Australia So Much to See
South Western Queensland - Nindigully
The Nindigully Pub is popular with caravanners, who can stay free of cost on the dry dusty area between the hotel and a pool of the
Moonie River created by a dam. The winding river has many subsidiary channels and billabongs through the wide floodplain. There are information boards about the history, flora and fauna of the hotel and former township. A walk trail along the river
is signed (below left).
Many campers stay to enjoy the hospitality and meals at the hotel, which is famous for its huge five kilo burgers. The pub regularly
advertises Free Beer, but that was yesterday, or maybe tomorrow. Showers and toilets are provided for campers (above right in
background).
Thomas Bradford was granted a licence to operate the Nindy Gully hotel in 1864, which had been run for shearer accommodation prior to this. The hotel has traded continuously since under several different names, including The Travellers Rest and The Sportsman's Arms, and is said to be the oldest pub in Queensland still trading in its original location.
Nindigully grew
to be an important hub, with a hotel, Cobb and Co changing station, post and telegraph office, general store and a school.
Sterne's Store, which is still standing in the vicinity of and now owned by the pub, was described as a store where virtually anything could be obtained. Look for the building with XXXX on a yellow roof has you come in from the Highway (below right centre background).
The
Nindigully school operated between 1922 and 1939.
The town was brought to prominence in 1999 in the Australian romantic comedy movie, Paperback Hero, starring Hugh Jackman and Claudia Karvan.
The pub became the fictious Lucktown Pub, and the Boomerang Cafe was constructed for the duration of filming with
distinctive metal boomerangs, which are now on display outside the pub.
Campdraft events are run by the Nindigully Sports Community, and pig races are held annually.
Small to medium weirs are
dispersed along the river for irrigation purposes, predominantly for cotton. A weir was built over the river at Thallon in 1959
to supply town water.
The land around Nindigully was opened for lease by pastoralists in 1847. An early station was called
Indi Gully, which later became NindiGully.