The Bowen River Rodeo and Campdraft and Strathmore Station

Wednesday the 8^th of June we were on the road and headed for Strathmore Station near the town of Collinsville, QLD.  We were to be there for four nights and attending the Bowen River Rodeo and Campdraft nearby.

It was about 6ookm and we had to get Derek’s wrecked tyre replaced at Emerald. So we got that done and left Emerald and stayed at Capella in the Caravan Park there. We went to a pub that night for dinner and it was a good stay.

Thursday we continued on and took a shortcut given to us by the caravan park owner which took us through Moranbah. We stopped for lunch at Lake Elphinstone. It was a beautiful spot with a free camp and new amenities. I will store that one in the memory banks for a later time. So many grey nomads staying there.

We stopped in Collinsville where I went straight to the Post Office and received some papers that I had arranged to be sent. I had to find a JP and get the papers signed so did that and made the afternoon mail. Phew! That whole thing had been a weight on my shoulders for a week and was glad to get finalised. I had pushed the speed a bit as I wanted to make the Post Office by a reasonable time so that we would get to the property by a reasonable time. Consequently the caravan was bouncing around a lot as the road was not great. I am glad the van is well built as there were no hassles with all the bouncing, that I could tell. We met Jan and Ross at Collinsville. They have been with Linda and I on three stints of our travels.

Then it was on to Strathmore Station. My neighbours,  Col and Di had invited us up here. They are good friends with the property owners, Sally and Paul. The Bowen River Hotel and the rodeo and campgrounds are all on their property and eight kilometres away from the homestead. The property is around 100,000 hectares, staggering.  The pub gets leased out. Paul and Sally provide over 1000 cattle for the campdraft which is all at great expense to themselves. This is the 130 year anniversary of the rodeo and campdraft. We met Sally and later met Paul. They are great people.

These are photos of our camp setting and the station house and yards.

After setting up we went to the rodeo/campgrounds on sunset and caught up with Col who was working, getting things ready for the 3 to 4000 people who have already started descending on the place. Col and Di got there a few days earlier to help out with the set up. There is a big committee from Collinsville who plan all year for the event. It is huge. After having a look we headed back to camp for dinner.

The next morning we were in for a treat. Sally and Paul’s son, Brenton took us on a tour of the property and firstly headed up a big hill to the Telstra tower. Firstly here are some videos of our 4 wheel driving adventure going up the hill.

Photos and videos from the top. As far as the eye can see is Strathmore Station. Paul and Sally can survey this scene and rightly say, “This is all mine, as far as I can see”.  It is staggering.

You can see the homestead and the rodeo/campgrounds in these videos, albeit, with a shaky hand.

When we left the homestead there were just the three four wheel drives on the tour, Brenton’s, Col’s and mine. Col was worried about how much room might be at the top and told me that Brenton said we will be OK with the three vehicles. We had only just arrived at the top and heard another vehicle coming up, and another, and another, eventually eight four wheel drives, plus our three, reached the top and squeezed up there. Brenton had no idea they were coming up as well. They were led by Brenton’s sister and brother-n-law, Michelle and Pete. They were also staying at Strathmore for the rodeo. Yep it’s a big homestead and station alright.

So after the spectacular views we went back down the mountain and drove around other parts of the property. We were now in a convoy of 11 4WDs. It was a great morning.

After lunch it was time to head over to the rodeo grounds. Firstly we stopped in at the pub as I had been dying to see it. Built in 1861, it is still so original. It was everything I hoped it would be. There were photos on the wall of the original pioneer and owner A Cunningham and his sons and families. Sally is a direct descendant and her family photo is on the wall as well.

Then walked into the rodeo/campgrounds. The horses are beautiful and as a horse lover I was in my element.

 

While walking around the campgrounds there were a couple of guys heading down to the river with a blow up bed to have a swim. I guess they had not read the sign.

The next day, Saturday the 11^th, we went back to the Hotel and grounds. A good young country singer, Kaylie Howard, was singing at the pub so we sat and enjoyed her music and had lunch.

It was time to watch the rodeo action. These guys and girls rock. Such skill and balance, crazy as well.

How about this amazing ride? Horse and rider not badly injured.

Sunday, before heading to the showgrounds we were watching the horses galloping and cantering in the paddock just across the road from where we were camped. The video I really wanted to show is just a tiny bit to big for the blog. This one shows the horses after they had run down into the corner. They are so beautiful.

Then it was off to the showground to sit and enjoyed more of the rodeo action. We were also in the company of great people and got to have a chat with my friends, Col and Di. I was also glad I got to chat to Paul, the owner of Strathmore Station. Just one of those guys you just want to listen to and drawer out his pearls of wisdom.

We did not stay till the end of the rodeo that day as we wanted to get back to camp and get a bit packed and ready for departing the next day. We did that and were sitting with a cold one in time to catch the sunset, and what a sunset. Another great day.

One disappointment I had was that we had arrived on the Thursday afternoon and it was that morning that Dan the droving contractor and his team of musterers had moved around 1200 Brahman cattle from near the homestead to the campdraft pens, 8km away. They had to control this mob as it crossed over the long and narrow causeway. The cattle got scared and started doubling back and scattering and the drovers had to work hard to get them back and across the causeway. It would have been an awesome sight to see these cowboys at work. Brenton said he had been in awe of how Dan controlled the team and got the job done.

That disappointment was somewhat relieved when on the morning of our departure we learnt that the cattle were being brought back to the property. So we went to the homestead side of the causeway and got some great photos and videos of the cowboys doing their thing and the awesome sight of all these cattle coming down the road and across the causeway. The guy on the quad bike was Brenton. I hope you enjoy the photos and videos as much as I do. Sorry for the shaky hand with the video.
A before shot.

The after shots.

We have had the best time at the Bowen Rodeo and Campdraft and had the priviledge of being able to stay at Strathmore Station and mix with some down to earth great people. So we said our goodbyes and headed for the town of Bowen.