Long, long ago, terrestrial dinosaurs thrived here in a lush environment alongside a vast prehistoric inland sea which was once the underwater home to many great marine reptiles. Today, Hughenden honours—in ways both fun and serious—the memory of those creatures, great and small. You’ll see them in the street, at the local museum and as works of art throughout the town itself.
The first point of call is the Flinders Discovery Centre, which houses a range of fossils from around the world, and the local area. ‘Hughie’ is the star attraction, a 7.5 metre life-size skeletal replica of a Muttaburrasaurus. ‘Hughie’ is a daunting figure as you enter the display area. Although this dinosaur is believed to have been a herbivore, you get the impression he is something that you would not want to meet on a dark night! Come and witness the educational light and sound show that takes you back over 500 million years to the beginning of the formation of Porcupine Gorge.
Enter the Wool Shed which tells the story of the demise of the sheep industry throughout the Finders Shire. Tales of hardship and change are told through stories of men who lived this gruelling life from 1865 to present day times. View the historical and seasonal exhibitions and there’s even an interactive Children’s Discovery Corner!
The Flinders Discovery Centre stocks a large range of souvenirs and information on local and regional holiday destinations. The centre is open seven days from 9.00am to 5.00pm during the tourist season.
The must-see attraction in the Flinders Shire is Porcupine Gorge. Five hundred million years in the making and half a day to discover. The drive to the gorge is all bitumen and can be accessed by all vehicle types. Be sure to pick up a drive guide to the Gorge from the Discovery Centre which highlights points of interest on the drive out. Porcupine Gorge National Park has a clear, flowing creek, towering cliffs of vibrantly coloured sandstone and dense vegetation. The gorge, which extends for more than 38km along Porcupine Creek, provides a striking contrast to the surrounding sparsely wooded, dry, flat plains. Hundreds of millions of years of geological history show in the strata of sedimentary rocks and basalt that have been carved away over millennia to form this impressive canyon.
The Gorge can be appreciated from two distinct areas. The first point is a lookout giving a view deep into the gorge below. The second is a national park campsite area. From here, a walking track takes visitors to the base of the gorge where the Pyramid formation is a prominent feature. Intermittent waterholes line the base of the gorge. Have a swim! The Porcupine Gorge National Park offers camping, birdwatching, swimming, opportunities for nature and landscape photography and a diverse range of flora and fauna.
White Mountains National Park, 107km east of Hughenden, is characterised by white sandstone formations and complex gorge systems. During the wet season the landscape becomes a water catchment for streams and rivers which eventually feed into Lake Eyre in South Australia and the Gulf of Carpentaria. The park is remote, rugged and has an amazing 14 regional eco-systems within its boundaries.
Camping sites can be booked online www.qld.gov.au/camping or at the Flinders Discovery Centre Hughenden, however White Mountains National Park is very remote and only suitable for well equipped, experienced bushwalkers and campers.
Moorrinya National Park is about 90km south of Torrens Creek on the Aramac Torrens Creek Road.
This remote park has dry, flat plains criss-crossed by watercourses and covered in open eucalypt, paperbark and acacia woodlands and grasslands. Moorrinya is a wildlife refuge, protecting Australian icons such as kangaroos, koalas, emus and dingoes, as well as threatened species such as the square-tailed kite, squatter pigeon (southern subspecies) and the Julia Creek Dunnart.
Travelling south of Prairie brings you to an oasis in the desert. Kooroorinya Nature Reserve is a spectacular waterfall during the wetter months of the year and retains a secluded billabong during the drier months. Kooroorinya offers swimming, fishing, bush walking, bird watching and some excellent photographic opportunities. Camping sites offer modern toilet facilities, hot showers and wood fired barbecue. Visitors can book by phoning ahead (07) 4741 7460 or at the caretaker’s office on arrival. The camping area is pet friendly. This area comes alive each year at the Oakley Amateur Picnic Races held each May and is an event that you don’t want to miss.
