20230417 Vic Corack to Donald

20230417 On our way to Wooroonook Lake Camp Grounds so I add the name to Waze for directions and off we go.  Passing Corack, where theirs crop growing as far as you can see, but no lake yet, it’s only 10 minutes from town then Des said this isn’t right, the lady from the caravan park told me to take the road to Donald, well!, we drove around in circles and couldn’t find any lake so we left for Donald. Arriving in Donald and my first reaction was, what a nice town, it has some lovely heritage buildings, a couple of cafes and some different shops to browse, but Mr grumpy bum recons it just like every other town we’ve seen. 

The town of Donald is named after William Donald, a Scottish pastoralist who was the first settler in the area in 1844

The Shamrock Hotel was built in 1932, this old building has had a few changes over the years though it still has original windows and lead lighting.

Shops and commercial centre, Woods Street - Mural of Royal George Hotel, Woods St opposite McCulloch St

I don’t know but I really liked the design of this old building.

National Bank of Australia (1885)

The towns mural depicting the life on the land of our pioneers.

Donald Post Office, Woods St

Bullock's Head

At first I was thinking what the hell is a bullock’s head, I even googled it, then I saw it, a head that looks like a bull. Beside the Richardson River is a growth on a tree which looks like a Bullock's Head. The locals realised its tourist potential and set up a viewing platform, unfortunately it was damaged in a storm in the early years of the 21st century.

The new man made bullock head that was re-erected using concrete (and/or fibreglass). It still like a bullock’s head, only it now has a slightly artificial appearance.

The bridge over the Richmond River, their could be yabbies in there Des.

SHEPHERDS HUT 1850, dates from the earliest days of the pastoral era and later used as a farm workshop with an iron roof.

The Furphy Water Tank

John Furphy was a blacksmith and wheelwright, using his skills he developed a water

carrying cart using wheelwright technology.  It was used to provide water to soldiers serving in the trenches in the First World War, the drivers of the water tanks carried news and information from place to place. Little of the news would be reliable so Furphy' became the slang word for rumours and gossip.

After our tour of Donald we decided to camp at the free camp on the edge of town for the night and after walking the grounds Des decided to throw his pots in, I said there could be yabbies.  With the pots set up we cracked a beer sat outside under the stars before retiring to bed. 

20230418 It’s now morning so Des checks his pots and caught three yabbies so off came their heads and in the freezer, just enough for his next omelette.

The Nassau Grouper on the banks of the Richardson River.

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