20120817 Qld Tambo, Augathella
20120817 The tiny town of Tambo is a very tidy town with a bit of history and some sad events, they did however have free camping on a creek, but it was too early, and Des wasn’t ready to stop driving just yet, especially after camping up on a station for 12 days.
All the towns have history planks that line the streets and this one in particular got our attention, are you ready for a cry (Donna).
In 1875 there were three Chinese who operated market gardens at Tambo employing about 30 Chinese. These gardens were watered from Barcoo River and in 1880 a dam was made at the eastern end of the town and in 1888 a free flowing bore was sunk but the market garden could not access either of these.
The Con Foos were Tambo’s market gardeners, arriving about 1919. There garden was watered from the river by a waterwheel worked by a horse that also pulled a spring horse cart to deliver produce around the town. One morning when their son William was bringing in the horse it kicked him in the head and he died. The grief- stricken Con Foo family leased their garden and returned to China; but returned in 1930. A pump now replaced the horse and a Chevrolet utility the cart delivering produced-Wednesday to the local hospital, hotel and large customers and Saturday door to door to local families. In his garden Harry Con Foo grew every conceivable vegetable as well as grapes, melons and numerous fruit trees. In 1946 the Con Foos won first prize in the Golden Casket, however this good fortune was overshadowed by a second tragedy, for while Harry and his wife were working at the market garden their 5 year old son Arthur, drowned in the river. This second tragedy was so painful that the family sold the garden complete with plant – car, engine and pump for less than £1000 to Yee Hop and left Tambo.
The Carrangarra Hotel is the oldest licenced site in central western outback Queensland.William Coverly built & opened the first pub in Tambo in 1863 and it was named after the settlement “Carrangarra” which is an aboriginal word meaning a feasting & resting place. The Hotel has been burnt down three times and the current building was rebuilt in 1954.
A Butcher a Pub and a General Store is about all you will find in this quite outback town.
2008 was the 50th anniversary of the release of the Classic Australian Movie ‘Smiley’, written about a boy growing up in Augathella. Author Ramond, son of the local teacher, wrote the story about his childhood friend Didy ‘Smiley’ Creevey. There are many local references in the film & the theme song was top of the hit parade. Didy ‘Smile” died in 1972. Locals remember ‘Chips’ Rafferty as a young shearer on Nive Downs Station.
The view from the van door on the Warrago River, just a creek but a nice creek.
On our 2nd night we meet a couple (Ray & Helan) camped up from us who invited us over for a couple of drinks so we made pizzas early for tea then toddled over with our chairs, wine and beer and sat around their fire chatting away. After nearly 3 bottles of wine Des was not getting much sense out of his new mate, Ray so it was time to head home, my new friend, Helan was fine we were having a great old chat, spoil sport.
20-08-2012 Drove into Charleville after missing the turn off, taking us 90ks out of our way, Des was not happy. After refueling we stock up on supplies and check out the town. Many shops are closed down as well as the old pub (Hotel Charleville) on the corner.
Charleville as you drive into the town.
Construction of Corones’ Hotel Norman (then called) commenced in 1924. It was built in 4 stages to enable continuation of trade. Costing £50,000 the hotel was built by day labour with preference given to men of the district. By the end of 1926 the hotel was 2/3 complete & by 1929 the hotel was completed & according to the A & B Journal of Q.L.D it was a magnificent white building, an outstanding feature in a progressive town, the best equipped & most up to date outside the metropolis.
We left heading towards Quilpie looking for the Fox Trap Hotel at Cooladdi, you couldn't miss it, its the only building left standing in the town.
209ks of nothing to Quilpie.
Today the town only lays claim to a population of 6, with most services offered by the roadhouse titled the Fox Trap. This town is what you would call “Nar Nar Goon”, meaning an insignificant place.
These mean looking bulls were grazing at the back of the hotel when I walked up for a closer shoot, very wary not to get to close.
We camped up for the night on what they call a lagoon, just up the road from the Fox Trap, no one else but the sky the bush and a muddy lagoon. I collected wood to build a fire and we had mince brevilles for tea.
