This was published 9 years ago
St George, Queensland: Travel guide and things to do
St George, QLDCredit: photography by Vince Valitutti/Queensland Tourism
St George is a very typical Queensland rural town on the vast flatlands beyond the Great Dividing Range. It is located 550 km from Brisbane via Goondiwindi or 509 km via Dalby, is 201 m above sea-level and has a population of 3800.
The town itself is located on a river, has wide streets, and is primarily a service centre for the surrounding wheat, sheep and cotton farmers, although fruits and vegetables and beef also make useful contributions to the local economy.
The plaque at Jack Taylor Weir, beside the Balonne River on the western side of the town, explains how the town got its name. It reads: 'At this spot on St Georges Day - April 23 1846 - Sir Thomas Mitchell crossed the Balonne and established a camp calling the crossing St Georges Bridge. This was the origin of the town St George.'
St George officially became a town in 1862. A postal service was established in 1864 although an actual post office building was not built until 1872 (still standing). The first school was built in 1873 and a Catholic church in 1874, although services were initially irregular as the priest had to visit from his parish base in Roma. An Anglican church was built in 1889.
St George was incorporated as a municipality in 1902, with a population of around 900. A bore, drilled to a depth of 2709 feet, was completed in 1904. The initial flow was 570,000 gallons a day.
The quest for water continued to preoccupy the town with irrigation projects contemplated as early as 1922 although it was not realised until the 1950s. In 1967 the scheme was extended to include the construction of Beardmore Dam, facilitating the development of the cotton and horticultural industries. Pests retarded the development of the cotton crop until the 1970s but the shire has since become one of the country's major cotton producers. The Irrigation Project, which starts 8 km south of town, adjacent the Carnarvon Highway, now covers over 13,000 hectares. The town's progress in recent times has been further enhanced by the construction, in 1972, of an irrigation weir (the Jack Taylor Weir) on the Balonne.
Interestingly, the town claims that the only known Aboriginal fighter pilot to serve in World War II - Warrant Officer Leonard Victor Waters - comes from the local area and his name is remembered on a pilots' memorial opposite the St George Visitor Information Centre on the Balonne River.
Things to see
Balonne Shire Visitor Information Centre
Detailed local information is available at Main Street from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m daily. The centre can provide the St George Historical Self-Drive Town Tour fact sheet, a list of fishing and bush camping sites in the area, as well as details about photography, bird watching, bushwalking, astronomy and boat and canoe hire.
The Unique Egg
A genuinely impressive and interesting collection of hand-carved emu eggs, illuminated from within, is situated within the Balonne Sports Store, at 108 Victoria St. Created by Steve Margaritis over a period of more than 40 years, they have been displayed at World Expos but are on permanent display in the store, which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9.00 a.m. to midday on Saturdays. Admission to the collection is $3 for adults and $1 for children aged 5-12, tel: (07) 4265 3490.
The St George Heritage Centre
Located at the western end of Victoria St, the centre houses a collection of historical material realting to the town, including a working blacksmith operation, operational printing press, local Aboriginal artefacts, an extensive harness collection and the old gaol and courthouse which have been relocated from within the town. It is open weekdays from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., tel: (07) 4625 5168.
Historic Buildings
The town's historic buildings include the original post office building (1872), which retains its original shingles on the window awnings (now situated on the corner of Henry St and St George's Terrace), the town's first schol house (1873), now located in Roe St adjacent the Department of Primary Industries Lane, the first Catholic Church (1874), now in the grounds of St Patrick's School in Balonne St, and the original Anglican Church (1889), now to be found next to the new Anglican church in Victoria St where it is used as a church hall. The original town bore, completed in 1904, can still be seen in Henry St. Drilled to a depth of 2709 feet its original flow was 570,000 gallons a day. A pump is now used to maintain the pressure.
