Springsure is 68km south of Emerald.

Melaleucas lined the road near Gindie

Road train with cattle on the Emerald-Springsure Rd

Agriculture north of Springsure

Superb blue wren foraging on the ground…and in a tree.

Zebra finch

Minerva Hills NP protects an area west of Springsure with a volcanic past.

Virgin Rock on the eastern side of Mount Zamia.

Zamia cattle loading facility

White cedar

Access to Minerva Hills NP is from the Tambo Road. The cycad Macrozamia moorei grows on the dry western slopes.

Female cycad cone

The tallest cycad (Macrozamia moorei) we saw in the park.

The drive through the park. Further up, the road was very rocky with washouts and deeper furrows.

Pretty-faced wallabies

Flowers in the national park

Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

The Minerva Hills NP from the southern boundary.

The locals were curious about the out-of-towners.

Springsure is a nice place and here is a big fan of the town. A windmill manufactured in 1935 by Williams metal fabricators. It was moved from a property into Springsure. The company manufactured the first QANTAS hanger at Longreach.

Minerva Hills NP from north of Springsure

Ironbarks on Minerva Rd

Cotton farm and bales near Fairbairn Dam

Fairbairn Dam

The Fairbairn Dam was constructed in 1972 for the primary purpose of irrigation and water supply to towns in the region. Lake Maraboon is huge with a capacity of 1,301,000 megalitres. Maraboon is an indigenous word for “where the black ducks fly”.

Fish stocking in Lake Maraboon.

The whistling kites appreciate the well-stocked lake.

A cormorant and two darters enjoying the last of the winter sun for the day.

A cautious drive back into Emerald with cattle and this large wallaroo on the road.

Massive citrus orchards irrigated by the dam water.

Centenary of Federation mosaic tile walkway tells the story of the district. The tile-nted mosaic artist got a bit groutchy by the end of the job.

The giant Van Gogh Sunflowers on The Big Easel in a park in Emerald. We know this one is genuine – it has a bit of veneer missing.

Emerald Railway Station built in 1900.