Cooktown Trip - Memories from 2013 - DAY 15-17

Charleville to Blackall

DAY 15 - 17

In Charleville we stayed in the Evening Star Caravan Park about 8km out of town.  We chose this park as it was out of town, spacious, in a bush setting and we enjoy not having neighbours too close, sounds a bit anti-social but we can always find someone to talk to if we want.

The Corones Hotel

The Corones Hotel is a heritage listed hotel and was built by Harry Corones around 1924, having arrived in Australia from Greece in the early 1900's.  The original hotel was destroyed by fire and the new hotel was completed in 1929 and covered almost an entire block in the main street. 

We drove around Charleville to get a feeling for the town and decided to have dinner at the historic Corones Hotel.

We had a lovely meal in the hotel and it was like a step back in time, the furnishings were just like they would have been in the 1930's.

The next day we did a History Convoy tag-along tour of the WW2 site when the American Air Force were in Charleville to set up defence operations.

This tour was very informative and we had no idea that this even existed and that it was so important to Australia during the war.

We left Charleville with more knowledge about our history and so pleased that we decided to stay and look around.  It amazes us just how much there is to see in our outback.

Our next stop was Augathella and we were surprised to see a helicopter in the park where we stopped for a break.

Augathella

On the road again and onto Tambo with a population of 400 and the oldest town in western Queensland.

Lake Tambo

After a look around the Old Post Office, we had lunch at Tambo Lake & Recreation Park, then back on the road to Blackall.  

The distance from Charleville to Blackall is approximately 300 km, enough kms for one day, so we decided to stay in Blackall.  We don't book ahead and usually have no trouble finding a caravan park but it was rush hour in Blackall and the parks were full.  After checking around we were able to get a powered site at the back of the hotel, not a blade of grass in sight, but as it was drought conditions in the outback we were happy with just having power for the caravan.  We had neighbours here and enjoyed their company.

Ron beyond the black stump

The Information Centre

We had a wander around Blackall, an interesting town with a lot to see.
 

A new friend

Main Street, Blackall

Sculpture by Richard Moffat, made from railway spikes and scrap metal

Memorial to Edgar Towner, soldier from Blackall 

Jack Howe, Australia's most famous shearer

We enjoyed a few hours at the Blackall Woolscour, where we were able to see the last of the steam operated wool washing plants, the 20 stand shearing shed, sheep yards and shearers quarters. 

Now that's a Camp Oven

We had a great time in Blackall and there was so much to see and probably a lot more that we didn't see, but we hope we will be back this way again.