, Charleville, Wyandra and terminating in Cunnamulla. Since 1994, Cunnamulla has been serviced by freight trains only. The last passenger train, the “Westlander”, departed Cunnamulla platform on 5th September, 1994. Many retired railway employees enjoyed a nostalgic last ride as the townsfolk farewelled the train. The “Westlander” from Brisbane now terminates at Charleville and passengers are transported by coach to Wyandra and Cunnamulla.
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CUNNAMULLA RAILWAY STATION
10. Senior Citizens Hall This building was the Methodist Church and was opened in 1900. The site was donated by the first minister Rev. F. Greenwood and Mr. W. J. Smout. The Building Fund was raised by straight out giving, and the Church was opened free of debt. Messrs. E. Saunders, W. J. Smout and the late E. Rawle (Moorabinda) were the original trustees. The building was sold to the Odd Fellows Lodge at the end of WWI. The Buffalo Lodge owned the Hall prior to 1985. After a lot of fundraising and generous donations by business houses, the building was purchased in 1985 by the Senior Citizens Club.
11. Tonkin House The top storey of this building is the original house. Joe Vowles, a saddler, had arrived in Cunnamulla by 1876 and built the house to accommodate his large family. In more recent times, the Wilson family and the Miller family lived here and operated a cordial factory until the early 1970s. The Miller family was well known in racing circles. Champions included “Lumley’s Pride” and “Lingo” trained by B. Miller, and “Gallant Ruler” trained by T. Miller. The previous mayor of Cunnamulla retained the door and architectural feature of the house when it was raised in 1989. It is currently owned by Mr & Mrs Athorn who have been long term residents of the Cunnamulla township.
TONKIN HOUSE
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12. Catholic Church The original Catholic Church was built in 1897. Father O’Sullivan was the first resident priest in Cunnamulla from 1898 to 1910. In 1914 a Convent was constructed and in 1915 three Sisters of Mercy were appointed to commence a school. Classes were first conducted on the Convent verandahs. In 1922 the first school was built. A Presbytery was built in 1936 and moved to its present site in 1955. Father Bergin was the driving force behind improvements to the Convent and the construction of the new Sacred Heart School complex in 1966. While the new school was being constructed lessons were conducted in the old Shire Hall.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
13. The Robber’s Tree In 1880 Joseph Wells held up the Queensland National Bank in Cunnamulla. The bank manager escaped by running into the adjoining store and alerting everyone. The school teachers had, however, warned the storekeeper who entered the bank through the front door. He struggled with Wells and was wounded. Wells ran into the street followed by a crowd of excited townspeople and a police sergeant. Unable to control his horse, Wells ran into the bush surrounding the town. A search followed; a sheep dog, which had joined in the chase, followed his scent to the base of a tree. Wells was captured and transported to Toowoomba to await trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. The bank manager and the wounded storekeeper petitioned for a lighter sentence; however, it was denied and Wells was hanged. Joseph Wells goes down in history as the last man, in Queensland, to receive the death penalty for such a crime.
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CUNNAMULLA NATIONAL BANK
14. Wyenia This wagon originally came from Warracknabeal district in Victoria. It was owned by the Lewis and Keegan Families who used it to cart wheat from the districts of Brim, Bulah and Hopetown to the wheat dumps and silos of neighbouring towns. This was the last horse drawn wagon to be used for delivering wheat. The wagon was stored in a shed for many years and used to store the farm fertiliser. In late 1977 a well known Cunnamulla man, Mr Jimmy Goulding, bought the wagon. Jimmy’s bullock teams became a familiar sight in Cunnamulla as they pulled the wagon. When Jimmy retired to Toowoomba he took his wagons and teams with him. They were used at the Jondaryan Woolshed for many years. The wagon was eventually returned to Cunnamulla and donated to the Historical Society in memory of the Lewis and Keegan Families. Mr Jack Keegan was a Councillor for many years and owned a prosperous fruit orchard on the banks of the Warrego some three miles downstream from the town.
first weekend in july cunnamullatourism.com.au
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WYENIA
This information was given by the late Ian ‘Roper McLean’.
15. The Punt In the mid 1880s the Paroo Divisional Board commenced the operation of a punt across the Warrego River. To ensure that everyone would use the punt, the Board attempted to enact by-laws making it unlawful to swim horses within one mile of the public ferry. The ferry man would guide the punt across the river by pulling an overhead cable. However, within a few years the Board received a petition from 17 ratepayers that a bridge be built across the Warrego. Follow the Heritage Trail across the Warrego River and along the river walk – “Walk along the Warrego”. The “Walk along the Warrego” takes you through the “police paddock”. In the early days of settlement this paddock was used to hold the horses used by the policemen. It has also been used to impound stolen stock.
THE PUNT
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Hotel Cunnamulla – The first hotel on this site was
Cunnamulla Hotel and Pub Heritage ...
We invite you to pull up a bar stool, soak in the atmosphere of one of our unique establishments and feel what it’s like to LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
The Club Boutique Hotel – The present pub is the
“The Post Office Hotel” built by Mr Huxley. Mrs SA Land was the licensee for many years during which time her husband Mr EM Land, MLA, as the Labor Member in State Parliament. Dipper Carter was also a licensee of this hotel. The “Hotel Cunnamulla” was built in the early 1930s to replace the original pub which was destroyed by fire. During the 1950s the hotel was famous for parties and special functions as the chef Fred Damillo was previously chief chef of Government House and was commissioned by Government House to cook for the Queen on her royal visit to Queensland in 1954.
third building. It was constructed in 1933. The original Club Hotel was destroyed by a cyclone in 1892. The second building was burnt down on St Patrick’s Day, 1932. The hotel was refurbished and changed to the “Club Boutique Hotel” in 2013.
