Quilpie – Eromanga – Noccundra – Thargomindah

Well today had to be the hottest we have endured so far.  We were away from the van park soon after 9am and it was only a few kilometres before the road narrowed so that passing involved both parties being partly off the bitumen.  We decided that we would take the initiative and get right off the bitumen, slow right down and let the other vehicle have all the ‘road’ and hopefully that would avoid stones etc from being thrown up at us.  Worked most of the time when the oncoming driver was ‘smart’ enough to realise that was what we wanted him to do!! 

oil well on the way to Eromanga

Eromanga was just over 100km from Quilpie so with the temperature rising we took it slowly and drove into the small settlement but did not see any reason to make a stop there, except for the photo of course.

 

view of Eromanga

Lots of emus along the road and we even saw one dad with 3 chicks.  Most of the other groups looked to have ‘teenagers’ in the family.  The ‘worrying’ wildlife on the road were the lizards.  They were everywhere and you never knew which way they would run.  Standing tall and nodding their head seemed to be one of their favourite reactions to an oncoming vehicle.  During one of our ‘cuppa’ stops Lawrie walked up to the road to try and chase a lizard that had flattened himself on the road when we pulled off the road to stop.  Well waving his hat, kicking (gently) with his foot and finally getting a little more aggressive with his foot convinced the lizard to up and run to the side.  Needless to say I am sure that within a short time of our leaving he would probably have been back on the road sunning himself again.

Noccundra Hotel

We finally reached Noccundra by mid-afternoon and after having a look around the stone blocked hotel built in the 1880’s we drove down to the free Wilson River camping area.  The ‘waterhole’ was very long and there were quite a few other campers already settled amongst the trees along the northern edge of the water.  Birdlife were evident on the river and even though we are over 1000 kms from Brisbane there were a couple of pelicans cruising the water…and catching their food.  Travel information advised that the waterhole was a stopping point for the Cobb and Co coaches that ran through this area as the early means of transport.  After driving from Quilpie and seeing the dry vegetation and vastness of the area the sight understandably would have been very welcoming.

looking east at the Wilson River

After a comfortable night we headed off do to do the final 140km to Thargomindah.  More emus and again lots of lizards and narrow bitumen.  The best thing is that there is not a lot of other traffic so passing does not become stressful.

Again another hot day and it was midday when we arrived in town so we set up as quickly as possible and then spent the rest of the afternoon resting in the shade.  We had set up in the ‘old’ caravan park (the new was further down the street) and there was only another camper in a tent beside us.  There is a motor-cross gymkhana in town this weekend so guess they must all be camping either out at the sports ground or in the other van park.  At least it is lovely and quiet here.

town bore at Thargomindah....can you see the steam rising from the water?

 

check out the corosion on the machinery

Thargomindah is also served by water from the artesian bore and it exits the ground around 80deg C and is then cooled in ponds before being piped to the households.   Back in the early 1880’s Thargomindah was just the third place in the world (behind London and Paris) to have hydro power generate electric current for the town.  The force of the water at the town bore powered a water wheel attached to dynamos and created the electricity needed for the town.  The system was continued till a diesel engine was introduced in the 1950’s and then the Government connected the town to the state grid in the 1990’s and there have been power outages and brown outs ever since!!

Bulloo River crossing used by Cobb and Co coaches at Thargomindah

A reconstructed ‘original’ bore hut has been built at the bore and contains an interesting display about the history of the operation.  The park also contains exhibits of other forms of energy production, windmill, solar panels, steam engine and oil well machinery.  All this on the western edge of town and they only ask for a gold coin donation.  A very interesting spot to visit and the picnic tables have barbeques available as well.

We are spending the weekend here at Thargomindah and as the temperatures are expected to be in the high 30’s for the next couple of days I can see no reason to want to keep travelling on towards Cunnamulla straight away.