Mary Kathleen Ghost Town

There are so many abandoned towns throughout Australia, and most are a result of a decline in mining operations. We love to explore these old sites, many are now heritage listed but still accessible to the public.

Mary Kathleen was a town half way between Cloncurry and Mt Isa, that grew from the mining of uranium, twice. Between 1956-1963 and 1974-1983 it was a bustling town and the mine was 6km away. All infrastructure was finally removed, leaving concrete slabs (which make good caravan sites) from the homes, path ways, streets, roads, tennis court, filled-in pool, sports oval. Churches, shops school, club houses etc all sold at auction and removed. It is now privately owned and is a working cattle station, although camping is permitted and a visit to the open cut mine site a must.

The water was crystal clear and inviting, but radioactive

The ghost town of Mary Kathleen, we spent ages exploring and picturing how it would have been, anyone up for a game of tennis?

The tiled floor of the ANZ Bank, outside the general store, a swim anyone?

Billabongs, Dams, Water Holes

We left our stay on the Thompson River at Longreach where we camped on a dust bowl and were visited daily by a family of Brolgas, 

Another great sunset though..


Then headed for Long Waterhole at Winton for a few days, where we visited the town and surrounds.

Arno’s Wall, everything including the kitchen sink, tv, sewing machine, motor bike, lawnmower etc

A visit to Bladensberg N.P. was a must. It is a sheep station (c1900) that has been turned into a National Park in 1984, and has now become a museum paying tribute to a not so long ago era. We decided to do the homestead section rather than the water hole and escarpments and lookout. Fabulous afternoon drive.

All the homestead and workers quarters were all in tact, plus the shearing shed 3km away.

Driving through the NP we came across this baby’s grave. She died from teething.

Leaving Winton we made our way to Combo Conservation Park, where AB Patterson penned “Waltzing Matilda”,  in 1895, which was based on a true incident only 14 weeks earlier.  It was on the banks of the Diamantina River on Dagworth Station, a common stop for the Cobb & Co mail run. We never expected to be able to see this.  It was a 2km walk from the car park, which was about 8km from the highway, we walked across many river crossings, it was well sign posted with info boards setting the scene along the way. We couldn’t help singing the song once we got there, just for old times sake.

Waltzing Matilda Billabong, there was a cairn marking this exact spot.

Out of the flat “grass” country and into the rocky and rugged mining districts Cloncurry to Mt Isa - Chinaman Creek Dam...Mt Levithian (black rock)

Silo art is very popular in southern states, out here it is water tank art

Cloncurry parrot

And an opportunity to do some service....5 bucket full loads found just 20 m from a bin

Corrella Dam made for a great few days of  bird watching

Our peace was shattered on the last day and we had a group of 4 vans travelling together surround us...time to move on


Sunsets to marvel at as well as clear night skies

And we tried our hand at catching red claw, had studied up on how to best kill and cook them, but only caught one and a turtle so threw it back, just as well I had defrosted something else for dinner......we’ll try again next dam

My list of birds spotted is growing, Australasian Darter

Corella Dam is on a private cattle station property

The Qld Outback

We have arrived in true cattle/sheep country with not a crop in sight. Flinders and Mitchell grass abound, on wide flat open spaces. We have enjoyed visiting the small country towns which exist to support the Stations and we have driven only 7 hours this week, and camped along rivers and weirs again.

It was time for a change of look from beach hat and sandshoe, to country hat and walking boots. (My hiking boots are tucked away and waiting for a descent mountain to climb). It is so dry and dusty, and the grasses and tumbleweeds prickly.

Ilfracombe was once part of Wellshot Station, once the biggest sheep station in the World in the 1870s, with 460,000 sheep and over 4,000 sqkm in area.

Ilfracombe Machinery Mile Museum. 

Our drive past, so drove back from Longreach the 27km for a better look next day

Artesian Spa, nice dip at Ilfracombe even though the water temp is in the mid 30s celsius, thanks to the Great Artesian Basin under most of Qld

A day out from Barcaldine, through Aramac which is Harry Redford country (he stole 1000 head of cattle in 1870 and drove them to South Australia....the white bull he sold was his undoing, it was evidence at his court hearing......verdict not guilty!

Aramac, Tambo Teddys, Jack Howe world’s best sheep shearer, horse made from twigs

Drove out along the sculpture trail from Aramac....love Aussie art...Harry Redford on the horse.

By a local artist, Milynda Rogers, and spread over 200km. We only saw a few of the 35.  Keeping the rest for next time!

And found this ancient healing circle, (one of 7 in the world) and spent a few minutes pondering life and health, and then a hill to climb behind it.....great view!

White Station

Award for best Town Sign

Tree of Knowledge, Meat Ant country, Blackall’s artesian bore, the first drilled in Queensland, nearly 1km deep, beautiful sunsets


Crossed the dingo fence between Tambo and Blackall,  oooouuuuu, dingos not very popular north of the fence

Another Black Stump this time in Blackall. It was used as the survey marker for Queensland by which accurate measurement could be taken for all other towns in inland Qld. Anywhere west of this stump was known as “beyond the black stump”. It was part of Astro Station 1887; but is now on the grounds of the local primary school.

A Tour of our Home

When we are asked “ where’s home?”, we say  “right here!”