Riversands Vineyard
White and red wines, muscat and port, made from locally-grown grapes, can be tasted and purchased from this boutique winery which is situated on the banks of the Balonne River, just 2 km from town. Cheese platters, mudcake, coffee, jams, chutneys, gifts, pottery and other items are available at the outdoor cafe and there are barbecue facilities in a garden setting. Vineyard tours, including wine and cheese tastings, are available for coach groups, tel: (07) 4625 3643 or check out: http://www.riversandswines.com/
Jack Taylor Weir
Situated on the Balonne River, this concrete construction has a storage capacity of 10,000 megalitres. It is nearly 6 metres high and is fitted with 13 vertical lift gates. There is a pump station on the eastern banks of the river.
A cairn commemorates the crossing of the river by Thomas Mitchell in 1846. It is located amid landscaped gardens adjacent the weir. A plaque also denotes the spot where Mitchell camped, naming this natural crossing point St George Bridge, it being discovered on St George's Day.
Beardmore Dam
21 km north of town, just off the Carnarvon Highway, is Beardmore Dam, which is a pleasant rest stop with well-kept parklands and barbecue/picnic facilities. Boating, skiing and fishing are permitted and there is a boat ramp, although no camping is allowed and fishing is prohibited 100 metres upstream and 200 metres downstream. Completed in 1972, the dam holds 81,000 megalitres and is of earth-fill construction. When full, it covers 3350 hectares.
Rock Wells
37 km along the Moonie Highway (the road to Dalby), is an Aboriginal rock well that was pounded out by hand thousands of years ago. The reservoirs were designed to store up precious water and were usually covered by a stone or branches to prevent evaporation and fouling by animals. Some had artificial channels which conveyed the water to the mouth of the hole.
Weengallon, 66 km south-east of St George on the road to Goondiwindi, also has an interesting display of three rock wells. They are now clearly signposted and protected by fences: a rather ironic fate considering the function they were originally designed to serve.
Nindigully Hotel
46 km south of St George, with its sawn timber walls, is the famous and delightful old Nindigully Hotel which was once used as a staging post for Cobb & Co when they ran extensive services through central and western Queensland. It was built in 1864 and parts of the original building still remain. The hotel - thought to hold one of the longest continual licences in Queensland - has featured in commercials and in the movie Paperback Hero.
It is claimed that the Moonie River, which runs by the hotel, is excellent for fishing. The original 1885 bridge still stands. Accommodation is available within the pub and caravaners can also stay overnight along the riverbanks and use the free showers within the hotel. The pub hosts a bachelors' and spinsters' ball each January and is known for its New Year's Eve fireworks and revelries.
Fishing
The rivers and creeks in the area are said to be good for boating and fishing, with yellowbelly and Murray cod to be had. Jack Taylor Weir, at St George, has parks, toilets and a boat ramp. Fishing is prohibited 100 metres upsteam and 115 metres downstream and no camping is permitted.
Chartered fishing tours and river cruises are available from Kapunda Fishing Park at Nixon's Rocks. From St George follow the Carnarvon Highway for 9 km to Kapunda. Day anglers are welcome with fishing off the banks. Canoes and boats are available for hire and bait can be purchased, tel: (07) 4625 5546.
Beardmore Dam (see entry above) is another fine fishing spot, as is Warroo Bridge. The latter is 60 km from St George. Follow the Carnarvon Highway out of St George for 51 km to the Wycombe School/Warroo Bridge turnoff. Access and safety are subject to water levels in the dam. There are no public facilities but camping is permitted on the northern and southern sides of the approach to the bridge. Be careful not to cross any boundary fences into private property.
Fishing can also be enjoyed on the Moonie River adjacent Nindigully. Accommodation is available within the pub and caravaners can stay overnight along the riverbanks and use the free showers within the hotel.
Another spot is the Balonne Minor Bridge, 3 km west of Dirranbandi on the Bollon-Dirranbandi Road. Overnight camping is permitted but access and safety are related to water levels.
In September each year, St George runs a family fishing competition with prizes up to $5000 in value. The prizes are awarded to catches that are closest to the secret weights determined by draw. Dirranbandi also hosts a family fishing competition at Easter.
Anglers should note that the legal limit for Murray cod is 60-110 cm with a bag limit of two and, for golden perch, the legal length is 30 cm with a bag limit of 10.
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