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Sunday (M’T, L, A’T)
08:00 It’s time to set off on a journey of discovery to uncover the history and delve into the hidden secrets of a bygone era. On this guided tour you’ll really get to know and understand the characters of the outback and become part of what is our home “Cunnamulla”.
Commencing at the sand dunes you will find out how these natural treasures developed.
Hear the story of bank robber Joseph Wells and how his victims pled to the government to let him live.
Ghosts of the past will come back to life at Cunnamulla’s heritage cemetery as we delve into tales and characters that now lay to rest. The tragic death of the a young boy named James Stacy and pioneer James Tyson who settled on Tinnenburra Station in 1867 which later became the largest holding in Australia are tour highlights.
2012 will mark 165 years since Edmund Kennedy returned to Cunnamulla camping on the bank of the Warrego River. Kennedy was the second in command to Thomas Mitchell who travelled through the Cunnamulla area the year prior in 1846.
The big bang in 2012 is celebrating 150 years from the exploration by William Landsborough that drew settlers and started the development of the district in 1862.
On our travels to Allan Tannock Weir we share the history of how Cunnamulla got its name, where the first school was located and pass the old stock route where many a drover moved mobs of sheep and cattle with stock whips cracking.
Cobb and Co coaches operated regular services through Cunnamulla from 1879 and you will travel over some of the land their big hearted horses galloped on.
Learn how forty years of flood research and records along with a healthy respect and understanding of the river and its danger empowered Allan Tannock to help save Cunnamulla from the mighty Warrego River in the 2009 floods that destroyed Charleville and Nyngan.
Self driven Allan Tannock was a man of vision, a thirst for knowledge motivated his recordings of daily events and he passionately lobbied government in the pursuit of economic development of the Cunnamulla region. He served his country at war, was a true gentleman and will always be a legend in these parts.
It’s now time to depart for the morning’s adventures at Rocky Station. On arrival meet your charismatic hosts and stroll along the banks of the Warrego River once more but this time on an escorted tour of the “Wallaby Nature Walk”. Keep your eyes open and be quiet, you might have the ultimate nature experience and sight a Whip Tail Wallaby in the wild. They are fast and flighty and they will see you well before you see them which adds to the excitement if you spot one of these cute little fellas.
Your adrenalin will start pumping as you discover and act out your “Indiana Jones” fantasy and navigate your way across the 70 meter swinging footbridge. When you arrive at the other side you can enjoy a pleasant stroll to the station homestead.
You will find Mike and Chris Webster friendly, fun loving and most of all genuine outback characters that love the country they live in and their warmth to people around them is always a highlight of this tour.
Arriving at the family homestead you are welcomed in to relax on the verandah and share in the stories and memories of the Webster and Manning families’ combined lifetimes in the district and life today on Rocky Station.
Tantalize your taste buds with some glorious home cooking baked with love and served with the best in outback hospitality. A specialty is home baked scones with lashings of butter, jam and cream.
Enjoy the view breathe in the fresh country air and totally unwind as singing birds along the river create the perfect ambience.
It’s now time to bid your new mates a fond farewell as we depart and embark on a historical tour of Cunnamulla including local industries such as organic farming with large scale irrigation and table grape production.
Watch the history of the town unfold including a visit to the Cunnamulla railway station that was completed in 1898.
Tour the photographic display of Stephanie Mills Australia’s photographic storyteller at your own leisure and that concludes your insight into the culture and heritage of Cunnamulla.
“Thank you very much for giving us the chance to get in touch with this kind of life which is so different from ours on the other side of the world.”