Billabong Hotel – The original hotel on the site was the “Gladstone Hotel” which was burnt down in 1960. The Billabong Hotel/Motel was a Carlton and United Breweries owned hotel and, until it was sold by CUB in the late 1980s it sold only Carlton beer.
The Shearer’s Arms – Mr H McManuus was granted licence in 1878 and built the “Tattersalls Hotel”. The original building was destroyed by fire and replaced by the brick building that stands today. The name was changed to the “Shearer’s Arms” in the mid 1980s and the licence was sold in the early 1990s.
Warrego Hotel – Mr Walsh built a pub on this site around 1868, known as the “Shingle Pub”. It was replaced by the “The Commercial Hotel” which occupied this site until it was burnt down in 1954. The licensee built a new pub called “Kerr’s Hotel”. The name was changed to the “Warrego Hotel” during the mid 1970s.
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Town Tributes Cunnamulla has a number of land marks that have been dedicated to people past and present who have contributed to the growth and development of the region. These people are highly respected by the community and include:
Allan Tannock Weir The Allan Tannock Weir is located 5km south of Cunnamulla on the Warrego River. It was completed in 1991 as a source of water for the surrounding landholders and to provide water for irrigation in and around Cunnamulla. Its capacity is 4770 megalitres.
The name ‘Allan Tannock’ is derived from a prominent Cunnamulla local known foremost for his lifetime of work researching and documenting his knowledge of flood mitigation relative to the Warrego River. Immediately below the weir is a natural river crossing still known to most as Keanes’ Crossing, where a road has been constructed to cross the Warrego River. Jubilee Park is now located at the weir with a public toilet, car park, BBQ area, boat ramp and plenty of shady trees.
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Darby Land Bridge – Louise Street – Bulloo Development Road Over the years Cunnamulla has built three bridges across the Warrego River. The first bridge was built in a straight line from the end of the railway line and named “The Old Bridge” by the locals. In 1939 “The Old Bridge” was abandoned after the completion of the “New Old Bridge” that was constructed in the location www.cunnamullatourism.com.au
of the bridge today. This bridge was completely constructed of timber and served the district well for many years.
On the 15th February 1995 the new bridge was named “Darby Land Bridge” in honour of Darby Land who served in local government in Cunnamulla for 29 years with 15 of those years as Shire Chairman and Mayor.
The “Darby Land Bridge” was constructed in the exact same alignment as the “New Old Bridge”. The old timber bridge was replaced because it was subject to flooding. The “Darby Land Bridge” is constructed of concrete and has a bike and walking path all the way across on one side and is built at approximately 11 mts which corresponds with the height of the levy bank.
Buster Schmidt Park Buster Schmidt Park is located at the Cunnamulla Gun Club and was officially opened on Sunday 12th May 2007 during the annual May Shoot and Masters Games Shoot. Buster and his wife Lorraine were unable to attend the ceremony however they were well represented by two generations of Schmidts including son Adrian, grandson Richard and son Owen, all keen shooters and members of the club.
Buster Schmidt is a life member and former president and has had continuous membership of the club since 1938. The sign was provided and donated to the club by Bill Hislop from Victoria. Bill has enjoyed many great weekends at Cunnamulla Gun Club Shoots over the years while enjoying the hospitality of the Schmidts at their family home and property Baroona.
Bob Poncho Park was established by The Paroo Shire Council in 1991 as a permanent memorial to the late Robert Lion Poncho who was born in Cunnamulla in 1901 and died in Cunnamulla in 1993 aged 92 years. The park is located on the corner of Jane and Stockyard Streets and boasts a beautiful rotunda, grassed area and lovely gardens.
Bob served in the Cunnamulla Town Band from a young boy and eventually became Band Master. Bob spent some years as a Telegram Messenger, Storeman and Slaughterman in Cunnamulla before going out to Thurulgoona Station with his wife where he was a cowboy and she was the cook. He also worked on the Paroo Shire Council and then ran a Wood Depot in Cunnamulla with his son Bob Jnr.
During the second World War Bob, assisted by his wife Valma and Bandsmen, met every train into and out of Cunnamulla taking Diggers away and returning them from War Service. Bob and his band attended every Anzac Day service from 1943 and Bob acted as Official Bugler for every Armistice Day Ceremony as well as for funerals of ex-Service persons in Cunnamulla.
Also on display in the park is the sandbag monument from April 25th 1990 when the river peaked at 10.5 metres on the new gauge and the town worked together to save the town.
