20240714 Qld Jambin, Biloela, Thangool, Lawdi Dawes Hall to Monto

20240714 The last time we were here was in 2014 for the footy finals when the Rabbitohs won NRL Grand Final to end a 43-year premiership drought by beating the Bulldogs 30-6, and what a game it was. At the time Peter and Sue were the publican and put on $3 drinks until the first try and $5 steak burgers, those were the days. Since then the pub has had a bit of a face lift and there’s a new publicans that also adds some humour to your visit.

On Sunday between 5 & 6pm when you order any drink, the bar staff throw a dice, your choose odds or even and if your choice is rolled, your drink is free, now that’s a game worth playing. I will have odds please and the bar maid shakes the hell out of the dice.

Yaa! The bar cheers as we win our first round of drinks for free.

I had a photo on my phone of the publican from when we stayed in Jambin in 2014, I noticed a guy at the bar that look much like my photo so I walked over and showed him the photo, is this you I said,  yes he said, have you even moved from this seat, thats the same set you were in 9 yeas ago and the bar burst out laughing, talk about a blast from the past. 

This is Sue and Peter 9 years later, they sold the pub and are now patrons.

We had a great night chatting to the locals and campers that drop in for a feed or take aways while we take in the warmth of the fireplace.

This is what they do in Germany, she had the bar in stitches

20240715 We woke to a chilly morning and left for Biloela for supplies then onto Thangool to check out the camp ground but then Des decided to go a bit further so it looks like we’re staying at Lawdi Dawes Hall with hot showers so back onto the Burnett Hwy for 5ks. 

We pulled into Biloela next to this tractor, these guys travel Australia and the outback, they need to get permission if they need to use a freeway.

The scene as we drive along the Bennett Highway travelling south.

Thangool first opened to settlers over 130 years ago who tried it as a sheep run in the 1850s which failed, beef cattle were introduced and later, dairy and cotton took hold and a make-shift town sprang up. Today, the town is home to a sizeable squab industry, providing Australia with 60 per cent of its squab supplies.

The town of Thangool

We parked next to the shed with a huge fire place so I collected some wood for later when the sun goes down. There’s not good reception here and there’s nothing to do so we had a nap then later I made a pizza for dinner.

Lawdi Dawes Hall and our free camp for the night

We sat outside around the fire when a lady who was camped behind us joined us but I think is was more the fire, she didn’t even have a diesel heater in her van, stuff that so I rubbed it in about my new 12v electric blanket as she walked off laughing.

A camper wrote this on the whiteboard so Des decided to reply, which way.

Which Way Stupid, Well! It was a bit of a silly comment.

Arriving in Monto, a town we have stayed many times, there’s no hot showers and the camp is $5 a night.

We decided to lunch at the Grand Hotel which is under new management and the dinning room has a pleasant atmosphere and I would definitely return for a meals.

The history of the hotel dating back to the 1920’s.

I’m not sure what’s in the gun but I assume scotch, it’s definitely different.

The End