Going for a drive around Australia - Brisbane to Moree
December 7th 2007 00:49
Brisbane was originally home to the indigenous clans of the Jagera and Turrbal people, who named the area 'Mian-Jin', meaning 'place shaped like a spike'. The Jagera people inhabited the areas south of the Brisbane River, whilst the Turrbal people enjoyed the north. Before white settlement, numbers said to range in the region of around 5000 people, as the land provided plenty of food and the river a reliable and adequate supply of water. All of this changed in 1823 when surveyor, General John Oxley, sailing on the ship 'Mermaid', spotted a group of people on shore at what is now known as Moreton Bay.
Oxley had been sent in search of a new site for jail. Upon seeing the area around Redcliffe he decided that this would be the ideal place. Around the same time ex-convict Thomas Pamphlett had left Sydney on a voyage to discover cedar, a voyage that went horribly wrong and saw him stranded in Moreton Bay and living with the local indigenous people for several months. It was here that Oxley and Pamphlett met, the latter being spotted onshore by one of the crew.
The two men got to talking and when Oxley mentioned he was looking for a new penal site, Pamphlett told of a large river located just south of their current position. An expedition was quickly arranged and upon seeing the red cliffs of the current Brisbane site, Oxley changed his mind. 1825 saw the Redliffe area being abandoned and settlement began in Brisbane, which took its name from the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane. White settlers moved into the area, slowly forcing out the indigenous people and finally an Act was passed in 1857, banning Aborigines in town after 4:30pm during the week and Sundays. 1965 saw the passing of the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Affairs Act, allowing Aborigines to claim control over their lives once more and move back into the area they called home, away from the reserves and missions around the State to where they had been displaced.
Brisbane is now a bustling city, State Capital of Queensland and home to just under 2 million people. Parks dot the city landscape, galleries and small coffee shops line the streets and the river slices through the buildings in a lazy arc, its tree-lined shores perfect for a Sunday stroll or a weekend picnic. Heading out of the city and eventually linking to the Warrego Highway, we drive for around 2 hours until we reach Goondiwindi, which lies on the Queensland/New South Wales Border.
Goondiwindi was first settled in the 1840`s by farmers and takes it name from the Aboriginal word meaning 'resting place of the birds'. One of the biggest attractions is the McIntyre River which forms part of the Murray-Darling, the 4th longest river in the world. As well as this, it is home to one of the worlds largest cotton gins, which offers tours for the inquisitive traveller. In ancient India the 'charka' was invented, a small machine used for removing the seeds from the cotton lint. In America it was adapted, although did not work on certain kinds of cotton, eventually being reinvented by Eli Whitney in 1793. Cotton gins work around the world to produce the fabric which has a wide variety of uses in our every day life.
Our last stop for the day will be in the town of Moree, known as the 'Artesian Spa Capital'. The Kamilaroi people inhabited the area, its name meaning 'long waterhole' or 'rising sun'. The soil is extremely fertile and as a result it has a very large farming community.
Queensland is home to the Great Artesian Basin, which at a depth of 3000m, is the longest and deepest in the world, lying under almost 23% of the continent. People flock to these waters because of their high mineral content and healing properties, Moree having its own centre where you can relax in its pools. These pools are emptied and cleaned everyday.
Buried in the Moree cemetary is the youngest son of Charles Dickens, Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, who worked for the Lands Department until his death in 1902.
There are a great many accommodation options as well as eateries and sights to keep any traveller occupied during their stay.
Sources:
Oxley Photo -
Really Long Link
Brisbane Info - www.ourbrisbane.com, www.brisbites.com,
Moree Info - www.nnsw.com.au
Goondwindi info - www.queenslandholidays.com.au, www.cvhs.com
General Info - www.wikipedia.com
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