From Brisbane to Brisbane via Charleville and Cunnamulla. ---January 2003.

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The first day was a drive from Brisbane to Dalby, a distance of 211km. The road was very good but the first part of 30km was slow due to the traffic in the western suburbs of Brisbane and also getting around Ipswich.

On the way to Dalby a visit was made to the Army's Flying Museum at Oakey. Oakey is a town of 3400 people on the flat plains of the Darling Downs. Here are some of the flying machines that the Army has used or collected.

Cessna 180.	Bell 47 G3B-1.	Cessna Bird Dog.
Pilatus Porter.	Bell 47 Sioux G3B-1.	Auster Mk3.
Fokker Triplane.	Bristol Boxkite.	Bristol Fighter.
CAC Winjeel.	DHC Chipmunk.

Dalby is a city with a population of 9500 people and is quite clean, modern and friendly.
Just outside Dalby is Jimbour House, a magnificent country residence and a place from where the overland explorer Ludwig Leichhardt set out in October 1844 on one of his early explorations of inland Australia.

This is the drive up to Jimbour House.

Jimbour House.

After staying overnight in Dalby, the next day's journey was the 268km trip to Roma.
On the way a stop was made in Miles to visit the Miles Historical Village Museum. Here are pictures taken at the Village Museum.

A Street Scene.	An old School Room.	A Cafe.
A Post Office and Bakery.	The Telephone Exchange.	A Slab Hut.
An old Fire Engine and old Drays.	The Rock Collection.	Collectables inside the Museum.

Roma is a town of 6500 people and is the site for an early oil discovery in Queensland. It is a commercial centre for the rich farming area.
Roma was named after the wife of Queensland's first Governor, Sir George Bowen.
This is the town where the trial of the notorious bushranger Harry Renford (alias Captain Starlight) was held in 1872.
"The Big Rig" explains the story of the early discovery of oil and gas in the district.
The second overnight stop was made in Roma.

The Big Rig.

The Lagoon with ducks.

The third day of driving was the 265km from Roma to Charleville. Charleville is a town of 3300 people and is situated on the Warrego River in the centre of a rich pastoral distict.

On the way to Charleville a stop was made at Mitchell named after the famous explorer Major Mitchell and is situated on the banks of the Maranoa River.
Here a visit was made to the Great Artesian Spa where hot water flows into spa pools from 4000 feet underground. It is said that the waters have the powers of easing tension and revitalising the body and mind.
Also a visit was made to the Courthouse where the infamous Kenniff brothers (local bushrangers) were tried for the murder of a policeman and a station manager.

The Sign outside the Kenniff Courthouse.	The Kenniff Courthouse in Mitchell.	The Great Artesian Spa.
Spa Pools.	The Swimming Pool.	The Great Artesian Spa Building.

Charleville has one of the more historic old Pubs of the west and it was the centre of the local community during the wool boom of the 1940's and 1950's. The Corones Hotel was architect designed and is full of leadlight windows and old furniture and photographs.

The old Corones Hotel in Charleville.

After a night in Charleville the journey continued the 199km from Charleville to Cunnamulla. Here the soil turns red and in places turns to sand and creates sand hills.
Emus wander in the heat looking for food and water.

The red sandy soil along the road from Charleville to Cunnamulla.

A wild emu along the roadside.

Cunnamulla is also on the Warrego River as is Charleville and has a population of 1500 people. It is a western town known for its sheep and cattle.
A weir in the river provides irrigation water for the area. Grapes are now being grown in the district.

The weir 5km down stream from Cunnamulla.

The water in the town of Cunnamulla.

A night was spent in Cunnamulla before the 291km journey to St. George the next day. Here the roadside changed colour again and emus and kangaroos were prevalent among the sheep and cattle.

The road from Cunnamulla to St. George.

Another wild emu.

St. George is a town of 2500 people on the banks of the Balonne River and water is provided by a weir on the river in the town reach. St. George is the centre for cotton growing and also has grapes and melons grown nearby. The Beadmore Dam is nearby providing irrigation water for the district.

The weir in the town of St. George.	The water behind the weir in St. George.
The Beadmore Dam Wall.	Water behind the Beadmore Dam in drought.

A night was spent in St. George before the long drive of 200km to Goondiwindi and a further 200km to Warwick for the night.
Just out of St. George a visit was made to the old pub at Nindigully.

The old Nindigully Pub.

Goondiwindi is a thriving modern town of 4500 people; is on the Macintyre River and is the centre for sheep and cattle in the area.

Warwick is a city of 11000 people and is important for wool, grain and timber. It is known as the "Rose and Rodeo City" and is an important education centre with many schools and colleges.

The final day's drive was the 128km drive from Warwick to Brisbane where the journey ended after 2020km and 7 days of touring.