All the towns have history planks that line the streets and this one in particular got our attention, are you ready for a cry (Donna).
In 1875 there were three Chinese who operated market gardens at Tambo employing about 30 Chinese. These gardens were watered from Barcoo River and in 1880 a dam was made at the eastern end of the town and in 1888 a free flowing bore was sunk but the market garden could not access either of these.
The Con Foos were Tambo’s market gardeners, arriving about 1919. There garden was watered from the river by a waterwheel worked by a horse that also pulled a spring horse cart to deliver produce around the town. One morning when their son William was bringing in the horse it kicked him in the head and he died. The grief- stricken Con Foo family leased their garden and returned to China; but returned in 1930. A pump now replaced the horse and a Chevrolet utility the cart delivering produced-Wednesday to the local hospital, hotel and large customers and Saturday door to door to local families. In his garden Harry Con Foo grew every conceivable vegetable as well as grapes, melons and numerous fruit trees. In 1946 the Con Foos won first prize in the Golden Casket, however this good fortune was overshadowed by a second tragedy, for while Harry and his wife were working at the market garden their 5 year old son Arthur, drowned in the river. This second tragedy was so painful that the family sold the garden complete with plant – car, engine and pump for less than £1000 to Yee Hop and left Tambo.
Now! wasn't that a touching story?
The Carrangarra Hotel is the oldest licenced site in central western outback Queensland.William Coverly built & opened the first pub in Tambo in 1863 and it was named after the settlement “Carrangarra” which is an aboriginal word meaning a feasting & resting place. The Hotel has been burnt down three times and the current building was rebuilt in 1954.
We camped up on the Warrago River at Augathella for three days so I could catch up on my blog and recover from all my bruising after nearly falling off the ventage tractor Jodie was driving. It was a nice relaxing location and another tiny town with the proud history of the home of ‘Smiley’.
A Butcher a Pub and a General Store is about all you will find in this quite outback town. 
2008 was the 50th anniversary of the release of the Classic Australian Movie ‘Smiley’, written about a boy growing up in Augathella. Author Ramond, son of the local teacher, wrote the story about his childhood friend Didy ‘Smiley’ Creevey. There are many local references in the film & the theme song was top of the hit parade. Didy ‘Smile” died in 1972. Locals remember ‘Chips’ Rafferty as a young shearer on Nive Downs Station. 
The view from the van door on the Warrago River, just a creek but a nice creek.20-08-2012 Drove into Charleville after missing the turn off, taking us 90ks out of our way, Des was not happy. After refueling we stock up on supplies and check out the town. Many shops are closed down as well as the old pub (Hotel Charleville) on the corner.
Charleville as you drive into the town.
Construction of Corones’ Hotel Norman (then called) commenced in 1924. It was built in 4 stages to enable continuation of trade. Costing £50,000 the hotel was built by day labour with preference given to men of the district. By the end of 1926 the hotel was 2/3 complete & by 1929 the hotel was completed & according to the A & B Journal of Q.L.D it was a magnificent white building, an outstanding feature in a progressive town, the best equipped & most up to date outside the metropolis.We left heading towards Quilpie looking for the Fox Trap Hotel at Cooladdi, you couldn't miss it, its the only building left standing in the town.
209ks of nothing to Quilpie.
Cooladdi, originally named “Yarronvale”, was changed to its present name in 1913, Cooladdi, being aboriginal for “Black Duck”. Its history dates back to a time long before transportation was introduced & it went on to a major centre until the rail moved on in 1914. In its day Cooladdi boasted a school, butcher, post office, store & police station accommodating 270 residents.
Today the town only lays claim to a population of 6, with most services offered by the roadhouse titled the Fox Trap. This town is what you would call “Nar Nar Goon”, meaning an insignificant place.
These mean looking bulls were grazing at the back of the hotel when I walked up for a closer shoot, very wary not to get to close.We camped up for the night on what they call a lagoon, just up the road from the Fox Trap, no one else but the sky the bush and a muddy lagoon. I collected wood to build a fire and we had mince brevilles for tea.
Comments
Post a Comment