Calliope, Mt Larcom & Boyne Valley
Just west of the Calliope Crossroads and set in a attractive hinterland is Calliope - a gold-rush town a century ago. With a population of 1700, it has country pubs, a country club with a challenging golf course and village shops. Calliope, Many Peaks and other locations along the Boyne River were prominent between 1853 and 1879 when gold was discovered and later mined commercially into the early 1900's. Today, there are few signs of the gold mining days, including an old gold press at Calliope Town Library. A short journey north from Calliope takes you back many years to capture some of the early history of the Port Curtis area at the Calliope River Historical Village. The Village contains and impressive array of buildings from the early years, relocated and restored. They include the Clyde Hotel, the Hazeldean Church, a country schoolhouse and pioneer residences. The Village is open every day (excluding Good Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) for self guided tours, and the Yarwun Railway Station (now the Village Kiosk!) is open from 10am to 4pm each day serving snacks and souvenirs. Close to Gladstone, the prominent peak of Mt Larcom creates both fine sunsets for the city and a challenging mountain climb along a marked track. Once reaching the summit, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the entire Region - on a clear day, you will even see the reef islands to the east, and Rockhampton to the north. Mt Larcom is of volcanic origin, and is sometimes referred to as "The Sleeping Giant" because of its profile when looked at from a distance. The Mt Larcom township has a population of about 350 and is a small highway township named after the prominent mountain peak visible to the east. The town has a lovely picnic area, a great pub and is home to the famous "Big Mama's Chunky Steak Pies". Mt Larcom Cafe and Collectables freshly prepares the famous pies and pastry goods on site every day. Just north of Mt Larcom is the Raglan Tavern located on the Bruce Highway. The tavern is the perfect spot for the weary traveller to rest and refresh. Famous for their huge steaks and barramundi dishes, the tavern offers a relaxed atmosphere within fully landscaped gardens. Contact the tavern on 07 4934 6558. Travelling from the north, a turn-off at Mt Larcom takes you 32 kilometres along the Port Curtis Way into Gladstone City. The Boyne Valley, located south west of Gladstone is the source and catchment of the Boyne River - the source of the Region's water supply from Lake Awoonga. The valley has an interesting history including timber milling and gold mining, as well as cattle and crops. Driving south through the Valley along Highway 69, there are several townships and recreation spots along the Boyne River. The road goes through to Monto and diverts east to Miriam Vale via Blackmans Gap. At the southern end of the valley is the interesting former gold town of Many Peaks, beyond which are the ranges and the logging industry. There are several locations along the Boyne River and other waterways for relaxed picnics, such as Futter Creek rest area, Nagoorin and Ubobo, as well as where the road crosses the river several times en route to Many Peaks. Visit Glassford Creek Farmstay located at Builyan in the Boyne Valley. The 4000 acre working cattle property offers visitors the chance to sample life in the outback. Visit www.glassfordcreekstay.com.au For further information on the Boyne Valley visit www.boynevalley.org.au |
