1st day
We left home on Thursday 29th April to do drive the Matilda Highway, destination – Karumba NQ.
Setting off at 6.30 am we made good time and reached Roma to set up camp for the night. Setting up camp was not hard, just getting the caravan into a spot levelling it and popping the top. . . . not hard at all, then attaching the hose to the van and the electricity, winding out the awning & putting out the table & chairs. Nothing to it. Life’s easy!
2nd day-Friday 30th April
Next night we stayed at Charleville at the Bailey Bar Caravan Park, where they held Yabby auction & races. That was fun, we had never seen this activity before. Over in the showgrounds next door we heard motorcycles and went to investigate. Some fellas were doing aerobatic jumps, great to see!
3rd day-Sat. 31st April
Fuelled up at Augathella and then on to Blackall. We had a tour of the Woolscour which operated from 1908 to 1978 and although the wool is not processed through it any more the mechanics still work. It is a steam operated engineering achievement from Australia’s pioneers, & is the last steam powered plant left in the country.
Discovering the Aquatic Centre, we swam in the olympic pool & spa in artesian water, it is open most of the year. Blackall is home of Australia’s most famous gun shearer, Jack Howe.
Drinks at the Barcoo Hotel & camp oven dinner back at the park.
Stopped at Barcaldine for lunch, where we toured the Australian Workers Heritage Centre, which is a tribute to the contribution made by the country’s working men & women. This shows where ordinary people achieved extraordinary things to help build the nation.
The Tree Of Knowledge was an interesting site. The tree itself has been vandalised and is dead, but the town has built a memorial around the dead trunk, & this is fascinating to see the resutls. It was a ghost gum believed to be between 170 & 200 yrs old.
