20120424 NSW Goondwindi to Texas,

20120424 At Goondiwindi we stocked up with supplies, Des was getting low on Beer, and I was out of wine, not good. A bit of a stroll around the town and some pic before we find a laundry mat then head to Texas.  Goondiwindi’s name was derived from the Gundawindi pastoral run which operating around 1838, the name thought to be derived from an Aboriginal expression referring to wild duck or a resting place for birds.

the Historic Bridge was built in 1914 and was once the main hub for freight crossing the border between N.S.W and Queensland, where duties were collected by Custom.

Gunsynd, the famous Goondiwindi Grey, an icon of racing as the only horse to win at every track along the eastern seaboard, remains a legend today.

The Pillars are a symbol of the vitality the water and river have provided to this township and region.  The three pillars represent the dynamic eternal trinity of past,present and future as well as remembering the founding settlement at the bullock camp where three grazing properties joined.  The top section of each pillar has relief carved water birds - heron, ibis and spoonbill while the middle section represent river, rain and crop-lines.

 

The McDougall brothers originally settled on the land where Texas Station is now situated in 1840, the property was abandoned during the 1850’s while the brothers tried their luck on the goldfields, only when they returned they found their land had been taken by another settler and it was some time before they were able to establish their prior claim.

Arrived in Texas and strolled the town, I found a craft shop to brows in while Des checked out the Hardware for some washers to fix the nightmare bike trailer. After we camped up I noticed an old bridge over a creek so I packed up my trusty camera and Des and I were off checking out the landscape. Time for our afternoon drinks but just a couple before tea, we need to dry out a bit.

The Stockman Hotel Texas and we didn't even go inside.

The main street in Texas

Texas Memorial Hall 1914.

It's a bit hard to see but there's remanents left over from the flood at the top of the sign.

Des managed a photo of fatty standing next to the State Border Queensland in Texas.

25-04-2012  We were going to stay another day but had no phone reception to call Glenn and John of our arrival. Des fixed the trailer and I went for a walk for more bridge shoot before heading off.

 

The river is situated on the Dumaresq River great for camping.

The old bridge over the Dumaresq River.  

 Corn was an early crop and by 1860’s Chinese were employed to grow tobacco which expanded rapidly all along the river and as the area under the crop increased, European growers gradually took over from the Chinese.  Tobacco was one of the mainstays of the area for many years until the late 1960’s until the greenies had a hand in banning the Smoke House.

Cattle cooling off in the local dam.

Some of the sings on the way to Leybourn caught my interest.