Hughenden

The year was 1986, and Jack, still in his twenties, but only just, had secured six week’s work through the office of Grazcos Shearing in Hughenden. The job was at Malboona Station where forty-two thousand merino ewes and lambs were due for shearing. With the job due to kick off the following week, Jack booked a bed for six nights at the heritage listed Grand Hotel. A replica dinosaur now stands where the magnificent old Queensland pub sadly burnt to the ground in 2018.

Hughenden lies beside the Flinders River, named after the explorer Matthew Flinders. The Flinders River is the longest river in Queensland, stretching approximately 1,004 kilometers (624 miles) from its source in the state’s northeast to its mouth in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Porcupine Gorge is a dramatic, sandstone gorge located about 65 kilometres north of Hughenden.

Mt Walker, 12 kilometres from Hughenden, provides magnificent 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside, a prime area for cattle and sheep grazing.

The Hughenden Masonic Centre presents as an interesting piece of architecture on Hughenden’s main street.

Corfield

A little battle weary from almost a week at the Grand Hotel, Jack proceeded to Malboona Station which is thirty-five kilometres south-east of the small village of Corfield. Corfield, a former railway town, lies between Hughenden and Winton.

The Corfield Pub

The Manuka Hotel* was a historic hotel in the small Queensland township of Corfield, named after the Manuka Station where it was initially built in the 1890s to serve travellers on the Winton to Hughenden route. After the railway line extended through the area, the hotel was moved nearer to the railway line, (renamed?**) and operated until it was destroyed by fire around 1993. Here, Jack celebrated his thirtieth birthday, a nostalgic memory to contemplate during our overnight stay.

Corfield’s free campground and public toilets are kept in beautiful condition by volunteers helping raise funds, via donations, for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The local people have established another community-owned hotel which is open during sports days, social occasions and seasonal events. The biggest annual event being the running of the Corfield Cup, this year fittingly held on the 2 August, Jack birthday!

Coming up: Down the centre of Queensland.

*Unfortunately we can not find any photos of the Corfield Pub pre 1993.

**Need confirmation whether of not the Manuka Hotel changed it’s name to the Corfield Hotel.

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