|
| The Old Butchers Shop,
one of the many historic buildings in the town.
|
Childers (including Woodgate)
Well preserved historic town on the main road between
Brisbane and Bundaberg.
Located 325 km north of Brisbane, 60 km north of
Maryborough, 52 km south of Bundaberg and 108 m above sea
level, Childers is a town which was created and sustained by
the sugar cane which grew around it until there were 8 years
of drought. The local council, determined to capitalise on
the tourist traffic which drove through town without
stopping, then embarked on a campaign which has resulted in
the title 'Historic Childers - The National Trust Town' and
now offers people speeding north to the resorts an ideal
place to stop and explore a little of the region's
interesting past.
Given the age of the unusual Brazilian Leopard Trees
which line the main street it is surprising that people ever
drove through the town without so much as a pause of
curiosity.
The Childers area was first explored by Europeans in the
1850s. The name of the town of Childers comes either from
the village of Childre in Oxfordshire (there are other
Oxfordshire names in the area including Didcot, Abingdon and
the Isis River) or from the Rt Hon Hugh Childers,
Auditor-General of Victoria.
The area grew slowly as teamsters stopped in the town and
the land around was taken up by pastoralists eager to raise
cattle on the fertile soil. In 1902 the town was virtually
wiped out by a fire which demolished nearly all the
buildings on one side of the main street. Those that
survived are now the interesting and important buildings in
the town.
Things to see:
|
| Childers Pharmaceutical
Museum |
Childers Pharmaceutical Museum
The centrepieces of Childers charm are the Childers
Pharmaceutical Museum and the Olde Butcher Shoppe, both of
which are specialist museums where the history of particular
trades can be explored.
The Pharmaceutical Museum in the main street (it is also
the Tourist Information Office) was originally built in 1894
and retains much of the charm of the late nineteenth
century. The shop fittings are made from cedar, there are
old leather bound prescription books, mortars and pestles
that are works of art and a very early cash register dating
back to 1906. The shop is now owned by the local council and
it is the centrepiece of the town's regeneration as a
tourist destination. There are brochures available which
list all the interesting historic buildings in town and for
those who really want to know the history of the area there
is an excellent book available titled Taming the Isis by B.
W. O'Neill.
Olde Butcher Shoppe
Just around the corner from the Federal Hotel (1907) is the
Olde Butcher Shoppe which, it is claimed, was the first
tiled butcher's shop outside Brisbane when it set up in
1896. The owner is a true enthusiast who happily takes
visitors through explaining early butchering techniques and
the history of the building which, by luck, managed to
escape the disastrous fire of 1902.
Over the road is the Childers Court House (1897) which is
a fine and well preserved example of the kind of country
Court Houses built throughout Queensland at the turn of the
century.
Just up the road is the famous Palace Hotel, the most
ornate and ostentatious building in town. It was recently
converted into a backpacker destination but in late June,
2000 it was severely damaged by fire. Tragically 15
backpackers were killed in the fire.
Soldiers Room Memorial
At the Maryborough end of the main street there is the
Soldiers Room Memorial a touching memorial to the soldiers
from the local area who were killed in all the wars this
century. Each soldier is honoured with a bronze plaque and,
where possible, a photograph. The images of young men who
were killed is tragic and powerful. The building itself was
built in 1926 and is designed in the shape of a Maltese
Cross.
Historical Complex
Over the road in Taylor Street is the newly established
Historical Complex with an impressive sugar cane locomotive
imported from England in 1916, a cottage from Isis Central
Mill which was once rented out to mill workers for the
modest sum of 2 shillings a week, and the old Isis Central
Mill School. Both buildings contain interesting collections
of local artefacts and memorabilia.
Isis Central Mill
It is possible to visit the Isis Central Mill between July
and November at 2.00 pm Mondays-Fridays. Contact the Tourist
Information Office or ring the mill on (07) 4126 6166 for
more details.
Burrum Coast National Park (Introduction)
Burrum Coast National Park (23 100 ha) is an undeveloped
wilderness area suited to those interested in bushwalking,
nature photography and birdwatching. It has spectacular
wildflower displays in the spring and early summer. Good
National Parks and Wildlife brochures and maps are
available. Access by conventional vehicle is very limited
and a 4WD is recommended. There are no developed campsites
or facilities. Those choosing to bush camp must be
self-sufficient in terms of food, water and medical
supplies.
