20220606 QLD Surat

20220606 After our peaceful night in the middle of nowhere we pack up and head to a camp just on the other side of Surat called Fishermans Park. Along the Carnarvon Highway, 116km from St George you will find on the Great Inland Way the quant town of Surat, and historical site of a Cobb & Co changing station. As we drive into town I spot Wendy standing awaiting our arrival so we can walk the street checking out some of the historical buildings and the Cob & Co Museum, that’s worth a look for a coin donation. The town was surveyed in 1950 by James Burrowes who named the town after his home in India and most of the streets after his family and in the case of the Main Street, Burrowes.

Surat sits on the banks of the beautiful Balonne River, I’m not really sure that’s it’s beautiful but it’s definitely muddy looking.

There’s our little lady standing right outside the pub waiting for our arrival.

The original site of the Cobb & Co Store and drop-off point for coach travellers and goods, houses a museum depicting lifestyles of yesteryear.

I swear to tell the hole truth and nothing but the truth.
She’s guilty your honour, I saw her standing on the street corner flirting with one of my customers, true, she was.

Stuff you Hag, she’s lying your honour he was my customer.😝
Hemp sheep brakes were used by droves to hold their sheep each night before wire mesh or electric fencing became available. The brakes were held upright by trees, wooden pegs, steel posts or any convenient objects.

Double ended Babies bottle, it allowed a good flow of air with a teat on one end and a valve on the other.


Iron River Boat
Many properties that were subjected to flooding kept a boat for flood times when they were needed for checking stock, collecting supplies, or even ferrying children to school. Tar was used to seal and protect from rust, but what I found fascinating was how it was pot riveted together.




Horse-drawn coaches were once used to carry passengers throughout the States. Service No. 177 became the Cobb & Co’s most famous route, running from Yuleba through Surat and on to St George. With a total of 203 km, there were changing stations situated approx every 25km. The Changing Stations allowed the horses to be swapped for fresh horses to continue the coach journey. 

Cobb & Co. coach crossing the flooded Balonne River in Surat, 1914. The horses of the Cobb & Co. coach are being guided across the Balonne River bridge, the bridge structure can barely be seen in the spate of the floodwaters.

The original 14-seater Cobb & Co carriage, the last run of Cobb & Co in Australia was 0n Thursday morning 14 August 1924, Fred “Tommy” Thompson took the reins for the last time to drive Cobb & Co Coach No 141 the 75km (147 miles) between Surat and Yuleba.

Inside the museum is also a Gallery that hosts exhibitions of works from local artists and those from further afield but this photos really caught my interest.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE ON SURAT

Location: Surat QLD 4417, Australia

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