John Kerr Park Located on the corner of Louise and John Streets, this sporting arena was completed in 1951. The John Kerr Park gates were erected in honour of Mr John Kerr, who was a town councillor for 30 years and Shire Chairman from 1924–1927 and 1933–1951. Mr Kerr is especially remembered for his generosity in distributing threepences to school children on Christmas break up day each
Bob Poncho Park – Cnr Jane & Stockyard Streets
Dave Webster Park Dave Webster Park is located at the Cunnamulla Gun Club and was also officially opened on Sunday 12th May 2007 during the annual May Shoot and Masters Games Shoot. Dave is a long standing founding member of the Cunnamulla Gun Club since he joined the club in 1938, and his membership was broken only by war service. The Webster family have always and continue to be strong supporters of the club and it was with great pleasure that the current members were able to show their gratitude to Dave for his contribution to the club over the many decades. The sign was provided and donated by Bill Hislop from Victoria who has enjoyed many great weekends in the company of Dave at Cunnamulla Gun Club Shoots over the years.
year. Both John and his wife were known far and wide for their generosity over the years, helping many people from all walks of life.
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12 Water Tower
2 Post Office
Caravan Parks
4 Railway Station
Warrego Riverside Tourist Park (D15)
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Motels &
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7 The Robber’s Tree 8 Bob Poncho Park 9 River Walk 10 Sandhills
GOLF COURSE
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Accommodation
Club Boutique Hotel (F9)
Corella Motor Inn (J8)
Country Way Motor Inn (I8)
Cunnamulla Cottage Accommodation (F10)
Cunnamulla Cabins (J6) & (M9)
Cooper Cabin (E9)
Airport 6km Bowra Station 16km Eulo 68km Wandilla Station 84km Yowah 155km
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Follow the 1.5km looped walking track which meanders along a flowing waterway, featuring plants and soils typically found in the 6 ecosystems within the region.
Oxford Hotel Motel (K3)
Warrego Hotel Motel (E9)
Other Places of Interest:
Boat Ramp (16E)
Bowls Club (F9)
Hospital (J10)
Library (G8)
Lookouts (A10 and G14)
Police Station (E8)
Public Pool (F10)
Show Grounds (O8)
Golf Course (A3)
FRANC LOOKOUT
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Walking Tracks
Stretch your legs on the walking tracks through the sandhills on the outskirts of town. Simply take in the view from the lookout, or for the more adventurous, get the adrenalin racing and go sand-boarding on the slopes of these massive sandhills.
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The Water tower mural was painted in 2019 by international artist Guido Van Helten. Image represents the children and the future of the community.
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Place of Interest Public Toilets Caravan Park Camping Area Bird Watching Motel and Accommodation Hotel Fuel Stop Cunnamulla Heritage Trail Heritage Trail Attraction Walking Track Mobile Home Waste Dump Point Accredited Visitor Information Centre
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Warrego River Walk The Warrego River Walk takes you along the scenic banks of the Warrego, across black flood plains and through the channels. It’s a great place for bird watching, fishing, enjoying the local flora and the serenity of nature. The walk starts at the Darby Land Bridge, from a place referred to by locals as the Police Paddock. Years ago, when police patrolled on horseback they kept their horses in this paddock on the river. The Stock Squad has since used the paddock to impound or hold stock they suspect is stolen. Over the course of the river walk, you’ll see a diverse range of flora – some unique to the area, others from a world away. Keep your eye out for … Curly Mitchell Grass Malvastrum ● Mueller’s Saltbush ● Black Wattle ● Wild turnip (is white with a long tap root over 1ft long, hence the name) ● Noogoora burr ● Wild Spinach (first settlers would boil and eat it) ● Pig weed (highly toxic to cattle, they will die within one hour of consumption. There are stories of 200 head perishing in the 50s after being unloaded from a train in Cunnamulla and eating pig weed) ● Water Wilga or Dogwood (called Dogwood because if you squash it or drive over it, ● ●
it smells like dog pee. Blooms a stunning white flower with spotted bottom petals) ● Quena (potato bush) ● Coolibah Trees ● Button Grass ● Mimosa (introduced from South Africa as a shade tree. Did not grow as high as expected. It is spiny and stock won’t eat it. It is now in plague proportions causing problems in the open rolling downs of Longreach and Winton areas) ● Acacia victoriae (being an Acacia it has a massive bloom of yellow flowers and is a great attraction to cattle in the spring for fodder) ● Buffel Grass
Be sure to watch your step, as the prolific birdlife will have you gazing into the skies, Western Grey and Red Kangaroos are a common site, Meat Ants also known as Gravel Ants, are abundant. Watch out for their large nests which, although are typically built underground, are conspicuous by a mound of sand, gravel, pebbles or even bits of dead vegetation on the surface. A single nest may contain 64,000 ants. Meat Ants are omnivores (eat plants and animals) and because they forage during the day you’ll be able to observe them at work. The sunset viewing platform is located approximately half way along the tour. If you time your walk correctly, you could be in for a spectacular display of outback nature at its finest. Our sunsets are arguably the finest in the world with rich, vibrant colours swirled across the sky contrasting against a palette of soft pastels that blend and graduate to the horizon.
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Water Lettuce (a nuisance water plant that grows on the water, if not controlled, it could destroy our waterways) ● Japanese Hot Bush (a local property owner saw this lovely plant growing in Japan and brought it back. It’s edible by stock and is a winter variety that blooms a pink/ red flower with dark green and purple leaves) ● Soft Gidyea Burr (a type of salt bush) ● Cow Vine ● Qld Bluegrass, Soft ● Roly Poly ● Red River Gums ● Tea Tree ● Galvanised Burr. ●
riverwalk map Car Park Bridge
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Gully Crossing
Sunset Viewing Platform
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cunnamulla bushlands List of a number of the plants found at the Cunnamulla Bushlands, around our streets and parks and throughout the Shire. Numbers on or near plants correspond with numbers in this booklet.