Just 10km south on the Muttaburra Road of Hughenden is Mount Walker, which has six lookouts scanning the district’s landscape 360 degree views. Its name is a little piece of history, as William Landsborough named the landmark after fellow explorer Frederick Walker. Mount Walker is approximately 478m above sea level, making it around 152m above the township of Hughenden. Sunrises and sunsets on Mount Walker are beautiful. Picnic tables and shelters, free barbecues and public amenities are available at the top. The road is sealed to the top but there is a 16 per cent incline so the road is not recommended for large vehicles like motorhomes, buses, caravans or campers.
Hughenden’s main street is Brodie Street, where you will find most of the shops. Halfway up the main street is the Federation Rotunda which incorporates two 20-foot windmills and handcrafted bush furniture. You will find the library in the main street and for those that like to read on the road can borrow a book under the rural libraries scheme and return it to the next town you are travelling to.
For art lovers the town is adorned in murals and sculptures, all based on the region’s prehistoric creatures and culture heritage. Pick up a town map which has the self-guided art trail identifies. The main street also has the Artisan Collective which is a store that sells works from local artists and craftsmen and is open every Saturday morning.
To learn more about the region and its local culture and history, take a Town Tour which operate from April – October. The tour explains the area’s settlement history and modern economies of cattle, agriculture, and alternative energy.
The Flinders River, at 1004km in length, is Queensland’s longest river and flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. It was named after Matthew Flinders by Lieutenant Stokes of HMS Beagle in 1841. The River Walk incorporates a walking trail along the banks of the Flinders River.
The Hughenden Recreational Lake was constructed in 2019 and is a multiple use lake shared by all watercraft activity enthusiasts. You can enjoy free barbecues under shelter sheds, swimming, undercover children’s playground, and a paved walking track around the lake. The path is suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and there are several toilet blocks around the lake.
‘Mutt’ stands proud on Stansfield Street and is a very photographic friendly character who welcomes all guests to Hughenden. He is a favourite with many who pass through the township.
Hughenden Town and Cemetery walking tours are available between May and September. For more information and bookings call (07) 4741 2970.
Hughenden has a free RV Park for people that have self–contained caravans, motorhomes and camping trailers. This is located next to the Hughenden Showgrounds and is a short stroll to the main street, historical Coolibah Tree and Hughenden Recreational Lake.
Also visit the smaller communities of the Flinders Shire. Prairie, Torrens Creek and Stamford all have stories to tell from the ghostly prowler to Cobb and Co history to the time one town was almost blown away.
Prairie, with a population of 50, is surrounded by beautiful rolling plains of Flinders and Mitchell grass. In the 1870s, Prairie was a main horse change centre for Cobb & Co Coaches. The Great Northern Railway reached Prairie on 6 September 1887. In the early 1900s, the population of Prairie was close to 300. The town boasted two hotels, two guest houses, two general stores, two blacksmith shops, two churches, one butcher shop, a saddlery shop, a café, a school of arts hall, a privately owned dance hall, a large garage, a stock and station agency, a dairy, barber’s shop, shearing shed, a school, post office, railway station and a sale yard.
Torrens Creek with just 20 residents boasts a fabulous pub, The Oasis Exchange Hotel which offers a general store, fuel, accommodation and campground. Also keep an eye out for Ned who has a quirky little store called Oolong Art Gallery, which has some interesting items.
The town still retains the charm of the past and a step into the Prairie Pub will have you walking back into time as the hotel has a great display of relics from the past.
Stamford is the smallest community in the district. It once was an overnight stop for Cobb & Co coaches travelling between Winton and Hughenden, but nowadays it is a population of 3. The town serves as a meeting place for graziers who all love to attend the Stamford Races held in July.
May 2-4 — Festival of Outback Skies
Flinders Discovery Centre
Phone (within Australia) 07 4741 2970
