A small agricultural township on the edge of the Darling Downs and the Maranoa region. Because it is located on the Great Artesian Basin, it does not suffer the dry heat or exhibit the arid landscape typical of the region. The town services the local area, a cattle and sheep farming district.

Location: Mitchell is on the Warrego Highway, 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of Charleville. The Warrego Highway passes through town to form the main street, Cambridge Street. The Maranoa River flows around the northern and eastern sides of the town before eventually flowing into the Balonne River.

Places of Interest: Maranoa, Warrego and Belyando Rivers; Neil Turner Weir; Mitchell Museum; Kenniff Courthouse (where the infamous bushrangers Patrick and James Kenniff were committed to stand trial for the murder of a policeman and station manager in 1902).



Mitchell is well recognised for its Spa Complex. Situated in Mitchell's aquatic centre and located in Mitchell's main street, the Great Artesian Spa comprises of two large pools, one of which is a warm pool at around 38 degrees Celsius and the other closer to a regular pool temperature - 29 degrees Celsius. It has absorbed an abundance of minerals from deep within the earth's core. Local legend says that waters from the Great Artesian Basin have mythical healing powers. The complex is attractively landscaped and leased to a private operator. Entry fees and opening times apply.



Booringa Heritage Museum: Run by volunteers, this museum is housed in the old Booringa Shire Council workshop and Store. It is quite large and is crammed full of interesting memorabilia recalling the region's past. Location: 4 Elizabeth Street, Mitchell.

Surrounding Area

Muckadilla

Muckadilla is situated 40 kilometres west of Roma on the Warrego Highway. In 1889, the Queensland Government put down a test bore at Muckadilla. The supply was comparatively small but it was discovered that the water contained healing powers and tourists flocked to the town looking for a cure. Well known for mud and hot springs nearby; the town's other attractions is a black granite obelisk that was erected to the memory of those who fought in World War II. It is the only Queensland war memorial that carries its own direction signs.


Marlong Arch, Mt Moffatt National Park

Mt Moffatt National Park

Mt Moffatt National Park is situated some 200km north of Mitchell along the Forest Vale Road. Originally operated as a large cattle run, Mt Moffatt Station as it used to be, was surrendered by Mr and Mrs D. Vincent to the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Services upon the expiration of the grazing lease in 1979. En route the visitor is treated to some spectacular rural panoramas and unique viewing features such as the Warrong Slab Hut and Coffin Gully.

Nature's work in eroding rock to unusual patterns is well known but in the Mt Moffatt area it has become extraordinarily active. Cliffs plunging vertically 300 feet abound in the area and there are many overhanging rocks. An unusual feature is the Marlong Arch, which appears to have been carved out of the soft sandstone of a mountain range by centuries of weathering. Another spectacular feature of this region is the rock structure known as "The Chimneys". It can be seen from the road.



In the Mt Moffatt area, there are fine examples of this ancient Aboriginal art within walking distance of the road. At The Tombs, a walk of 300 metres gives travellers an excellent gallery which includes a rare full length figure. This is an especially favoured spot as the drawings can be photographed without flashlight equipment. On the southern side of Cathedral Rock, only 100 metres from the road, another good example can be seen. There are many other known examples beside the road.

Brief history

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Maranoa region was occupied by the Mandandanji Aboriginal people. In 1854, Edmund Morey established the property of Mitchell Downs. When the original homestead was largely destroyed by a flood in 1864, Thomas Close acquired the building's ruins established the Maranoa Hotel. A post office operated on Mitchell downs from 1865 and in 1878 the community was officially named Mitchell. In 1902, after a short stand-off, bushrangers Patrick and James Kenniff were captured South of Mitchell at a location now known as arrest creek.

The Western Railway line was extended from Roma to the east bank of the Maranoa in 1883, and the river was bridged into Mitchell in 1885. By the turn of the century Mitchell's population was about 560. Mitchell's most famous son was Frank Forde (1890-1983), deputy prime minister in the Curtin Labor government. There is a Frank Forde history room in the shire council's library. The railway station (1885), the primary school building (1914) and the war memorial (1927) in the town's memorial park are listed on the Queensland heritage register.

Origin of name: The town is named after Sir Thomas Mitchell explorer and Surveyor General of New South Wales, who explored the area in 1846.

• Town Website