Gallivantour: Charters Towers Qld

The Main Street of Charters Towers I am actually crossing the road.

The Library was a former hotel.

Friday night saw us camped at the Campaspe River Rest Area sitting around a campfire enjoying company of other fellow travellers. Earlier we were serenaded by a gentleman playing the Clarinet. He went down into the riverbed which was very dry and sandy so lovely musical notes blended in with the lovely bush sounds. It was a lovely spot and very popular we were very fortunate to arrive there about lunchtime because by evening it was standing room only, The Campaspe River Rest Area is situated 90kms east of Charters Towers.

We were one of the last to leave the next day and arrived in Charters Towers, the free camping spot near the Mobil Garage was no longer available so we offloaded Jimny and set about finding a place to stay. We came upon the Big4 Aussie Outback Caravan Park and were sited next to a red Denning Bus also from our home state WA namely Barry and Irene. After making their acquaintance we spent happy hour with them, we were ideally placed as a Country and Western Singer was entertaining us just opposite. He played three evenings and entertained everybody between 5pm and 6pm. We dined with them at the Waverley Hotel (another delightful old building)where cheap meals were the bargain of the day. I had crumbed chicken and vegetables for $5 and Bill enjoyed a T-Bone steak for $10 we couldn't cook it ourselves for that. Charters Towers is a Gold mining and Cattle area and it boasts many opulent buildings dated back to the early 1800s lovingly restored and cared for. Many of the stores were housed in these old buildings.

This Post Office was built in 1892

It was interesting to see Target based in a lovely stained glass displayed building and even the Police Station has it's home in a 1910 building and is a rare surviving example of early 20th century Police Barracks. It was practically destroyed by fire in 1988 but it was rebuilt to the original plans. The Tourist Information centre was originally the Stock Exchange building. We explored on Sunday but hardly anything was open, they must be one of these rare country towns that closed their doors on this day. We did manage to have a coffee in the only coffee shop open in town and visit an old miners cottage. The shops will also be shut on Tuesday for the peoples day at the Show, some are also closed on Monday. We also went up to the lookout where there is lots of WWII Bunkers jutting out of the landscape.

Two of the old WWII Ammunition Bunkers

There was also lots of lovely trees bearing fruit like tiny apples. They were bitter to taste. We also saw a flock of red tailed cockatoos although they proved rather elusive to photograph. We decided to stay another day and we have washed the bus inside and out ready for our next trip which will be at Reid River about 60kms up the road towards Townsville. We should be in Townsville by Wednesday..

Old Bank of NSW Building

(Soon after the discovery of gold, the Bank of NSW opened an agency in Millchester. In 1874 it relocated to Mosman St, Charters Towers. In 1888 Walter Eyre and William Munro were invited by the Bank of NSW to design and supervise the construction of the elegant 2 story brick premises on Gill St. 5 of the goldfield's 8 banks chose to reside on this street.)