Created during a welding workshop at the ‘Crafty Old School House’ in 2013, The McKinlay Coolibah Tree, celebrates the history of the area, and recognises that even though the population of a small outback town seems small, there is a much wider community who belong to it. The project was a welcome distraction from the pressure and stress that the locals face due to drought.
View the history of QANTAS at McKinlay Centenary Park, honouring the legacy of aviation pioneers Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, and Fergus McMaster. This project has been developed in close collaboration with descendants of the QANTAS co-founders, including Fergus Fysh and Phil McMaster. It also pays tribute to the late Duncan Fysh, a long-time McKinlay resident and passionate custodian of QANTAS history, whose dedication helped preserve this remarkable story for future generations. The monument commemorates the first QANTAS passenger flight on November 3, 1922, with McKinlay as a key stop on that historic journey. Whilst at Centenary Park explore the history boards and capture a photo with John McKinlay (statue version) across from the park.
Come on out to McKinlay and check out the Walkabout Creek Hotel, see the original pub set, safari truck and other items from the movie yourself. From April to October, the Walkabout Creek Hotel do a great range of meals, but all year round, they have accommodation, caravan park, a huge range of coldies, spirits and other refreshments available. Please note though, you cannot just turn up and take photos without spending something to help out the economy of McKinlay. So why not book in and stay a night or 2, restock your supplies and check out the scenery!
Love shopping? Here at Julia Creek we have a range of shops from gifts and souvenirs, groceries, furniture, saddlery, hardware, vehicle parts, tools and much more. Walk both sides of the street browsing in the shops starting at one end, work your way down the other end of town, cross over and do the same. You will be delighted at some of the goodies you will find here that you never expected!
If you are looking for a snack, feeling a bit peckish or are flat out starving, you can find exactly what you are looking for in Julia Creek. From snacks and fast food to steaks, Bush Dinners and more. There are cafe tucked away in a supermarket, two hotels and a bakery / cafe. Take your pick, you won’t go hungry.
Come along and enjoy the award winning Bush Dinner nights at the Julia Creek Caravan Park (all welcome including free campers) each Monday night from June to September. Enjoy some local produce cooked for you by a local non-profit community group, hear a local yarn told by a true blue outback Aussie, enjoy the warmth of our camp fire and maybe even win a prize. BYO!
McKinlay Shire has a variety of birdlife throughout the year in various locations. The best times to visit are directly after the wet season (March - June). To view a list of species found in our area, visit this link. Alternatively, there are QR Codes and lists available from the Visitor Information Centre. North West Queensland also has a great variety of fishing throughout our vast river systems, lakes and creeks. Some common species include barramundi, sleepy cod, catfish and redclaw yabbies. Throw in a line and spend some time exploring the region. Be sure to keep an eye out for other native wildlife in the area, particularly kangaroos, brolgas, emus, and of course cattle and sheep which are one of the main industries in our area.
If you’ve never taken part in a cattle muster, you now have the opportunity to come and take part in a virtual reality cattle muster at the Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre. For a small fee, you can don a Samsung VR headset, headphones and immerse yourself into being on the back of a dirt bike, inside a chopper, sitting on the rails of a cattle yard, watching cattle being loaded and more, all in air conditioned comfort!
For something different, visit the remains of a concrete building which housed a generating plant supplying power to a RAAF High Frequency / Direction Finding Station, called the ‘Round House’, installed in 1942 on the ridge nearby. These stations proved great importance as navigational aids during WWII and assisted in the detection of Japanese aircraft across Northern Australia. There were only ever two Round Houses constructed of concrete, the other being at Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands.
Standing proud at the Julia Creek RSL, Samson, the major sculpture was created by artist, Sue Tilley, from a range of vintage metal objects collected locally. Samson, together with the surrounding Light Horse Brigade silhouettes, form a prominent tribute to the spirit of the ANZACs. This is located on the corner of Mathews and Goldring Streets (heavy vehicle bypass).
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JULIA CREEK
CARAVAN PARK
Julia Street / Old Normanton Road, Julia Creek, QLD 4823
(07) 4746 7108
[email protected]
Please note: our office hours are
9.00am – 5:30pm daily
‘AT THE CREEK’
VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
34 Burke Street, Julia Creek, QLD 4823
(07) 4746 4280
[email protected]
Mon–Fri 9.00am – 5.00pm
Sat-Sun 9.00am – 12.00pm (April to September; closed weekends October to March)
