On a recent trip out to the Western Highlands of Central Queensland, our technicians traversed the wheatfields of Springsure, so named from the many springs in the creeks and gullies at the time of settlement in the 1860’s.
The region around Springsure was first explored by Ludwig Leichhardt during his 1844-45 journey through Central Queensland. His glowing reports of the area around the Comet River prompted glaziers to set up camp in the area around 1859 though it wasn’t properly surveyed and gazetted until 1863.
In spite of resistance from the original owners of the land, the township of Springsure continued to attract a variety of settlers including graziers of both cattle and sheep.
In recent times, extensive irrigation on the rich black clay soil has been used to produce a range of crops including wheat and sunflowers. You can imagine the spectacular display of sunflowers when they’re in bloom at the south of the town.
Virgin Rock is the most notable park you can visit by travelling 4kms out of town on the Emerald Road. The Mount Zamia Environmental Park is 4 kms to the west of the town on the Tambo Road and the spectacular Carnarvon Gorge National Park can be explored via Rolleston to the south of the town.
In 1932, 65,000 acres was proclaimed a National Park with another 1,480 added in 1954. The Carnarvon Gorge itself runs over 30 kms and varies in width from 40 to 400 metres. The caves and cliffs were a popular place for Aboriginal art containing some of the finest examples of indigenous painting using the technique of blowing pigment over stencil in red ochre and white, black and yellow.
There’s lots of historical places to visit including the old Rainworth Station which comprises the Cairdbeign School dating back to 1896 and the Cairdbeign Homestead which is a seven roomed slab homestead built around 1870. Springsure boasts 2 museums and the Pattern Comet Windmill built in 1935 by the Sidney Williams Company of Rockhampton. It has a diameter of 24 feet (just under 7.5m) and the head weighs 2.4 tonnes. It was originally erected at Johnnies Bore on Cungellela Station near Springsure but was moved to its current location in the Jaycees Park.
If you live in the area and need assistance with any IT issues, you can send us and email at ontheroad@thecomputerworkshop.com.au or call us on 4721 1000.
