Muckadilla and Roma

Our last day of the trip was from Miles to home via Muckadilla and Roma.

Back when Robin was about 15, we stayed a night when there was no accomodation in nearby Roma. All the motels were full because of a soccer tournament. We were the only customers initially so Robin was allowed to sit up at the bar. Great excitement!

Sadly, the pub burnt down in 2019, but a new building has been erected with a similar layout. My friend Geoff and I visited the pub in 2010 and you can see photos here.

There is no longer a 'Bench of Bullshit'. No doubt, it is sorely needed.

Back when Robin and I visited, this lady ran the pub. When I asked her if she had any trouble from the local cow cockies on Friday nights, she gave me a look and declared slowly ' I have absolutely no trouble'. She could deal with anything! I ordered a steak and as usual, asked for medium rare. She gave me another look which said 'you will get the steak just as I like to cook it'. Quite a lady.

Don't worry about it. It's more scared of you.

A bottle tree survived the fire. They are popular in this area.

Roma is only about 30 minutes away and we came across a distillery. Intrigued, we decided to visit. Notice the bottle tree at the end of the path.

It turned out to be an artwork made of wire.

Inside the shed with the tasting area at the end.

Along with the usual gin, vodka etc, they also make a single malt whiskey which they mature in sherry and bourbon barrels.

We stopped at the Roma cemetery. Some of my relatives on my mother's side are buried in the unmarked plot to the left of the two leaning grave stones.

The plot has deteriorated since I last visited.

There is a marker for each body. I presume one of them is my grandfather who died when my mother was very young. He would also be the brother of the man who drove the dray in Winton.

Location is 

It's winter in Australia, so the grass is brown.

Start walking at this marker and you will find the grave.

Later that morning, we came across this grove of bottle trees named Jack Coe Park, just south of Boondooma. Australia has some wonderful place names.

We really enjoyed the trip. Marianne has been wanting to go out west for some time and she finally was able to scratch that itch. The only thing she really did not like were the road trains. Imagine meeting this on a two-lane highway. Three trailers are common, but four is rare. Our Honda looks so small.

Urangan to Roma

My mother was born in Roma and I lived there when I was less than three years old. It is only in recent years that I have been back there. Marianne has been doing a lot of genealogy research about my side of the family so we decided to go out there so that she could see the town.

 

From a small bridge over the Mary River about thirty miles from Maryborough. In flood time, the bridge is submerged.

 

Wondai, a small town in the southeast Queensland hinterland.

 

The town has a history of timber cutting. If we had more time, we could have gone to the museum that was just opening, but we had a long way to go that day.

 

Distinguished old bank for such a small town.

 

Some of my ancestors lived at Jimbour, but there is not much to see there and it is quite small compared to Wondai.

 

The Jimbour Official Greeter.

 

Old hall that would be used for any largish gathering.

 

Out on the road to Roma. The Darling Downs is one of Australia's most fertile growing areas. The locals have considerable concern about the introduction of coal seam gas mining in the area.

 

We stayed at an Airbnb at Roma. The owner was very welcoming and we enjoyed out stay.

 

Empty local street. It's all very quiet. Roma experienced a boom when the Coal Seam Gas industry came in and built the wells. Now that the wells are in production, the jobs have dried up and the Airbnb owner told us that over 400 houses were for sale with no prospective buyers.

 

The next morning, we check out my ancestors' grave. 

 

They were too poor for gravestones so there are just these steel markers.

 

These photos help identify the location in case somebody in my family ever travels out here.

 

Roma is one of those hot, dry places. You either love it or hate it and Marianne found the dry air difficult to cope with. I could get used to it if necessary but I know of other locations that suit me better.