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mulga area
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mitchell grass plains
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gidgee area
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jumpup area
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brigalow area
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ironbark, wilga & box flats
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dry land area
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sandhill area
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wattle
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bluebush
NO. 1
Common Name: Gooramurra. Botanical Name: Eremophila bignoniiflora. Family: Myoporaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: Fruits used as a purgative and leaves as a laxative. Description: Dense rounded small tree from 3 – 7mts with drooping branches. Grows on periodically flooded clay areas along with coolabahs and lignum communities. Bark: Segmented into squares, dark grey in old trees and roughly fissured. Leaves: Pale green, lanceolate to 18cm long. Flowers: Cream with purplish flecks inside, bell shaped with 5 broad rounded lobes, they occur on sticky stalks. Flowers mainly in spring. Readily eaten by sheep and cattle.
NO. 2
Common Name: Emu Apple. Botanical Name: Owenia acidula. Family: Meliaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Small tree growing 4-8 m tall, it has a dense canopy that provides shade for stock and wildlife. Bark: Grey/ brown and blotchy. Leaves: Vivid green made up of a group of linear-lanceolate leaflets, each being 4cm long and 8mm wide. Flowers: Fragrant and greenish cream in colour and very small. Produces a red plum or apple like fruit which has an acidic flesh. Nutritious leaves eaten by stock.
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NO. 3
Common Name: Limestone Cassia. Botanical Name: Senna artemisiodes – Sub species: oligophylla. Family: Caesalphiniaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Rounded spreading shrub grows from 1–2m with a blue-green foliage. Bark: Woody stems. Leaves: Made up of pairs of leathery rounded leaflets. Flowers: Short dense sprays of buttercup flowers happening from September to November. Often confused with grey cassia. Not very palatable to stock.
NO. 4
Common Name: Mulga. Botanical Name: Acacia aneura. Family: Mimosaceae. Non Indigenous use: Stock Fodder, fencing, to produce charcoal, bullock yokes and souvenirs. Indigenous use: boomerangs, digging sticks, spears, shields and the seed was used to make a flour. Description: Common shrub or tree up to 8m high Bark: Dark Fissured. Leaves: Thin greyish-blue leaves varying in shape and size, 3–7cm long with downy covering. Flowers: Bright yellow. Protection from erosion. High in crude protein but low in phosphorus so supplementary mineral blocks need to be fed to stock.
NO. 5
Common Name: Poplar Box or Bimble Box Botanical Name: Eucalyptus populnea. Family: Myrtaceae. Non Indigenous use: Suitable for construction work, fence posts, fire wood, windbreaks & shelter. It also produces good quality honey. Indigenous use: didgeridoos, humpies & used for burials. Description: Medium sized tree grows from 10–20mts, grows on red and sandy soils often associated with Mulga. It has a shimmering lush crown and is a drought tolerant plant. Bark: Flaky, fibrous, rough bark, light grey or greyish brown in colour. Bark covers all but the smallest branches. Leaves: Glossy and dark green on both sides they grow on long slender stalks, round, broad and lanceolate in shape growing 5–9cm long, 2–5cm wide. Flowers: Late summer with small buds in groups of 7–15 which open into whitish flowers. Only grazed under duress.
NO. 6
Common Name: Charleville turkey bush. Botanical Name: Eromophila gilesii. Family: Myoporacea. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Leafy and compact this shrub grows to 1.5mts. Downy and sticky and regarded as a woody weed. Leaves: Alternate, dull green and linear from 1–7cm long, narrow. Flowers: Pale blue to purple and bell shaped growing singly in the leaf axils during autumn and spring. Fruits are oval shaped and slightly hairy being dry and woody. Not palatable for stock.
NO. 7
Common Name: Grey Cassia. Botanical Name: Senna artemisioides – sub species Sturtii. Family: Ceasalpiniaceae. Non Indigenous use: garden plant. Description: Grey in colour, woolly and round in appearance, grows to 2m in height. Bark: Stems become hairless with age. Leaves: 4–5 pairs of linear oblanceolate leaflets 10–20mm long and 3–4mm wide, they sometimes have a notched tip. Flowers: Five petal, yellow buttercup like flowers with 4–8 racemes in the leaf axils. Flowers winter/spring. Not generally used for grazing, but the pods are palatable to sheep.
NO. 8
Common Name: Silver cassia. Botanical Name: Senna artemisioides. Family: Caesalpiniaceae. Revegetation in native parklands. Indigenous use: Ceremonial and medicinal use. Grubs found on the roots often used as a food source. Description: An attractive showy shrub up to 2m tall and 1.5m in width with erect slender stems. Quick growing but short lived. Leaves: Silvery grey-green consisting of up to 10 pairs of leaflets. Flowers: Sweetly scented yellow 5 petalled flowers in late winter/spring. Grazed at times by sheep, unpalatable to cattle. Some regions it occurs as a woody weed problem.
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NO. 9
Common Name: False sandalwood. Botanical Name: Eremophyla mitchellii. Family: Myoporaceae. Non Indigenous use: Essential oils. Indigenous use: Medicinal and for ceremonial rites. Description: Either a tree to 9mts or a shrub to 3mts. Commonly grows beneath larger trees such as gidgee, wilga and cypress pine. Sand and clay loamy earth or reddish-brown earths are preferable growing conditions. Bark: Dark brown almost black, oblong segments and rough. Leaves: Linear-lanceolate, sticky, bright green and very fragrant. Flowers: White or pale cream, small and bell shaped, borne either singular or in groups of 2–3. Unpalatable to stock. Considered a woody weed hard to eradicate. Drought tolerant.
