TAMBO

1^st October, 2012

By late afternoon we were driving down the main street of Tambo – population 430.

Main Street - Tambo

A sandwich board out the front of the Tambo Caravan Park caught our eye.

Entrance to Tambo Caravan Park

Twenty dollars a night for two people on a powered site is great value, so Wok wheeled the rig through the front gate and minutes later we were being guided onto a site by Daphne – the friendly and welcoming caravan park owner.  After camping out for nearly two weeks we had quite a lot of laundry to be done so checked in for two nights which we quickly changed to three nights when told that if we pay for two nights the third night is free.  This bought our site costs down to $13.33 a night.  We then discovered that the washing machine was free to use as well saving us about $10 in washing machine fees.  The caravan park was looking better and better all the time.  The park was only small with about twelve powered sites and a few tent sites but there were trees for shade, the water was drinkable and the amenities clean.  With school holidays still in full swing this was a great place to hide out.  The next morning we did our washing and after hanging it out to dry put on our walking shoes to explore the town.  Daphne had told us about a track that ran down the other side of the Barcoo River – yes the same river we had been camped beside at Isisford.   The walk to the river was approx. two kilometres and as we followed it upstream there were information boards about the different trees we were passing.  Of course the river wasn’t flowing – it was just a series of muddy holes.  We passed the spot where the Chinese market gardeners once drew water for their fruit and vegetables.  Tambo’s claim to fame is that of being the oldest town in Queensland’s Central West.  In 1862 Tambo Township began in much the same way as many other bush towns in Australia.  First came the settlers to take up grazing runs, then came the carriers to cart equipment and supplies.  This hard and difficult work made many a man thirsty for a ‘grog’, so some enterprising chap would build a ‘pub’ and then someone else a store.  Tambo’s first pub was built in 1863 and the town grew up around it.  As we continued our walk along the river we came to a lonely cairn. 

Cairn erected on the site of 1927 Qantas crash site

Sheltered from the elements this petrified tree stump marks the site of a Qantas bi-plane that crashed in 1927 on a regular mail run from Charleville to Cloncurry.

Photo of wrecked plane - 1927

The pilot and his two passengers were killed and are buried in the Tambo Cemetery.  Qantas presents itself as being the only ‘passenger’ service in the world never to have had a fatal accident.  At the time of this crash in 1927 Qantas was not a registered passenger airline – only a mail carrier.  Paying passengers were of course taken on the mail runs and a few years after the crash Qantas officially became a legitimate passenger service.  We continued on our walk and eventually arrived at the Caltex Service Station on the southern edge of town.  As it was lunchtime we decided to have a hamburger before strolling back down the main street.  OMG!  They were humongous.  Thank heavens we didn’t order them with chips!  Full as googs – we set off down the main street.  Our first stop was at the Information Centre/Public Library which is housed in the old Court House built in 1888.

Old Court House - Tambo

The witness stand, prisoner’s box and judge’s bench were still inside surrounded by books and shelving.  Across the road were the old Post and Telegraph Buildings.  The first one was built in 1876

First Post and Telegraph building - Tambo

and the second one was built in 1885.

Second Post and Telegraph building - Tambo

This building played a key role in Queensland’s early telegraph system as it was one of the major repeater stations linking the north of Australia to the south.  The present Post Office was built in 1904

Current Post Office built in 1904 - Tambo

and was a hive of activity while we were there.  For a building still in use after a hundred years it was wearing its age very well.  We continued our walk, checking out the two hotels, grocery store, gallery and Teddy Bear shop before finally arriving back at the caravan park around 3pm.  Our short stroll had turned into a long trek!  Needless to say we were more than pleased we had that free night at the caravan park.  It took us a day to get over the previous day.  And for those of you who have been saying that Wok seems to always get his frame somewhere into our photos while his better half remains invisible – here she is!

Robyn with wildflowers - Tambo

Robyn had intended on sitting down amongst the wildflowers but hastily changed her mind when she found the grass full of burrs.  And yes - she is healing nicely thank you …