Day 234 - Bourke to Cunnamulla and around Cunnamulla

After a beautiful sunset last night at Bourke, the rain had disappeared and we expected a warmer day today.  That was what we got and by the time we had travelled the 257km from Bourke to Cunnamulla the temperature had risen to a warm 36degrees.  Just outside of Bourke we saw one of its citrus orchards.

251114 Sunset at Bourke from the caravan park

261114 Citrus orchard just outside of Bourke

We had a relaxed and comfortable drive today although the roads at times left something to be desired.  There were plenty of straight stretches in the road as we headed north through "Back o' Bourke" country, flat, red dirt and endless plains of mulga trees.  As we crossed the border into Queensland there seemed to be a bit more grass spread between the trees. Sheep, goats, kangaroos, emus and various lizards were visible as we cruised along.

261114 The Tattersall Pub at Barringun just before the NSW/Qld border 

261114  It was a good feeling coming back to the Sunshine State

Cunnamulla is a small river town, but it is well maintained and the main street and the Civic Centre were well presented.  We visited the tourist sites around the town including the weir and the bridge crossing the Warrego River.  The town draws its water from the Great Artesian Basin, not from the river.  Cunnamulla's icon is the "Cunnamulla Fella" and a giant statue of him sits at the front of the Civic Centre.  The "Cunnamulla Fella" is immortalised in a song by Stan Costa and Slim Dusty.

261114 Sand dunes behind our caravan park at Cunnamulla 

261114 The Allan Tannoch Weir on the Warrego River at Cunnamulla

261114 The Warrego River upstream from the weir 

261114 The "Cunnamulla Fella" at the Cunnamulla Civic Centre

261114 The main street in Cunnamulla

261114 The Warrego from the Darby Land Bridge

Cunnamulla's history includes a robbery from the Queensland National Bank by Joseph Wells in 1880.  He attempted to hide in the "Robbery Tree" but was captured and eventually hanged for his crime.  The tree still remains.

261114 The Robbery Tree

We have seen a lot of goats this trip but today we saw more than we have ever seen in one spot, probably destined for the abattoirs.

261114 Goats captured wild and held for transport to an abbatoir

There were a couple of other interesting sights around Cunnamulla, as the following pictures show.

261114 An unusual sign near the Warrego River - and only one turtle?
Didn't see the turtle anyway

261114 Some of the locals taking shade at the Cunnamulla Cemetery

261114 A beautiful poinciana at Cunnamulla