NO. 10
Common Name: Gidgee. Botanical Name: Acacia cambagei. Family: Mimosaceae. Non Indigenous use: Wood turning, stock feed, fence posts, fire wood. Indigenous use: Spears, blended ash with pituri (a shrub) to poison waterholes to catch fish. Bark: Dark grey and deeply furrowed. Leaves: 3–14cm long, 4–10mm broad with small bend on tip and silvery grey in colour with a white flaky covering. Flowers: Clusters of golden balls. Dense stands on cracking clay soils and more sparsely on lighter soils. Also known as Stinking Wattle due to the smell emitted during humid or wet weather or when tree is flowering.
NO. 11
Common Name: Wilga. Botanical Name: Geijera parviflora. Family: Rutaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: Used extensively for weapons and also for medicinal purposes such as poultices for open wounds, the leaves were used for aches and pains. Description: A medium sized dense tree with a rounded crown and drooping branches, grows to 9mts. They like red clay or sandy soils. Bark: Dark and very rough. Leaves: Dark green shiny narrow leaves that are spear shaped that grow to 18cm long, they are very aromatic when crushed. Flowers: White five-petalled flowers which are quite small borne in open clusters at the end of the stem. The flower, not unlike a citrus flower with a strong aroma that attracts insects. Valuable shade and shelter tree. Palatable as sheep fodder. Drought and frost tolerant.
NO. 12
Common Name: Silver leafed ironbark. Botanical Name: Eucalyptus melanophloia. Family: Myrtaceae. Non Indigenous use: Shade and shelter tree. Timber used for fence posts and sleepers. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Small to medium tree to 20mts, distinctive tree with a silvery crown, often gnarled and can be straggly, well suited to hard exposed situations. Bark: Hard and very dark (reddish black) deeply furrowed with good coverage. Leaves: Silver, bluey-grey leaves, oval to round in shape and they grow opposite each other. Flowers: White coloured growing in clusters of 3–6, flowering in spring through summer. Only browsed by stock in hard times.
NO. 13
Common Name: Brigalow Botanical Name: Acacia harpophylla. Family: Mimosaceae. Non Indigenous use: Rails, fodder and firewood. Indigenous use: spear shafts, boomerangs and Nulla Nullas. Sap was used for curing skins of animals. Description: grow up to 10mts high which often form a dense stand usually as the result of root suckers generally on clay soils where gilgiis are present. Bark: hard dark brown, dark grey to black and fissured. Leaves: silvery canopy. Flowers: Yellow and red.
NO. 14
Common Name: River Red Gum. Botanical Name: Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Family: Myrtaceae. Non Indigenous use: Suitable for heavy construction work, sleepers and fence posts. Indigenous use: The bark was used for making shields, roofing for huts and sheets of bark were also used to bury the dead. Description: Large spreading tree grows to 40mts. Grows mainly in heavy clay soil areas on river and creek banks, also on floodplains. Bark: Dark and rough on lower trunk, smooth, white or ash coloured upper trunk and limbs. Leaves: Alternate, lanceolate with pointy tip to 22cm long, blueish green with new growth being a pinkish colour. Flowers: Cream flowers grow in groups of 5–10, flowering from December through February. One of the most widespread eucalypts. Frost hardy, known koala food tree, only grazed by stock under duress, older trees with hollows are invaluable to birdlife as nesting places.
NO. 15
Common Name: Spotted fuschia bush. Botanical Name: Eremophila maculate. Family: Myoporaceae. Non Indigenous use: Native garden specimen. Indigenous use: Medicinal for colds. Description: Densely compact thick shrub grows to 1.5mts. Very hardy plant growing on most soil types. Bark: Woody stemmed shrub. Leaves: Alternate dark green leaves are tapered at both ends. Flowers: Coloured red through to yellow, bell shaped with red or brown spots inside. Winter spring flowering and often through to summer. 15–20mm globular fruit is hard and smooth when ripe and very succulent. Browsed by stock but is known to be toxic at certain times or if stock are under duress.
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NO. 16
Common Name: River tea tree. Botanical Name: Melaleuca linariifolia – var.trychostachya. Family: Myrtaceae. Non Indigenous use: Ornamental tree in parks and gardens. Also used for screens or windbreaks. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Multi stemmed spreading shrub or tree to 10mts. Bark: White coloured peeling, papery bark. Leaves: Grow opposite each other, they grow long and are narrow and pointed. Flowers: Perfumed cream flowers grow on loose spikes up to 3cm in length, similar to a bottlebrush spike. Flowers in summer. Mainly found growing along rivers or permanent waterholes, but are also drought tolerant. Great tree for native birds and insects.
NO. 17
Common Name: Lignum. Botanical Name: Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii. Family: Polygonaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: not known. Description: A tangled and intertwined shrub with many slender striated branches and branchlets, grows to 2.5mts. Bark: Grey green stems often pointed at the end. Leaves: The small leaves are dropped as the plant matures. Flowers: Grow in a whorl-like cluster along the branches, they are small and creamy coloured and occur throughout the year. Associated with wetland habitats especially in arid and semi-arid areas prone to flooding. Because of dense growth it provides a protected breeding habitat for native wildlife such as waterbirds and also for feral animals such as pigs, foxes and rabbits. Only grazed under extreme conditions.
