Theodore, Queensland

A small charming service town for the local grain and cotton growing region situated beyond the Great Divide. The rich black soils of the area have kept its agricultural activities prosperous. Apart from sheep and cattle, the area also produces sorghum, wheat and cotton.
Location: 559 km from Brisbane via the Warrego and Leichhardt Highways; 220 km north of Miles on the Leichhardt Highway; 140 m above sea level
Origin of name: the town started life as Castle Creek and ended up, by the choice of its residents, being named after one of Australia's most controversial politicians, Edward Granville 'Red Ted' Theodore (Premier of Queensland, 1919-25; Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister, 1929-30).
Brief history: Castle Creek began as a tiny settlement serving the needs of the large properties in the Dawson Valley. At Cracow, to the south east, gold was produced from the famous Golden Plateau mine from 1932 to 1976. Castle Creek became Theodore in 1923 when the Queensland government implemented a scheme to turn the little community into a model garden city in the Dawson Valley wilderness with 5,000 irrigable farms. In 1924 the irrigation project was officially opened becoming the first such project in Queensland.
Natural features: Dawson River; Isla Gorge National Park (30 km south)
Built features: Glebe Weir (30 km east).
Heritage features: Dawson Folk Museum