20220728 Qld Dalby to Westmar

20220728 We decided to head to Dalby to catch up with Sue and Richard for a couple of day and take advantage of their hospitality and wash some cloths then sit back and watch Sue cook up a mean roast as we watch on, this one doesn’t like anyone in her kitchen while she’s cooking, ha, that suits me.

This is Molly, Sue’s granddaughter and I was so taken by her pretty eyes I just had to get some photos, she’s a keeper Sue.

Richard take’s me for a drive to check out the new two million dollar upgraded camping grounds just out of Dalby called, Lake Broadwater.

20220729 After telling Des about the new campgrounds we decided to pack up and stay for a couple of days and hopefully have a fire, if this bloody wind ever stops. It's easy to see Dalby is a large Cotton and Sorgan farm industry as we pass many along the way, but that isn't all that's happening in the Northern Darling Down's as we noticed the gas pipeline wells being drilled on some of the farms.

As many farmers raise concerns about trespass and subsidence from coal seam gas mining (CSG), this once-sceptical farmer is now welcoming the industry onto his land, creating tension with some of his neighbours. The farmer has since installed six, brand-new grain silos, but it was money this farmer could afford thanks to compensation contracts with a gas company.

Lake Broadwater is the only large, naturally-occurring freshwater lake on the Darling Downs and is an important refuge for waterbirds and other wildlife and if you stay there's a huge fire pit to sit around with other travellers.


The only thing the camp kitchen is missing is a fridge, they even put in some power points, bonus.

The lake is a shallow lake which covers approximately 350ha of the 1,212ha conservation park.

20220731 We returned to Sue's for another night and once again Sue feed us up then we sat around the table having a few ales and managed many laughs with Richard, Molly and her grandson Jackson, and we even managed to get a few giggles from Sue.

20220801 Richard tried his hardest to get Des to return for his 30th birthday on the 13th August, Uncle John, Aunty Marg, Robin and many more will be here said Richard, but somehow, I don't like his chances.  We started out heading in a different direction when Des decided to turn the van around and head to Talwood to hopefully catch some yabbies, 260ks, it had better be worth it. After travelling along the Moonie Hwy, which has got to be the worst road we have ever been on in Queensland, we arrived in Westmar where we camped for the night. It was the Andersen brothers, owners of Western and Maranoa Transport companies who opened a fuel depot and rest stop at this location. The name Westmar was derived from the first part of the words WESTern and MARanoa.

Bungunya will take you all the way to the sleepy town of Talwood or maybe it should be called the Yabbie town as this is where Des has his best catch so far.

Settlers along the old Moonie road were known as "Ridge Dwellers" because they established their home on the sandy ridge of the river. This was not an easy life due to the isolation, prickly pear, flood, drought and the feared death adder, leaving behind many graves that are scatted the length of this route.

Westmar Pub & Convenience Store

Inside the pub hang many and you can buy one as a donation, I think to for the flying Doctors, a great cause.

Sound's About Right.

HAPPY 30TH RICHARD
Location: Dalby QLD 4405, Australia

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