NO. 18
Common Name: Slender wattle. Botanical Name: Acacia leptostachya. Family: Mimosaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Sparse rounded shrub that grows to 2.5mts tall and wide. A very hardy plant that handles arid conditions. Bark: Dark grey and fissured on woody stems. Leaves: Silvery with yellowish veins and very tough. Flowers: Perfumed flowers that grow as a yellow spike in abundance over the shrub through June to August.
NO. 19
Common Name: Flowering lignum. Botanical Name: Eremophila polyclada. Family: Myoporaceae. Non Indigenous use: not known. Indigenous use: not known. Description: Dense straggly and sprawling shrub with sparse leaves, grows to 2mts both ways. Branches are rigid and curve downwards. Leaves: Narrow leaves to 6cm in length are dull green, linear and tapered to a stalky base. Flowers: White bell shaped flowers with brown spots. Fruits are oblong and pointed. Grows on flood plains and low lying areas. Palatable to stock only in dry times when little else is available.
NO. 20
Common Name: White Cypress Pine. Botanical Name: Callistris glaucophylla. Family: Cupressaceae. Non Indigenous use: construction, flooring, external structures and fence posts. Indigenous use: not known. Description: A bushy conical tree growing to 20m. Provides shade and is drought tolerant. Bark: Rough and furrowed. Leaves: Bluish grey foliage, the many forked leaves are needle like and jointed. Very aromatic. Flowers: Male flowers are cylindrical and the female flowers are in whorls. Produces seed bearing cones. Sheep will eat leaves when little else is available. Termite resistant. Supports native wildlife, good food supply for native birds.
NO. 21
Common Name: Hopbush. Botanical Name: Dodonaea viscosa subsp: angustissima. Family: Spindaceae. Non Indigenous use: A native garden specimen. Indigenous use: Dense wood used for making clubs. Description: A spreading, sticky shrub grows between 2–3m. Is a woody weed. Bark: A thin reddish bark covers a resinous stem. Leaves: 8cm long and narrow with toothed margins, bright green and glossy. Flowers: Inconspicuous but beautifully coloured plant due to distinctive capsules that have 3 or 4 spreading vertical wings, these can be green, red or purple. Plants flower from late winter through spring. Grazed sparingly.
NO. 22
Common Name: Old-man saltbush. Botanical Name: Atriplex nummularia. Family: Chenopodiaceae. Non Indigenous use: Hedges, windbreaks, firebreaks, grazing. Land rehabilitation. Indigenous use: seeds used as a condiment. Medicinal when mixed with other plants, used on all open wounds or ulcerated infections. Description: A large grey woody shrub growing to 3m high, 4m wide. Mostly grows in low lying clay soils but can grow just about anywhere. Drought resistant but can tolerate shallow flooding. Leaves: Stalked and roundly ovate, 10–25mm long. Flowers: Spring and early summer in groups at the end of the branch and the fruit fan shaped growing to about 8mm round.
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bird list – cunnamulla, eulo, wyandra & yowah The Cunnamulla, Eulo, Yowah and Wyandra area is rich in inland birds. The following birds have been found within the shire. This list follows the “Field Guide to Australian Birds” by Michael Morcombe, published by Steve Parish and available for purchase at the Cunnamulla Visitor Centre. The numbers following the bird’s name indicates the page in the field guide to find more about the bird including illustrations. Names printed in bold type indicate the birds are often or easily seen. Names in italics indicate the birds are not common and can be difficult to find. Some birds are rarely seen as they are migratory or nomadic.
BOWRA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary is internationally renowned as one of Australia’s most rewarding bird watching destinations. Purchased for conservation by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), the area is now protected forever as part of Australia’s National Reserve System. This diverse habitat is rich in birdlife and is a stronghold for many threatened and declining bird species. Just a short 16kms north-west of Cunnamulla, it’s well worth a visit. Camping is available in open areas adjacent to the buildings and around the lagoon. You have the choice of powered and unpowered sites. BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL. WATER BIRDS – Including birds that are often found around water
Bar-tailed Godwit – 108 Brolga – 78 Cormorant, Great – 66 Cormorant, Little Black – 66
Cormorant, Little Pied – 66 Cormorant, Pied – 66 Darter, Australian – 66 Dotterel, Black-fronted – 138 Dotterel, Red-kneed – 138 Duck, Blue-billed – 18 Duck, Maned (Aust Wood) – 24 Duck, Musk – 18 Duck, Pacific Black – 24 Duck, Pink-eared – 24 Duck, Plumed Whistling – 22
Duck, Wandering Whistling – 22 Dusky Moorhen – 96 Egret, Cattle – 70
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Date
No. of Birds
Location
WATER BIRDS – Including birds that are often found around water
Date
No. of Birds
Location
Egret, Eastern Great – 70 Egret, Intermediate – 70 Egret, Little – 70 Eurasian Coot – 96 Grebe, Australasian – 30 Grebe, Great Crested – 30 Grebe, Hoary-headed – 30 Grey Teal – 24 Hard Head – 26 Heron, White-faced – 72 Heron, White-necked – 72 Ibis, Australian White – 76 Ibis, Glossy – 76 Ibis, Straw-necked – 76 Lapwing, Banded – 138 Lapwing, Masked – 138 Nankeen Night-heron – 72 Native-hen, Black-tailed – 96 Pelican, Australian – 68 Purple Swamphen – 96 Rail, Buff-banded – 100 Red-capped Plover – 134
