1st June - Nanango

First stop today was Ban Ban Springs, sacred site of the Wakka Wakka's.  Guarded by the Rainbow Serpent, meeting place for all.   All's that is here is a roadhouse and camping ground by the spring on the side of the road.  Across from the camp ground is a farmer's fruit and vegie stall, pumpkins and avos for sale today.  I grabbed a bag of avos for $5.  

From Ban Ban we passed through Booubyjan (might be worth a look one day) and Tansey.  We had a break at Goomeri, yep we missed the annual Pumpkin Festival by that much (on last week-end).  Had a stroll around town, the Fork Inn caught my interest, this used to be an antique shop from memory now an accommodation option.  A tourist in a transit van pulled up right in front as I was about to take my photo, how rude. I caught their attention and asked them to move forward a bit, they took off went right through town and back again to park out front again, must've liked that spot.....

I've had Pumpkin Pie at this cafe quite a few years ago  now with my mate Nat, so I talk Darl into having pumpkin pie, well we missed the festival, apparently they roll pumpkins down the hill and have a ball, it's a pretty big week-end for the town.    Anyway the cafe has obviously changed hands and renovated,  look what I found a couple of teddies!!  

Now the pumpkin pie was an American version, though nice it wasn't as nice as what I had before, which was the pecan pumpkin pie.....keep that in mind if you ever try it.   I always say I'm going to do the Pumpkin Festival but never get here, maybe next year!   Some very nice antique shops around town, we had a drink at the Joe's Grand Hotel.    Looks newly renovated with a nice reasonable priced menu, something else to keep in mind for a week-end away.....

The memorial clock and a row of old shops in Goomeri.    I couldn't go past Cheese World on the far left.   Went in for a tasting, they have a variety of Kenilworth cheeses and others made from the district.    Whatever you do, don't try the "Old Tasty", I think the lady behind the counter was right when she said it tasted like old dirty socks, but the others were all pretty nice.

We thought we might get to Yarraman, but we stopped at Nanango for a pit stop and found the Peanut Wagon.  Asked the lady if this was a free camp spot as it was a pretty big park here.  Yep 20 hour camp, that will do us, so we settled in, ate some nuts and went for a look see round town.    This Peanut Wagon is open 364 days of the year, closed on Christmas day only and of course all local nuts from Kingaroy and surrounds.   

The park we are camped in has a great timber displays of the bygone era - timber hut, cattle yards, well, diggings etc.  The town is dotted with colorful murals and  chainsaw sculptures.    This old mate - Resting Settler - "The settler rests when his day is done, His life is quiet at the setting sun, And he knows full well, the battle's won"......Nanango, founded in 1848 is the fourth oldest town in Queensland and the first to be established in the South Burnett region.  The area was originally inhabited by the Aboriginal clans and tribal groups of the Wakka-speaking people, who used it as a gateway to the Bunya Mountains where bunya nut festivals had been celebrated since the Dreamtime.   Today, Nanango has a population of 6,500 and is the second largest town in the South Burnett. 

Throughout the CBD the sculptures and murals reflect the town's historical connections with timber-felling, farming and mining and important events over the years.   Here is The Birch House - "All who came were welcomed gladly, Gathered those who were in need, It mattered  not their class or colour, Mattered not their chosen creed."   

Miner - Seven Mile Peter - Peter Rossiter, a Ukranian immigrant spent 30 years at the Seven Mile diggings.  While prospecting the deserted field he supported himself by selling vegetables and eggs which he transported in his wheelbarrow.  He became well known in the town and was sorely missed when he died in 1934.   "Seven Mile Peter, he thirsted for gold, He dug and he dug until he was old, He didn't find much and never found fame, Yet, the Seven Mile Diggings still bear Peter's name". 



Est 1897 - Ted Franey Blacksmith mural

The Ladies of Brisbane - "The Ladies of Brisbane, they dance and they sing, While the men of Nanango, they too have their fling, With the Ladies of Brisbane, The ladies wear bonnets, the men 'laughing sides', Those ladies seek husbands, those men seek brides.....From the Ladies of Brisbane" - all these little ditties by the murals and sculptures scribed by Jim Mangan. 

Nanango is our last "free camp" of our journey. We ended up being the only ones camping in this huge grounds.  A bit lonely, we ate some more nuts, watched a scary movie before hitting the sack, nervously.  It rained and we had to pack up a wet tent in the morning.   The wettest we have had to pack so far, nearly made it home..... We heard about the markets at the showgrounds first Saturday of the month, so decided to check them out before leaving town.

 

It was probably the best market we have seen on our trip, wouldn't you know it, a stones throw from home.  The show grounds was full of stalls, plants, arts, vegies, crafts, trash and treasure AND a Teddy stall!!  We actually bought an aboriginal painting here, the best we have seen and the most reasonably priced aboriginal art, painted by local artist Anthony.   I'm  coming back to buy more they are so good.   Anthony's paintings don't have any real "dreamtime" stories attached, he just loves painting animal themes.  Also liked these wooden chairs, made from old wagon wheels.

One more, an interesting stall I thought - Camel Milk Australia - now we have seen Emu products, oil, lotions etc., before but never have we seen Camel Milk products - another first for Nanango.  Here's Debra showing off her wares.  They used to be beef producers but  now concentrating on camel farming, they have 28 camels and are producing Camel Milk and Silk soap (Camel milk combined with pure silk from their own silkworms), body lotion and skin cream - all of which has beneficial healing qualities for eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, melasma, sunburn, burns, age spots and acne.