Hughenden, QLD.

October 11th. Reached Hughenden Noon on Saturday, every business closed. Not willing to travel any further with a 'Dodgy Tyre' as a spare, now have to stay in Hughenden till Monday morning. We are camped in the RV Camp for Self-Contained vehicles beside the Show Grounds. We are eager to continue the drive on The Kennedy Development Road towards Winton. It is very risky leaving the awning out in this town, sudden strong gusts blow out of any direction at any time. Nearly "Lost It" in a phantom Willy Willy. 

This Coolabah Tree has blazes on the trunk with inscriptions by Frederick Walker and Sir William Landsborough whilst searching for Burke and Wills.

Hughenden was on the shores of an inland sea 100 million years ago and is now part of the Dinosaur Triangle with Richmond and Winton. Jude is leading this Muttaburrasaurus for a walk through Hughenden. It is affectionately known as "Mutt".

Queensland State Government Offices.

The Wirilla Mill, this 11m Comet Wind Mill is one of only 15 manufactured. This is #11. This pump ceased to pump water in 1944 but was delivering 69 litres per stroke and about 1,000,000 litres per day with a steady breeze.

The Flinders River, the longest river in Queensland but very dry at the moment.

Another Comet Wind Mill fan, this one installed at a shelter in the Main Street, is much smaller than The Wirilla Mill.

Campaspe River Rest Area

Once more we get on the road very early to avoid the high temperatures and gusty easterlies.

Made Hughenden for morning tea, refuelled, had a look at the RV camping area for possible future stays. The RV area is in The Showgrounds and looks very good, with green grass and well maintained facilities. There is a fee involved though. Made camp at The Campaspe River RA, 90 kms west of Charters Towers on the Flinders Highway. We have stayed here before and on this occasion we were able to camp in the exact same location, behind a huge mango tree that blocked out most of the highway noise. However, the downside was the extra long freight trains thundering past only 35 metres away ---- not too many of those though. I only heard two trains during the night, one, I thought was coming through the van door!

Photograph taken early morning, from beside the rail line looking towards our camp and the Flinders Highway beyond.

The rail trestle over the Campaspe River. The river bed does not have any water, only truck loads of sand!

More photographs of the Campaspe River here on a previous post.  http://avantouring.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/campaspe-river-rest-area-sat-7th-sun.html