While it may have a population of just 400 or so, the small Queensland town of Surat punches way above its weight when it comes to historical significance … and grey nomad appeal.
Sitting on the banks of the Balonne River, this is the epicentre of the iconic Cobb & Co, which for decades delivered mail by stagecoach across the Outback.
The last Cobb & Co mail service in Australia travelled from Surat to Yuleba in August, 1924, and a 10-day festival will be held this year from August 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of that historic event.
The festivities – which includes live entertainment, bush poetry, a period dress-up and much more – will culminate on August 24 and 25 with a re-creation of the last Cobb & Co mail run in Australia on the 76-kilometre Cobb & Co Way, the historic route between Surat and Yuleba.
Surat
For most visitors to the town then, a trip to the Cobb & Co Changing Station, the original site of the Cobb & Co Store and a ‘drop-off’ point for coach travellers and goods is a must. The museum here boasts a 14-seater Cobb & Co coach and many other exhibits recalling a time gone by.
The first European known to have visited the area was NSW Surveyor General, Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1847. As pastoralists slowly moved into the area there were a number of significant clashes with the indigenous Mandandanji people.
The town slowly developed though as the wool industry grew. Several timber churches were built in the 1870s and 1880s, a school opened in 1874, and Cobb & Co began servicing Surat from St George in 1879.
The out-and-back River Walk goes along the banks of the Balonnne. PIC: Tourism and Events Queensland
Today, there are a number of heritage buildings for visitors to enjoy, including the Warroo Shire Hall which was built in 1929 as an administrative and social centre; and the open-air Astor Picture Theatre which was built in 1925. But there is a lot more to Surat than its history.
The Balonne River is a great place to throw in a line, and perhaps catch a Yellow Belly or two for dinner. And the riverside parklands are a great place to take a stroll and do a spot of birdwatching.
The out-and-back River Walk goes along the banks of the Balonnne and incorporates footbridges and viewing platforms. It eventually leads to the Surat Weir and goes past the Aboriginal Interpretative Shelter, which tells the stories of some of Aboriginal families who lived Historic Surat a gem in the area.
And in Memorial Park, there are a couple of notable war memorials. The Cross of Remembrance was erected to the memory of those who lost their lives in World War One; and the bright blue Freedom Tree, with its ‘leaves’ made up of photos of soldiers, commemorates all those local people who enlisted in any theatre of war.
This is very much a grey nomad-friendly town. There is a spacious free camping area at Fishermans Park, north of town across the bridge, and powered sites are available at the well-regarded Surat Caravan Park.
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