20260729 Qld Mungallala, Mitchell To Roma

20260729 Driving along the Landsborough Hwy, it’s certainly drought stricken out here as we head to Mungallala, stopping at Morvan first to do some much needed washing. We wonder the town but nothing’s changed from the last time we camped down the back of the town so we left for Mungallala, a town with just a population of 85 in the 2021 census. We were lucky if we saw a half a dozen people and two of them were campers. It was in the late 1800’s the town was defined by its Indigenous heritage, Cobb & Co coaches, and the railway, with the towns name meaning "food and water". There is a pub that wasn’t open the whole time we were there, petrol stations that haven’t operated in Christ know’s how long, no convenient store or post office but there is a well kept hall just across from our camp and a sports ground that doesn’t look like its been used in years. This account for the town being listed as having the lowest mean taxable income by postcode, making it the poorest town in Australia.

Gee, they sure need rain out here, it’s so dry.

The Mungallala Club Hotel, fondly known as the "Munga Pub," licensed in 1906 as a two-storey building before being destroyed by fire in 1917–1918. It was rebuilt as a traditional country pub that has stood as the social hub of the community for over a century

Signature and Graffiti cover the ceiling and walls of the pub by travellers over many decades.

Down the side street is a free camp with power and these two little buildings are the toilets and hot showers, what more do you need.

Our camp for a couple of days, there’s not a thing to do but walk the grounds.

With the decline of the changing economic times, and improved highway, transport led to the eventual closure of historical small-town mainstays, including the local garage, butcher, and general store, just like Mungallala.

The sculpture of a drover and his dog honour the area's history depicting local industries like timber, sheep, and cattle

It is a historical site known for its association with a former sawmill and offers free overnight camping for up to 48 hours.

This sculpture serves as a time capsule that was first sealed in 1901.

The capsule was reopened for the Mungallala State School Centenary celebrations on September, 2004, and is scheduled to be reopened again in 2029. I might return for that event.

20260731 Well that was an interesting couple of days of sitting around doing nothing in Mungallala, unfortunately we were told the pub rarely opened and a camper who was too scared to go to the pub because the publican was a grumpy old man. He doesn’t need support from any campers, then I spoke to a traveller in Mitchell who said he had great meal there, I’m never listening to freaked out travellers again. We landed in town, put on some washing and walked the town stopping at the pie shop first to cure my rumbling stomach.

Every time was head this way we always stop for Mitchell’s Great Pies.

The local Butcher in Mitchell, slaughtered and cut by their own hands.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such fresh meat, I wanted to buy the shop out.

We were told the Mitchell Bowling Club have great meals so we camped in there grounds to check it out.

I can’t remember the last time we had a smorgasbord dinner, help yourself to what ever you want, apart from the mashed peas 🙅Des and I pigged out and the steak just melted in your mouth.

Not to mention there were 4 different gravies to choose from with the cost included with the meals, just as it should be.

20260801 The next morning we left for a camp ground we’ve stayed many times just before Roma,

Bungeworgorai Creek free Camping, for the next few days, so Des get your arse into gear and start collecting wood.

THE END