ANOTHER TOWN OF SURPRISES - WINDORAH - PART 1 (THE CARAVAN PARK AND A CHANCE MEETING WITH FRIENDS) (4 - 7 JUNE 2019)

Our pre-arrival reading had told us that there were a number of 'must do's' in Windorah. Apart from taking in the town itself (which has a surprising amount to offer), a cruise along the nature trail to, and beside, Cooper's Creek and a visit to the nearby red sand hills should not be ignored.

But of course, before any of this can be achieved, we had to settle into our new digs. 

What a very pleasant surprise these turned out to be. It soon become clear to us that the Barcoo Shire is doing its utmost to promote tourism in the Channel Country and is supporting that initiative by providing the necessary infrastructure, here in Windorah and in the towns of Jundah and Stonehenge.

The council owned and managed caravan park in Windorah is divided into two distinct sections, the old and the new, divided by Mary Street, a typically wide town thoroughfare (here seen looking south-east along it).

I've added to this 'Google Earth' shot to indicate the two sections of the park and to also circle the 

area of town in which we found the pub, the information centre, the shops and the servo. You will also see from this aerial that Windorah is built on, and surrounded by, very red earth.

We chose to set up in the older section of the park (the lower of the two as seen above), mainly because we were after a spot of shade (though goodness knows why.....it was actually damned cold for most of the time we were here) and made our way in through the back entrance off Victoria Street.

Site selection here is entirely up to each arriving visitor on a first in best dressed basis, and although we were surprised to find that there were quite a few here who had obviously set up for a long stay, our relatively early arrival gave us a fair selection of what was left.

After a recce and a chat to a couple of the 'seasonal locals' we decided on the corner site at the far end of the park, adjacent to Albert Street. 

With plenty of room, the awning out and our large C-Gear floor down to prevent dust, we soon had ourselves very nicely established. Being a 'State of Origin' week, Liz insisted that our Queensland 'Cane Toad' supporters flag was flown as a matter of priority! 

This section of the park hosts two ablution blocks, both of which bore testament to the fact that this park has been here for some time.

The one opposite our site was small and very dated (we did not use it), but it was surrounded by what for us came as a real surprise in this red landscape, a thick, green lawn.

Overshadowed by a huge gum, and complete with a fire pit and picnic seating, this was a real little park oasis,

seen here looking across from Mary Street. it's quite amazing how even a small area like this can significantly improve the 'feel' of an otherwise quite arid park.

A few of the 'long-termers' made good use of the fire pit on a daily basis, even when the flies were buzzing about in annoyingly large numbers this chap was set...fly net over his head and a cold can on his seat table. 





The recent rains might have produced some wonderful grass, but they also triggered the hatching of plague numbers of little bush flies. But we were set...we had been through all the before in The West.

We were amazed to learn that quite a number of folk spent a good part of the winter here. There is a very good reason for this.....the price. 

Sites here at Windorah are a mere $16 per night (the fee was collected by a council lass who made a daily round) with a 4 for 3 deal on top of that. If staying for more than a week, the fee reduces even further, down to something in the order of less than $100 per week. And as we soon discovered, there are far worse places in Australia to camp for a goodly while than Windorah, particularly if fishing is a valued pastime.

At the south-western corner of the 'old' park the small lawned area on the edge of Mary Street is known as Costello Place.

Here this large rock with the adjacent flagpole serves as both a memorial to those who fought in various wars and to the Irishman John Costello, who was a prominent and resourceful figure in the development of the local cattle industry. Some of his feats, such as taking a mob of horses across uncharted lands from South-East Queensland to Kapunda in South Australia, because legendary, and had a very unanticipated spin off.

The pioneering of this tail led to one of the most extraordinary sagas of cattle duffing in early Australian history. 

A theft in South East Queensland was followed by a drove to Adelaide where the stolen cattle were sold. The capture of the crooks was precipitated by the fact that one of the stolen mob was a distinctive white bull. 

The gang was later tried in Roma, where the subsequent acquittal of the miscreants led to the temporary disbandment of the Roma Court after the trial judge, when presented with the not guilty verdict in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary commented," “Thank God, gentleman, the verdict is yours, not mine.” 

In invite you to read the story of one Henry Redford, one whom some claim was the Captain Starlight of 'Robbery Under Arms' fame.

But, as I am prone to do, I have digressed (again), but must defend myself by repeating earlier comments about the wealth of interesting and remarkable facts to be gleaned in the Aussie outback when eyes and ears are kept open.

Back to the present, and the other section of the wonderful Windorah caravan park, seen here from the junction of Mary and Albert Streets when it was particularly busy (as it was most afternoons during our stay).

This section is very much a developmental work in progress, but much is underway, including two rows of irrigated trees

and heavily mulched shrub sections.

More lawns and gardens surround the brand new amenities block 
















and the adjacent camp kitchen. Both these facilities were first class and a real credit to the council. We could still not believe that all this was available for such a modest site fee.



We were more than happy with what we had found here, and even more so when, on our second day, in rolled the foursome with whom we had so happily socialised not too long ago in Yowah. 







Notwithstanding the fact that happy hour had to be conducted under fly netting, the tempo of our social life spiked markedly for 36 hours. It was lovely to catch up.





To top all this off, on the third morning of our stay, we were awoken by what sounded like a large truck parking right at our gate. We had heard that a mobile fruit and veg truck did the rounds of many of these outback towns, but had not expected it so soon.






But, sure enough, there it was. One constant drawback about life in the outback is the dearth of fresh fruit and veggies....Liz rugged up against the early morning chill and was out of the blocks in a flash. 







The sides of the refrigerated trailer in which the produce was stored and displayed was also a mobile work of art. The chap who provides this service is of the Jewish faith,














something he also displays a little less ostentatiously just behind the prime mover.









On the other side of the trailer, a large map shows the area this bloke covers. He actually operates 








out of Charters Towers, sources his produce in the Brisbane markets and then heads off into the wild blue yonder (his next stop when he pulled out of Windorah just after mid-day was to be Birdsville).

He was a terrific bloke, and I was sorry that he was too busy to have time for a chat. It seemed that half the town turned out to check out his wares, and because of the confined room inside the trailer, he regulates the flow. 







Only two are allowed inside at any one time (in this case one buying and one photographing).











Once selections are completed, buyers then line up at a trestle table where our man tallies the cost and helps with bagging the produce. What an incredible service this is, and as I mentioned at the outset, he attracts plenty of custom on each of his fortnightly visits.




So, as a result of the slice of luck which found us here at just the right time, we left Windorah with the pantry well stocked with fresh fruit and veggies. The surprises just kept coming!

And of course, there was still the State of Origin match in the offing and some concerted sight-seeing to be done. Windorah was to be a busy time for the Mobile Marshies.