Country TreasuresIsis Shire Queensland towns don’t come much more historic than Childers, located just 60 kilometres north of Maryborough on the Bruce Highway. First settled in 1850, the charming main street of Childers retains the facades of early Queensland architecture, resulting in the town being classified by the National Trust. There are reminders of the Childers’ rich history throughout the town. The timeline on the footpath uses mosaics and sculptures to tell the story of the Isis district. Museums re-live the region’s past, including a military museum and the only pharmaceutical museum in Australia. Millennium Park houses a memorial dedicated to the Kanaka people who cut sugarcane in the district at the turn of the century. There is also a moving backpackers memorial upstairs at The Palace Building, which was rebuilt after a tragic fire in 2000. A street-walk brochure from the Childers Visitor Information Centre allows visitors to fully explore the Heritage-listed buildings of Childers, including historic hotels. However, Childers is not all history. The rich soil in the Isis Shire is conducive to growing a variety of crops, including sugarcane, avocado trees and vineyards, and agriculture is a prime industry for the region. Enjoy a delicious, creamy locally-made icecream using regional flavours. Sample wine from the growing number of wineries springing up in the region. Or savour the taste of exotic jams direct from the cafĂ© at Apple Tree Creek, just 5 kilometres north of Childers. Nature also heavily features in the area. Childers has its own ‘Snake Whisperer’, Ian Jenkins. See the world’s most venomous snakes, or take the opportunity to cuddle a python or saltwater crocodile. Apple Tree Creek is home to a massive bird aviary with over 1500 parrot and finches flying high overhead, including brightly coloured South American macaws. A leisurely 25 minute drive east of Childers leads to Woodgate Beach, one of the loveliest beaches in Queensland, with safe swimming and16 kilometres of pristine coastline. The surrounding Burrum Coast National Park offers various walking tracks, including a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk. Buxton, located a short 15 minute drive south of Childers, is a lovely village on the Burrum River, popular with fishing enthusiasts and those who simply enjoy peace and quiet. The Childers region is spoilt for accommodation choices, including historic hotels, caravan parks and backpacker hostels. Romantics will love the bed and breakfast accommodation in the region; many are situated at the local wineries, offering magnificent hill views and vineyard vistas.
The thriving township of Tiaro, situated on the Bruce Highway, 27 kilometres south of Maryborough, is best known for its diverse range of agricultural products including tropical fruits, macadamia nuts, olives, vegetables and a vineyard. However, Tiaro is becoming increasingly popular for a number of other activities. Antique shops and craft galleries are located around the Tiaro region. Hearty meals and refreshing ales are served at a number of historic hotels. The local butcher’s shop is renowned for the quality and flavour of its smallgoods. At nearby Bauple, the fairy gallery is full of colourful characters, including dragons and frogs with attitude, while the museum is dedicated to the history of the surrounding area. The Tiaro Shire also boasts one of the loveliest beaches in Queensland. Tinnanbar is quiet fishing village, bordering the Great Sandy Strait. The white sand, calm turquoise waters and resident dugong and sea turtle population attracts visitors from all over the country. The nearby shire of Woocoo is also worth a visit. The Woocoo Historical Society Museum at Brooweena, 15 kilometres west of Maryborough, is a reflective mosaic of the area, with Aboriginal rock carvings and displays of daily life in peace and war, schooling, recreation, and industry. The museum is open Sunday afternoons or by appointment. |
