Childers, Qld

To most travellers Childers is a leg stretch between the larger towns of Maryborough and Bundaberg, but it has more to offer than a pit stop. Situated in what can best be described as a ‘fruit bowl’, Childers Bundy is surrounded by rich red soil and kilometres of orchards and market gardens. And the climate here has that easy tropical feel.

To those wishing to stay the night there is an RV Stop freedom camp in the heart of town just behind the main street public toilets. One must be early as it does get pretty busy, but there are two sections, one bitumen and one grassed.

I’m convinced that street trees really make a town and this one proves it with Brazilian Leopard trees shading the centre of the shopping strip. An interesting array of heritage buildings add colour to the scene as well. Childers has had its share of tragedy. There is a monument in town acknowledging the ‘blackbirding’ in Queensland’s past. Blackbirding is a polite term for slavery. People of the Pacific islands were captured and brought by ship to work on the cane fields in the nineteenth century. When the practise was abolished by the government some people returned to their homelands, others chose to stay and make their homes here.

One of the grand structures of Childers is the Palace building. On the night of June 23^rd, 2000, an arsonist set fire to the Palace Backpackers Hostel, killing 15 residents. Backpackers play an important part in Australia’s farming industry as they provide cheery seasonal labour to harvest the crops. This tragedy remains at the forefront of people’s minds and when we last visited there was a moving tribute exhibition in the Palace building.

At the top end of town, you’ll find the Kingaroy peanut van selling fresh peanuts in the shell. A butcher whose tip jar asks patrons to ‘help the butcher buy a boat’. Several pubs and good meals to be had at the Isis Club. Oh, and Insane Coffee, roasts its own brew and the Nutella brownies are quite something.

A delightful town is Childers and well worth an overnight stay.