Red-necked Avocet – 128 Sandpiper, Common – 116 Sandpiper, Marsh – 114 Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed – 118 Shoveler, Australasian – 28
Snipe, Latham’s – 106 Snipe, Painted – 106 Spoonbill, Royal – 76 Spoonbill, Yellow-billed – 76 Stilt, Black-winged – 128
Stone-Curlew, Bush – 128 Swan, Black – 20 PIGEONS Bar-shouldered Pigeon – 164 Common Bronzewing – 158 Crested Pigeon – 158
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WATER BIRDS – Including birds that are often found around water Diamond Dove – 164 Peaceful Dove – 164
Squatter Pigeon – 160 NIGHT BIRDS
Australian Owlet Nightjar – 202 Barking Owl – 196 Barn Owl – 198 Boobook, Southern – 196 Spotted Nightjar – 202 Tawny Frogmouth – 200 PARROTS & COCKATOOS Australian Ringneck – 182
Blue Bonnet – 184 Bourke’s Parrot – 186 Budgerigar – 186 Cockatiel – 168 Galah – 170 Little Corella – 168 Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo – 170 Mulga Parrot – 184 Pale-headed Rosella Rainbow Lorikeet Red-rumped parrot – 184
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo – 166 Red-winged Parrot – 176 RAPTORS Australian Hobby – 92 Black Falcon – 92 Black Kite – 80 Black-breasted Buzzard – 84 Black-shouldered Kite – 88 Brown Falcon – 92 Brown Goshawk – 90 Collared Sparrowhawk – 90 Grey Falcon – 92 Little Eagle – 82 Nankeen Kestrel – 92 Peregrine Falcon – 92
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Date
No. of Birds
Location
WATER BIRDS – Including birds that are often found around water
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No. of Birds
Location
Spotted Harrier – 86 Square-tailed Kite – 82 Swamp Harrier – 86 Wedge-tailed Eagle – 84 Whistling Kite – 82
White-bellied Sea-eagle – 84 BUSH BIRDS Apostlebird – 320 Babbler, Chestnut-crowned – 282 Babbler, Grey-crowned – 282 Babbler, Hall’s – 282
Babbler, White-browed – 282 Bee-eater, Rainbow – 210 Bowerbird, Spotted – 322 Bronze-cuckoo, Horsfield’s – 192 Bustard, Australian – 100 Butcherbird, Grey – 310 Butcherbird, Pied – 310
Button-quail, Little – 102 Button-quail, Red-chested – 102
Chat, Crimson – 272 Chat, Orange – 272 Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush – 286 Chirruping Wedgebill – 284 Chough, White-winged – 320 Clamorous Reed-Warbler – 342 Crested Bellbird – 290 Crow, Little – 318
Cuckoo-shrike, Black-faced – 304 Cuckoo-shrike, Ground – 304 Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied – 304
Cuckoo, Black-eared – 190 Cuckoo, Fan-tailed – 192 Cuckoo, Pallid – 190
Diamond Firetail – 334 Dollarbird – 210 Fairy-wren, Splendid Fairy-wren – 220 Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren – 222
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WATER BIRDS – Including birds that are often found around water Fairy-wren, White-winged – 220 Finch, Double-barred – 330 Finch, Plumb-headed – 332 Finch, Zebra – 330 Friarbird, little – 250
Friarbird, Noisy – 250 Gerygone, Western – 238 Grassbird, Little – 344 Grassbird, Tawny – 342 Grasswren, Striated – 228 Grey Fantail – 300
Grey Shrike-thrush – 294 Honeyeater, Black – 268
Honeyeater, Black-chinned – 266
Honeyeater, Blue-faced – 252 Honeyeater, Brown – 260 Honeyeater, Brown Headed – 266 Honeyeater, Grey-fronted – 258 Honeyeater, Painted – 264 Honeyeater, Pied – 268 Honeyeater, Pied – 268 Honeyeater, Singing – 256
Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked – 248 Honeyeater, Striped – 248
Honeyeater, White-plumed – 260 Jacky Winter – 274 Kingfisher, Red-backed – 208
Kingfisher, Sacred – 208 Kookaburra, Laughing – 210
Magpie-lark – 302 Magpie, Australian – 312 Martin, Fairy – 340 Martin, Tree – 340 Miner, Yellow-throated – 252 Mistletoebird – 270 (338) Myna, Common – 350
Needletail, White-throated – 204 Oriole, Olive-backed – 306
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Date
No. of Birds
Location
WATER BIRDS – Including birds that are often found around water
Date
No. of Birds
Location
Pardalote, Red-browed – 230 Pardalote, Striated – 230
Pipit, Australian– 326 (Richard’s) Raven, Australian – 318 Redthroat – 238 Restless Flycatcher – 298 Robin, Hooded – 280 Robin, Red-capped – 276 Songlark, Brown – 344 Songlark, Rufous – 344 Southern Whiteface – 246 Swallow, Barn – 338
Swallow, Welcome – 338 Swallow, White-backed – 340
Swift, Fork-tailed – 204 Thornbill, Chestnut-rumped – 244 Thornbill, Inland – 244 Thornbill, Slaty-backed – 246 Thornbill, Yellow – 242 Thornbill, Yellow-rumped – 242 Treecreeper Brown – 218 Treecreeper White-browed – 218 Triller, White-winged – 302 Weebill – 242 Whistler, Rufous – 292
Willie Wagtail – 300 Woodswallow, Black-faced – 308 Woodswallow, Dusky – 308 Woodswallow, Little – 308 Woodswallow, Masked – 308 Woodswallow, White-breasted – 308 Woodswallow, White-browed – 308
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fishing guide – cunnamulla, eulo & wyandra Experience the tranquillity and excitement of fishing off the banks of an outback river or creek. Use your skills to catch a “Yellow Belly” or the elusive Murray Cod in the muddy waters that flows throughout our river systems. The Golden Perch, “Yellow Belly”, is the most commonly caught fish but Murray Cod, catfish, and silver and spangled perch are also available in some areas. You may even be lucky enough to find a local that will share his secret spot with you. Check road and weather conditions prior to travelling.
