Tag: Queensland

Qld, WildlifeLeave a comment

Wet Emblems

Itching for Hitching

It is winter 2014 and we’re in Longreach in Western Queensland, there are clouds gathering, rain is forecast but the locals are reluctant to talk about it. They’re in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years. Overnight it starts raining and hasn’t let up all day. The red dust has turned to slippery, sticky mud. I can now see how the unmade roads around here quickly become impassable. Any wonder it was the birthplace of Australia’s iconic airline Qantas. Just turning the car around at the end of a residential street we churn up ruts in the mud. … Continue reading Wet Emblems

Freedom Camp, Places, Point of Interest, QldLeave a comment

Mary Kathleen

Itching for Hitching

The Mary Kathleen abandoned town site is located halfway between Mt Isa and Cloncurry in western Queensland. Uranium was found here in 1954. A town was built for the miners and their families. When the mine closed in 1984 families were given 21 days to vacate. All of the buildings were sold, houses, shops and community buildings. The houses were sold for $3000 – $4000 and most of them went to the nearby towns of Mt Isa and Cloncurry. Even the swimming pool was filled in. Today there is consideration to reopen the mine site to extract rare earth minerals, … Continue reading Mary Kathleen