It’s 15’ inside but with the huge mirror on the back wall it becomes 30’.  It may be tiny compared to most vans, but we never feel couped up.  We have plenty of storage inside and out, for clothes, food, and chairs/table etc, love our huge fridge we can keep meat for 2 weeks in the freezer, have plenty of solar, tv, microwave, lounge couch, and extendable table, and comfy bed and large windows, and ensuite .....what more do we need?

Lounge, bedroom, kitchen, and ensuite.

The Warrego - footsteps of Explorers

We drove the Warrego Highway west to Charleville this week, and realised we were following the routes of Leichardt, Landsborough and Mitchell who opened up western Queensland between 1840 and 1870 and found incredible stories in their wake.

Jimbour Station was where Leichardt set off from when it was the furthest west sheep/cattle station by the 1840s. He headed further west into the unknown to find a route to Darwin.

Jimbour Station

The start/end of the Dingo Fence was in between Jimbour and Jandowea. 5614 Km long, the longest fence in the world, was built to prohibit Dingos into south eastern Australia to protect sheep, beginning in the 1880s. We hope to discover the other end when we cross the Nullabor Plains next year.

The only Community Hall to be named after a moth .... Boonarga Cactoblastis Hall near Chinchilla.  The Prickly Pear Cactus plant was brought to the Western Downs in 1848 near Chinchilla for its red cochineal used for the British Red Coats but by 1870 the authorities recognised that the plant was out of control and by the 1920s there were 24,250,000 hectares of Australia covered with prickly pear, this is larger than the area of the United Kingdom. 

In 1924 a biological control was found in Buenos Aires - the Cactoblastis cactorum and the moth bred with enthusiasm and at the height of the operation Chinchilla was sending out as many as 14 million Cactoblastis eggs a day. 

By1931 the much-loved Cactoblastis had brought the prickly pear under control and the land around Chinchilla was being opened up for settlement.  Still the odd Prickly Pear trees around

Roma is home to Australia’s largest livestock sales yard, and also Australia’s first discovery of oil and gas, but it was the abundance of bottle trees that caught our eye on our walk around town. 

Reality is though, that we left Brisbane in the middle of a dust storm, and strong winds and dust prevailed for 3 days.  We tried to sit it out at Chinchilla Weir, and by the end we had an inch of red dirt over the van and car, we had travelled less than 300 km and had not left the bitumen. So straight to the car wash in Chinchilla to start again all nice and clean.  It is definitely getting drier and the drought more evident the further west we go and long hot showers are becoming a luxury.

Stories of unscrupulous cattle rustlers and bush rangers the Kenniffe Brothers murdering and causing havoc, over this region

Folklore says one of the Kelly Gang, Steve Hart, reportedly escaped the “fire” and capture in Victoria and fled to Queensland to live out quietly the remainder of his time as alias Harry Thompson, died 1943.  He was said to be the same build, age, accent, and used pistols not rifles.  We discovered this story after walking the 1km Harry Thompson Walk from the Wallumbilla Showgrounds into town. One can only imagine pioneering life back in those days.

Could this be the same person?

We are finally moving along at a slow pace, staying longer if we want to, and camping amongst dried up rivers, creeks, and weirs, although we have managed to camp alongside some picturesque and peaceful waterways too. Have spotted a few birds of the Rosela family that we haven’t seen before. Derek is worried I may turn into a “birder”.

We meet many like minded souls who are all on their own adventures..some short and some very long. Swap stories, listen to seasoned travellers who offer a wealth of tips, and was invited to play Rumeo game with a couple of travelling single ladies as we caught up with them in a few different campsites.

Neil Turner Weir at Mitchell

We try to keep active and walk around the larger country towns such as Dalby, Roma, Mitchell and Charleville. It is surprising how the quirky characteristics of locals is evident as you walk through their surburn streets.  You see things you would miss from the highway.  Our motto is  “ unless you walk a place, you really haven’t experienced it”

“Revenge is Sweet” says the Kangaroo in Wallumbilla

Branding Board in Morven celebrates the re-enactment of Harry Redfords cattle drive. In 1870 he stole 1000 head and drove them 1287km from Longreach to Adelaide. Local landowners burnt their brands on to this bloodwood board in 2002 as the drive travelled through Morven

Visited Tregole National Park and discovered remnants of an ancient (1.6million years old) rain forest on the edge of Mulga country at Morven.  The Ooline tree species is now endangered.

Note to self, get to small country towns before 12.00pm on a Saturday as everything closes. We spent a peaceful and restful afternoon in Charleville, Derek still trying to shake a bout of chest cold.

UHF came in handy today as a road train approached behind us, the driver was lovely, and considerate, glad we thought to switch it on!

You only live once!

Central Australia here we come!

We have been grateful for being given the chance to house sit and carry out a few jobs on the caravan and car, ensure we have all the right gear for remote travel, restock food, change winter bedding for cooler sheets, do some baking, pack away our winter coats 

[Michelle And Derek Roaming In Comfort]

Upgrading rear camera

and plan our route to Central Australia.....in particular Ayres Rock (Uluru), so we can be there before the 26th October before public access to climbing the rock closes for good. Now I don’t know if we will climb, it can be a very heated discussion depending on who you listen to, but we will decide when we get there, at least we will be there for the closing. We should be back around to Finley by mid November.