Freshwater Catfish
FISH IDENTIFICATION
Murry Cod
Golden Perch (Yellow Belly)
The Murray Cod are golden-yellow with green to dark brown mottling. They have soft dorsal, pelvic and caudal fins with thin white margins. The head profile is of a concave nature, with a large mouth, extending back to behind the eye.
A common fish caught in our waterways and in Queensland. Adult Perch are moderate to large in size and are bronze, olive green to brownish in colour overall with a yellow ventral surface. The forehead is distinctly concave above the eyes and the lower jaw is protruding.
Minimum Size Limit – 30cm, Bag Limit – 10 Fish.
The Catfish may appear to have greenish-brown mottled skin, fading to a white on the belly. This fish also has large eel-like dorsal fins starting about the middle of the body. CAUTION – The catfish has sharp barbs on their fins, although not poisonous they can cause sharp, burning pains if stabbed.
Minimum Size Limit – 30cm, Bag Limit – 10 Fish.
CLOSED SEASON – 1st September to 30th November Minimum Size Limit – 60cm, Maximum Size Limit – 110cm, Bag Limit – 2 Fish.
GOLDEN PERCH
MURRY COD
FRESHWATER CATFISH
SILVER PERCH
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Silver Perch (Black Bream)
Freshwater Shrimp
This fish may be identified by the small mouth and head in relation to the body size. Colour is usually silvery grey with darker scale margins, a whitish belly and dusky grey to black fins.
Shrimp live in the shallow waters around weeds, logs and fallen trees throughout our local river systems. Shrimp are easily identified by their small translucent bodies and sharp barb protruding from the front of their head. Shrimp make fantastic bait for fishing.
PROTECTED SPECIES – Strictly Catch and Release.
No Size or Bag Limits apply.
European Carp
Spangled Perch
Carp have large scales, a deeply forked tail, a single dorsal fin and two pairs of fleshy whiskers (or barbels) in the corners of their upper lip.
The fish is blue to gray with a silvery shine, and has reddish spots all over, except on the belly. The juvenile has a dark bar on the lower part of the tail. Common size is 150–200mm, and on rare occasions up to 250mm and 500g.
CARP ARE A NOXIOUS PEST – It is illegal to place or release noxious fish alive or dead into Queensland waterways. Penalties of up to $200,000 apply.
Minimum Size Limit – No Limit, Bag Limit – 20 Fish.
Must be disposed of, and not thrown back in. Use as bait or transport out of the area.
Yabby (Blueclaw Crayfish) The Yabby is a crustacean species that burrows or uses the shelter of rocks and timber along shallow waters on river banks. The Yabby can be identified by its bluish brown body. Small yabbies make good bait for fishing and the larger ones can be eaten in much the same way as prawns. Bag Limit – 100 Crayfish.
SPANGLED PERCH
CARP
FRESHWATER SHRIMP
BLUECLAW CRAYFISH (YABBY)
BONY BREAM
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Bony Bream The Bony Bream is a relatively deep bodied species with a blunt snout and bony toothless lower jaw. The scales along both the midline of the belly and the dorsal margin of the body in front of the dorsal fin, form a sharp serrate ridge. The species is silvery to grey, sometimes with a greenish or reddish tinge dorsally. The species grows to about 32cm in length.
Minimum Size Limit – No Limit, Bag Limit – 20 Fish.
BAIT & INFORMATION For information on where to get bait please feel free to call in and see us at the Cunnamulla Fella Centre or phone us on (07) 4655 8470. For further information on fish identification visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au or download the Queensland Fisheries App.
Weir – Five kilometres south of town, the Allan Tannock Weir is the perfect place to sit by the water to watch the birds come and go. It was completed in 1991, supplying Cunnamulla with its water for irrigation and urban purposes. When full, it holds a volume of 4,772ML. Sandhills – If ‘sight doing’ is more your thing, then get ready to burn a few calories with some sand-boarding. Climb to the top of the sandhill then feel the rush as you carve up the sand on the way down! Evaporation Ponds – The land types in the Paroo Shire attract diverse species of birds and is a bird watcher’s paradise. Cunnamulla, Eulo, Yowah, Wyandra and surrounds are home to more than 200 species of birds. Trees on the edge of the ponds can be used as hides to view the birds that frequent here at various times of the year.
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OLD CHARLEVILLE ROAD
CUNNAMULLA FISHING AREAS
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