The Bullo Shire in outback Queensland covers a large area and includes Thargomindah, Noccundra and Cameron Corner. Once again, we were completely amazed at how much there was to see and do in this area.
LOCATION
THARGOMINDAH
Thargomindah is located just over 1000 kilometres west of Brisbane and is the largest town in the Bulloo Shire. It was first settled in the 1860s and was the first town to be gazetted in the shire. We absolutely loved Thargo and all that it had to offer.
THARGOMINDAH MURALS
The first big surprise we got in Thargomindah was to discover a series of murals painted by ‘The Brightsiders’, a collective of artists renowned for their work across the country. You can also see more of The Brightsiders’ murals in this post. The murals can be found on the walls of the community centre and also on the fence of the swimming pool. They are stunning pieces of artwork and a real credit to such a small town. Our photos just don’t do them justice.
SELF GUIDED TOURS
Thargomindah has three historic sites that you can take a self-guided tour of. Simply drop into the local Visitor Information Centre and pick up swipe cards that will get you into each site. The cost is just $12.50 per person. Once you have your swipe cards, you are free to explore the Hydro Power Station, the Old Hospital and the Jail.
Each of the three attractions has video and audio information, all operated by your swipe cards. All three were a really fascinating look back on the history of the area.
Our first stop was the Hydro Power Station. We really liked the fact that Thargomindah was the first place in Australia to produce hydroelectricity for electric street lighting!
The Old Hospital was an interesting look back on medical care in the early days of Thargomindah, but I have to say it was a little bit creepy. Especially as there was an old timber morgue table in one of the rooms and some talk of ghosts in the hospital!
The Old Jail is actually the original jail cell constructed in 1930. When you visit the jail you can listen to stories of an actual crime in the area as well as here from a former officer’s wife on what life was like as a Police Wife.
BULLOO RIVER WALK
A beautiful spot for an afternoon walk is along the Bulloo River walking track. Here you can also check out the original Cobb and Co river crossing. The Bulloo River is also a great spot for bird watching, fishing or kayaking. There is also a lovely spot to have a picnic or just enjoy the view of the river. The walk starts just near the
WHERE TO STAY
We spent our first night in Thargomindah camped at the Bulloo Riverside Free Campground on the outskirts of town. It was a great spot and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We had a river-side spot and were able to have a campfire as well. A very peaceful spot.
After that, we spent the next three nights at the Thargomindah Explorers
NOCCUNDRA
Noccundra is the proverbial one-horse town – or in this case one pub town. The Noccundra Hotel is the only thing in ‘town’ and amongst outback, pubs rank as one of the best we have visited. It was built from sandstone in 1882 after the original pub burnt down. It is a great spot to grab a beer or two or enjoy a meal.
Next door to the pub you will find clean and well-maintained amenities. Diesel is also available for sale at the pub, and in the scheme of things, there wasn’t much difference in price to other places in the outback.
Across the road from the pub, you will find the Wilson River Camping Area. This free campground is an amazing spot to spend a couple of nights. It is so quiet and peaceful. There is plenty of room for a number of vans. We had a lovely view of the river and we were able to have a campfire as well. The Wilson River is also a popular spot for fishing or bird watching.
CAMERON CORNER
Cameron Corner is the spot on the map where Queensland, NSW and South Australia intersect. It was definitely a place we wanted to be able to say we had been to. It’s a reasonably easy day trip from Noccundra at just a little over 135 kilometres. The road is sealed for the first bit after you leave Noccundra but the rest of the way is unsealed. It was rough and corrugated in places, so make sure you drive to the conditions. The drive took us about two and a half hours. We were amazed at how often the landscape changed along the way.
But it was so worth it! We had great fun standing in three states at once and then enjoyed lunch and a beer at the Cameron Corner Store. Cameron Corner Store also offers powered and unpowered campsites, hotel rooms, public amenities and a camp kitchen. Fuel and basic supplies are also available from the Store.
If you are a golfer, you can try your hand at tri-state golf, where you play three rounds in each state.
We loved exploring Thargomindah, Noccundra and Cameron Corner. We truly felt like we were in the heart of Queensland’s outback. Don’t miss this area on your outback adventure.
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Stunning murals and would love to explore the area soon with the kids!
It’s an amazing area. We loved it!