5 Bizarrely Named Towns In Queensland to Visit
When it comes to town names, there are various historical causes behind them. In some situations, it’s a specific place, while in others, historical individuals discover the location or are influenced by indigenous origins. Whatever the case may be, many communities around the world have normal-sounding names such as Heber Springs, Dubois, or Toronto.
But this is not the situation in Australia. Queensland, in particular, is on a completely different wavelength than others, giving locations unpleasant, hilarious, or weird names and refusing to change them. As a result, we are forced to address actual communities with these odd names.
Barcaldine
Barcaldine is a peculiar town name with a silent “e” at the end, but it is also a key location in Australian history. The town’s name, Barcaldine Downs, was derived from the sheep station there, which was called after the original owner’s Scottish property. Even though that was a strange decision, Barcaldine’s role truly took off in 1891, when the Great Shearers Strike occurred. The Australian Labor Party as we know it was founded as a result of this movement, which was the first and most significant industrial struggle.
Barcaldine is a veritable gold mine of history, lodging, and shipping facilities, as one might anticipate. The Tree of Knowledge, which peaked in 1891, at the same time as the Great Shearers Strike, is the largest landmark. The tree was poisoned in 2006, however it was replaced by a memorial, which provides a lovely sight at night. Nevertheless, the Australian Workers Heritage Centre is an excellent place to review the country’s whole working history. An alternative is to go to the vintage Radio Theatre, which has chairs made of canvas and a functional windmill that feeds water into the sculpture.
Biloela
After you pass Banana, you will finally get to Biloela (Bill-oh-wheelah), the center of Banana Shire. Callide Dam is a popular fishing location, and the area is known to locals as Biloela, or Bilo, the Aboriginal name for white cockatoo. Biloela is home to the Spirit of the Land Mural, a Regional Art Gallery, and the Queensland Heritage Park, in addition to some of the Banana locations noted above.
Biloela functions similarly to a compass; there is a lot to discover in this region, but you will always return to this settlement. The fact that there is so much to see and do in the town is a pleasant bonus.
Stonehenge
Indeed, it is the same Stonehenge as the one in the UK. Not exactly, though. Instead, the stone cottages that bullock teams utilized in the days of droving are what gave this town its name. With tourists “signing their name in stone” on the side of the road, Stonehenge embraces the stone aesthetic despite its peculiar genesis story.
Beyond the rock sign, there are a number of picturesque pathways for visitors to enjoy. You can either hike up through the John Egan Pioneer Track to see amazing vistas or stop by and chat with the locals while taking in the peace and quiet. Notably, the XXXX Hill provides a picturesque viewpoint that allows you to observe the flood plains of the Thomson River and the nearby Johnstone Ranges. You can cool off at the Stonehenge Hotel if you need to rest or stop for lunch. The Swanvale Lookout, which has picnic tables and fireplaces for viewing the scenery, is another option.
Banana
It’s difficult to understand why a town is named Banana in the first place when there aren’t any banana trees to be seen. However, when we examine what was going on in the 1860s, everything begins to make sense. A bullock by the name of Banana was well-known in those days for having a dun-colored coat that was yellowish.
However, Banana wasn’t just any bullock; the local stockmen loved him, and he was essential in guiding untamed livestock into holding yards. The town’s name and the yellow bullock statue both honor Banana’s excellence.
All things considered, however, Banana is a starting point for further exploration of the surrounding region. Nevertheless, Banana is near a number of man-made attractions. First of all, freshwater fishing is possible due to its proximity to the Dawson River. Beyond that, the Expedition National Park and the Kroombit Tops are well-known destinations for those who want to appreciate the outdoors and get in touch with nature.
Yaraka
The place to go if you ever wanted to sound a little bit like a pirate is Yaraka (pronounced “Yarh-a-kah”). Yaraka, which was named after the native term for white spear grass, gained recognition after a railroad line and station were established in 1917. Since then, the tiny town—which has a population of less than three thousand—has emerged as one of Queensland’s real hidden treasures.
The attraction of visiting Yaraka is its proximity to Mt Slowcombe, a landscape to which you may drive or take a 13-seat air-conditioned bus to enjoy the area’s grandeur. The view has been compared to the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park. Aside from that, there are additional driving tours to enjoy, such as the Castle Rock Tour, which takes you to Castle Rock, where you may even find opal, and the History Tour, which brings you to the Powell Creek area.