It’s well worth your while to stop at Boondooma Homestead, whether for a day trip to soak up the history or a little longer to enjoy not only the history but the country camping on the grounds.

The current caretakers, Jo and Graham, make you feel so welcome, with an invitation to join them for morning and afternoon tea and happy hour. This is really appreciated by a solo traveller like me 😎🚐

Graham is a wealth of knowledge about the history of Boondooma and how it has evolved from its original leasehold of 958 square miles in the 1850’s to becoming smaller settlements when the original leases ran out in the 1920’s. The Homestead block is now owned by the South Burnett Regional Council. The old stone store, built by a German Wilhelm Brell between 1854 and 1858, is believed to be the oldest metric building in Queensland.

In its heyday the station ran up to 100,000 sheep but through disease and drought they became unviable and were replaced by cattle in the 1860’s.

The Homestead is not as grand as some of the others I have seen and the restoration using traditional methods is slow work for the dedicated volunteers.

The gardens surrounding the homestead include grape vines, roses, citrus and mulberry trees imported from Scotland and Europe in the 1850’s! The Isabella grapes are still harvested today to make Boondooma Port which you can buy from the souvenir shop on site.

I stayed a couple of days at Boondooma but it’s certainly a place I would enjoy going back to as it is so friendly, relaxing, peaceful and quiet.

Happy Campers

Site fees for solo travellers are $8 a night for an unpowered spot and $13 with power. There are toilets, hot showers and loads of history.

Sunsets like this one will make sure your visit is memorable.

You will find more information about Boondooma Homestead on their website http://www.boondoomahomestead.org.au/