Palm Beach is a delight and the hinterland is
characterised by low-lying sandy plains. Species such as
beach spinifex, coastal sheoak and the colourful blooms and
seeds of climbing guinea flower and coastal jack bean bind
the coastal dunes. Immediately behind the dunes are sandy
ridges covered by shrublands and low-standing open forests
of eucalyptus, vine thickets and wattles. The plains of the
hinterland are characterised by shallow soils, out of which
grow communities of wallum and heath such as wallum banksia
- unusual in Queensland - teatrees and white mahogany. Some
rather rare species exist in pockets with deeper soils
(including Livistonia palm forests in the Woodgate section,
and, in the Kinkuna section, Melaleuca cheelii and the cycad
Macrozamia lomindroides). The estuaries of Coonarr and
Theodolite Creek in the north, and the Gregory and Burrum
Rivers in the south, are lined with red mangrove communities
and the Woodgate section also has some swamp environs. Birds
are plentiful around these waterways in the early morning.
Loggerhead turtles lay their eggs in nests on the beach
from November to April, so be careful where you tread. Other
fauna in the park includes a wide range of birdlife, such as
the migratory rainbow bee-eater, lizards, snakes and
noctural mammals such as sugar gliders, feather-tail gliders,
bats and marsupial mice. For further information ring (07)
4126 8810.
Woodgate and the Woodgate Section of Burrum Coast
National Park
47 km east of Childers is the seaside resort of Woodgate
with its flat 18-km beach which is ideal for fishing and
sailing. It is a typical retirement village which is also a
popular holiday resort for people wanting to 'get away from
it all'. It has a caravan park and other accommodation,
petrol and a kiosk.
The Woodgate Section of Burrum Coast National Park
extends from the town south to the Burrum River estuary.
Access to the Burrum Point campground is 4WD only, although
there is an 800-metre circuit boardwalk through a teatree
swamp which departs from Acacia St (off Sixth Avenue) in
Woodgate. Those wanting to see more can take the 5.2-km
Banksia Track which starts from the same spot. It pases from
the swamp to Livistonia palm forest, to open forest and on
to a wallum heath plain decorated by wildflowers from August
to October.
Access to the rest of the Woodgate section is via Walkers
Point Rd which can be approached via Twelfth Avenue in the
town of Woodgate. Burrum Point campground is located along a
side track which runs off Walker Point Rd. It sits behind
the beach and is a popular relaxing getaway, with fishing
opportunities around the nearby river estuary. The
campground has water, cold showers and toilets. It is not a
large campground so it is advisable to book ahead for
holidays (tel: 07 4126 8810). If a campsite is vacant it is
possible to take out (and pay for) a permit from the
self-registration station at the campground. No fires are
permitted so bring a fuel stove and it is required that
visitors take their rubbish out with them (it can be
deposited at the Woodgate tip).
Two walking tracks depart from Burrum Point campground.
The Melaleuca Track (12.3 km return) passes through wallum
heath, mangroves, swamps and saltpans and passes through the
Walkers Point Picnic Area before returning to Burrum Point.
The Birdhide Walk (5 km return) leads from Burrum Point
to a birdhide at the edge of a small lake where waterbirds
can be seen in profusion during the cooler parts of the day.
Walkers Point Picnic Area (at the end of Walkers Point
Rd) has wheelchair access, paved areas and tables. There is
a boat ramp into the Burrum River estuary nearby and this is
a good spot to launch a canoe.
A 4WD track leads from Walkers Point to Hoppy Larks Creek
Picnic Area. There is wheelchair access to a viewing
platform with a picnic table and to a fishing platform on
the Gregory River (note that size limitations and bag limits
apply to various species of freshwater and saltwater
species).
From Hoppy Larks Creek Picnic Area it is possible to
continue driving westwards a short distance along Heidkes
Road which leads to the Childers-Woodgate main road at a
point 8 km from Woodgate, forming another possible access
point, in reverse, to this section of the Park.
