Lawn Hill

Well hopefully we can improve on the last E-mail, after we left Mt Isa we drove to Cloncurry home of Mary K Mine one of the first uranium mines in Australia. From here we headed up the Matilda H’way to Burke & Wills roadhouse. There the van was to stay for 4 nights while we went to Gregory Downs hotel. This was to be our base to get history of Gregory Downs Station (for Americans read ranch & English read farm, not sure how big but huge) & Pub, both started by Browny’s great uncles.
The staff at the hotel were great. Jo the licencee was helpful & tried to arrange a visit to the homestead but it was too late as we were locked into a time frame. Next Time !!!!!!! In Jo’s words “bloody better be”. Gary the manager, the Irish girls who were bar staff, cleaners & waitresses all in one were terrific.
Now for the highlight, a trip into Lawn Hill & Adel’s Grove. Lawn Hill was fantastic, towering cliff, a nice waterway & waterfalls, all combine to make it a magical world. Then into Adel’s Grove which was originally a botanical tribute by Albert De Lestang’s to his wife Adel. He planted trees from all over the world & catalogued over 1,000 as well as cataloguing other fauna & flora. It was destroyed by fire {deliberately lit in 1950 but never proven!!} Its trees, creek, pools & cascades make it a tranquil & peaceful place!!


Words fail to describe these places & even pictures only go so far. We were told before we went in how great it was but even with warning we were still impressed. Sami appreciated getting off the black, the road was dirt & used by road trains carrying both ore from the mine & cattle from the stations. Depending on a city or country perspective the road was good bad or indifferent. We found it good.
One thing we have found on this trip is the work ethic of the back packers who work in the roadhouses. They are friendly, efficient & nothing is too much trouble.
We left Gregory Downs & returned to Burke & Wills to pick up the van ready for our run to Normanton. This will be our base for a week. Yesterday we went to the rodeo to see the local cowgirls & boys. To see them ride was an eye opener, they look to be as one with the horse. Must be because they are born in the saddle.