Jetsettersblog

Travellers to Charleville in south-west Queensland are finding this lovely old Outback town has plenty new to offer visitors, writes Adrienne Costin.

European settlement began around the area which is now Charleville in 1847 when explorer Edmund Kennedy camped on the Warrego River near the present site of the town during his exploration of the Barcoo River.

In the years following Charleville welcomed the railway line, saw the wool boom bring prosperity to the region and droughts reverse the effect.

A visit in July 2009 sees the town’s motels and caravan parks full with travellers from all over the country. The newest of these is the Evening Star Tourist Park located an easy eight kilometre drive out of town. The creation of local property owners, Justin and Peta Debney, Evening Star is located on Thurlby Station, a 33,000 acre property which has been in Justin’s family for six generations.

It opened in March 2008 and offers large powered and unpowered grass sites for travellers – sites Peta proudly announced are marriage-friendly as they are all drive through! Guests enjoy a nightly open camp fire, and if they choose a weekly dinner prepared over this same fire, a bush kitchen with power and water and access to free wood and gas barbecues.

“We wanted to share our piece of Outback with others,” said Peta as she drove us on a private tour of the property, explaining the unique grazing practices and water management required for survival in the semi-arid mulga lands of this region.

The Debney’s also run guided station tours three times a week for guests and visitors to the region. They run for two and a half hours and include a light lunch. Sunset Tours are also available.

Back in town, the popular Cosmos Centre & Observatory has expanded its repertoire to include day time astronomy sessions supporting the popular evening star gazing. Running at regular intervals through the day these talks provide fascinating information on meteorites including the changes (should be chance?) to hold some of these ancient pieces of rock from outer space.

Visitors also learn about the new planetary line up which saw Pluto down-graded to a dwarf planet. Posters, interactive displays, the coffee shop with its cosmic themed-food make it (perhaps to be deleted??) and now the Visitor Information Centre certainly make the Cosmos Centre the hub of this region’s universe.

Also new is a Heritage Trail CD which was written, performed and recorded in Charleville. It’s an entertaining investment for only $5 and will soon be available in MP3 format.

Starting at the Railway Station the walking trail highlights 18 sites of interest including the Historic House Museum – a treasure trove of collectables maintained by three very busy volunteers, the Post office, Town Hall, Court House and the famous Hotel Corones.

Charleville’s history is peppered with international influences such as Harry (Poppa) Corones, a Greek migrant who built the hotel in 1929. If there is time take a tour of the hotel and learn about his exploits!

The town was also home to around 6000 or so American servicemen who were based there during World War II and have left behind them a airport runway long enough to take jumbos, the airport terminal, a hangar which is now the base for the Royal Flying Doctor and an unassuming cement shed which housed on the of the most closely guarded secrets of the US military during World War II, the Norden Bomb Site.

The Stiger Vortex Guns which stand in the Graham Andrews Parklands are those remaining from a collection purchased (should be built) by English meteorologist Clement Wragge to break the drought in 1902. He was unsuccessful but when the display for the restored guns was opened 100 years later it rained!

In modern times this international influence extends to some of the best Thai food you’ll ever taste at The Young Tiger restaurant, lovingly prepared by Thai Chef Noi and her husband Steve who admits he once thought of exotic food as red onion on hamburger: “and now I’m running a Thai Restaurant” he chuckles.

For a more traditional meal head to the Bailey Bar Caravan Park for a camp oven feast of beef and red wine stew, damper, hot apple crumble and billy tea served Monday and Saturday nights around the camp fire.

Fact file:
Getting there:
Qantaslink offers flights daily to and from Brisbane. www.qantas.com.au
QR Westlander departs Brisbane for Charleville on Tuesdays and Thursdays and returns on Wednesdays and Fridays. www.traveltrain.com.au

Where to stay:
Mulga Country Motor Inn, Tel: (07) 4654 3255.
Bailey Bar Caravan Park. Tel: (07) 4654 1744 www.charlevillebaileybar.com.au
Evening Star Tourist Park. Tel: (07) 4654 2430 www.eveningstar.com.au
For more information on Charleville visit www.adventureoutback.com.au