Kinkuna Section of Burrum Coast National Park
There are two ways of approaching the Kinkuna Section of
Burrum Coast National Park. Both are 4WD only. From
Woodgate, head west along the Childers-Woodgate Rd for 3 km
then turn right into Whoopi's Rd and follow the signs to
Palm Beach. This route is closed off during wet weather due
to flooding.
The other approach is to follow the
Bundaberg-Goodwood-Childers Rd and turn off into Coonarr Rd
at the railway underpass. This intersection is 23 km south
of Bundaberg and 40 km north of Childers. Follow Coonarr Rd
for 8 km, alongside Elliott River, then turn right, heading
south along Palm Beach Rd, and you will come to the park
boundary in one kilometre. From this point signs lead to the
bush camping areas behind the foredune. Permits must be
obtained before setting up camp and these permits are
available from the self-registration stations at the camping
areas.
Australian Businesses for sale
Caravan Parks for sale
Motels for sale
Hotels for sale
Broadwalk Business Brokers
Businesses for Sale in Childers
: Buy or Sell Hotels, Motels, Caravan Parks, Bed & Breakfast,
Pubs, Wine Bars, Restaurants, Cafe, English Tea Rooms, Coffee Shops,
Deli, Catering Business, Pubs, Bars, Sandwich Bars, Pizza Delivery,
Bakeries, Hot Food Take-away, Fish & Chips, Petrol & Service Stations,
Australian Businesses for sale, Car Sales, Motor & Transport, Car/Van
Hires, Newsagents, Dry Cleaners, Salons, General Stores, Retail Stores,
Post Office, Printers, Convenience Stores, Clothes shop, Hair Dressers,
Beauty Salon, Fruit Markets, Butchers, Florist, Card & Gift shop, Sports
shop, Book Shops, Care Agency, Pharmacy, Tool-Hardware & DIY shops, Pet
Shops, Auto Mechanical, Auto Parts & Accessories,
Bakery Businesses for sale , Motel sales, caravan park sales, Hotel
sales, Business sales, Bar for sale, Juice Bar for sale,
Beauty Salon for sale, Bike and Motorcycle Businesses for sale ,
Australian Businesses for sale, Blinds and Shutters Businesses for sale , Boat Business for sale ,
Book Shop , Bread Run, Building and Construction , Butcher Shop,
Café Business for sale, Car Dealerships for sale, Car Rental
Business for sale , Car Yard, Cleaning Business for sale, Computer
Business for sale, Childcare Centre for sale, Confectionary
Business for sale, Convenience Store for sale, Deli Businesses for
sale , Distribution Businesses for sale , Earth Moving Businesses
for sale , Businesses for sale , Engineering Businesses for sale ,
Export/Import Businesses for sale , Fitness Centres for sale,
Florist for sale, Franchise Businesses for sale , Fruit and Veg
Shop for sale, Function Centre for sale, Funeral Parlour for sale,
Furniture Businesses for sale , Garden Equipment Businesses for
sale , General Store s for sale, Gift Shop for sale, Hairdressing
salons for sale , Hardware Businesses for sale , Hire Businesses for
sale , Businesses for sale, Motels for sale, Caravan Parks for sale,
hotels for sale, Ice Cream Businesses for sale , Juice Bar for sale, Laundrette ' s for sale, Lawn Mowing Businesses for sale , Magazine
Businesses for sale , Manufacturing Businesses for sale , Marine
Businesses for sale , Menswear Businesses for sale , Milk Run 's
for sale, Mixed Businesses for sale , Mobile Businesses for sale ,
News agency Businesses for sale , Pawnbroker Businesses for sale ,
Preschool for sale, Pest Control Businesses for sale ,Business for
sale Pet Shop, Plumbing Businesses for sale , Post Office for sale ,
Removalist Businesses for sale, Restaurants for sale, Roadhouses for
sale, Rubbish Removal Businesses for sale , Rural Supplies
Businesses for sale , Sales and Distribution Businesses for sale ,
Security Businesses for sale , Service Station for sale, Shoe Shop
for sale, Supermarkets for sale, Takeaway Businesses for sale ,
Taxi Businesses for sale , Transport Businesses for sale , Vending
Machine Businesses for sale , Wholesale Businesses for sale,
Wrecking Yard for sale in
Childers.
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