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Adavale-Outback History South-Western Queensland

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Adavale-Outback History South-Western Queensland

Researching, documenting and preserving Indigenous history and White settlement of the district . Pl

21/03/2026

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16/11/2025

ROAD CLOSED

The Charleville-Adavale road is still closed at Ambathala creek approx. halfway to Adavale. It has been closed due to flooding since March around eight months ago. Yes, you've read that right.

This is very frustrating to both locals and travelers alike as the other route from Charleville is via the Quilpie-Adavale 'Red' road which adds another hour to the normal two-hour trip. There is another way via the ghost town of Cheepie, but that road is not sealed and is not as well maintained.

I do miss travelling this old road as it, more or less, follows closely the old Cobb & Co route, with the exception of the Lakes area, some sections on the range and the approach to the old town of Adavale itself.

The scenery varies widely on this old road as do the conditions but it is, for me, the history that makes travelling this old route all the more exciting. I have been privileged to have been schooled by the old timers and, some not so old, of the people and places that used to exist along here.

Places where weary travelers and of their steeds would rest and water, long lost pubs where the shearers once blew up their cheques, places of incredible tragedy where creeks and billabongs were transformed into raging torrents sweeping man and beast to their deaths, lonely bush graves of women and children, shearers and swaggies, many of whom, in the early days, became lost and disorientated during times of drought, putting knives to their throats to end the torment of thirst, buried where they were found.

With recent rain and talk of yet again, another wetter season to come, I fear that this historic old road will be closed for some time yet.

Pictures: C. Murray, taken Ambathala Creek 8/11/2025.

06/09/2025

Many people are astounded to see that after the March deluge in South-Western Queensland, the road between Charleville and Adavale remains cut off due to floodwater at Ambathalla creek at the northern end of Lake Dartmouth but this is by no means an isolated occurrence.

23/08/2025

Does anyone recall the location of what was known as 'The dry tank'? It was located on the Charleville-Adavale Road and from what I'm led to believe, it may have been located somewhere at the bottom of the range on the left-hand side heading toward Adavale.

28/06/2025

Historic Adavale Cemetery, significant flood damage and the discovery of some previously unknown gravesites.

The recent devastating flooding in Adavale in March has seriously affected Adavale's historic cemetery as you will note in the accompanying photos. Sadly, most of the marked graves, those with rudimentary enclosures but with out headstones, have all but been completely obliterated.

Thankfully, I have had previously on many occasions taken photos of each grave from many angles so I am confident that I can at least with some accuracy, again peg them for posterity. I have also managed to salvage some of those wooden posts that had belonged to some of these gravesites that had been washed away beyond the cemetery enclosure.

On a more positive note, it appears that these floodwaters, as devastating as they were, appear to have uncovered some possible gravesites that were previously unknown to us.

Here and there, the ground has collapsed somewhat and whilst I am in no way an expert in this field, I sent these pictures to some experts and the prevailing consensus is that the water has filtered down to a cavity thus resulting in the collapse and is most likely to be of a gravesite in which a casket has, over time, disintegrated.

Collapses of a similar nature have also been observed in some of the existing gravesites. I have marked some of these sites before the elements once again, obscure them from us with a view of erecting something a little more permanent in the future.

I had hoped that the flood may have uncovered some long and forgotten head stones, those that may have over time, toppled over and perhaps covered by decades of the relentless elements, but thus far, I remain disappointed.

Story and pictures,
Craig Murray.

31/05/2025

The Charleville-Adavale road is still closed due to floodwater at Ambathalla creek.
Access to Adavale is recommended via the red road. Hell Hole Gorge National Park is still closed.
Photo courtesy of Nancye at Ambathalla Station.

10/05/2025

The recent Flooding that swept through Adavale caused immense destruction and the historic old cemetery did not escape unscathed.
Pictured here in 2017 are just two of the many very old graves that have now been completely obliterated by the floodwaters. Thankfully, I am very familiar with all the graves there and I hope to mark these sites soon. It is a shame that we have no idea who are buried in these plots.
I do hope that this historic old cemetery can be restored in time for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Adavale in 2030

20/04/2025

A special presentation from Landline and ABC News on Western Queensland's flood catastrophe and the long recovery ahead.

30/03/2025

Hi my name is kirstin and I’m a family member and home owner of the flood ravaged adavale in outba… Kirstin Finger needs your support for Adavale flood relief

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