Muttaburra is the town closest to the geographical centre of Queensland. This is a new road for us and it was much busier than yesterday; we saw three cars in 84km.
Despite the short distance we intended on traveling today, we were still on the road by 8:40 am. We thought we would stop on the side of the road somewhere for a cuppa before we got to Muttaburra, however, there was no viable to place to stop. Never mind, we arrived at Muttaburra just before 10 am and spied a cafe on the main drag in, so parked up and had mornos there. The cafe has only been open a few days, but the coffee was good and so was the carrot cake. The cafe is in a building that was built about late 1890s and the current occupant has lined it with old corrugated iron roofing that she cleaned up and painted with penetrol rust treatment which gives in an almost shiny look, and stops it from rusting. The furniture in the shop, apart from the coffee machine and register, is all old stuff from various stations in the area. It felt good to be supporting her new endeavours. We had a lovely chat with her and wandered on.
We then found the back of the Muttaburra pub - Exchange Hotel and set up the van. It was time to explore the streets of Muttaburra playing tourist. The Muttaburrasaurus Interpretation Centre was fantastic, built out of stones from the local area. The town also has the obligatory post office, library, school, pub, small store, aquatic centre and some quirky street art. They also have an annual Street Art Festival, with some of the art being donated, from time to time.
After lunch and an LLD, Greg went for a ride to “The Centre of Qld”, Heritage Trail, another small Sculpture Trail and a few bush tracks. Lucky he has his MTB.
Dinner at the local was excellent although it took a fair while coming due to Saturday being a big night for the locals. The meals were huge compared to Howard, but the prices were also more than Howard. However, we are a few km from the bright lights of a major centre.
Early morning Aramac
The Green Frog house
Cafe at Muttaburra
Inside coffee shop
Coffee shop as it was in the late 1890s
Gabion wall at Muttaburrasaurus Interpretive Centre
Muttaburrasaurus
His leg and foot
Shells in a rock
Sculpture of a grass tree
Plaque at Muttaburra Memorial Hall
There a a number of these smaller Muttaburrasaurus around town
Another grass tree sculpture
Muttabuarra pub
Us at the back of the pub. we were still the only ones here at time of going to bed
Water tank art
Centre of QLD monument
Union Camp where about 400 striking shearers camped in Mar 1891
Shearer sculpture
Inside Muttaburra pub
Our meals - huge and very tasty
