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Aramac, QLD

Aramac serves as the centre point for local industries such as sheep and cattle. It is located 66 kilometres north of Barcaldine and the area was first explored by Europeans and settled in the 1850s.

Aramac

Redford, known as Captain Starlight, in outback Queensland, Australia on the Lake Dunn sculpture trail created for tourists.

The town was named after Robert Ramsay MacKenzie who, at the time, was the part-lessee of 52 runs, totalling 1,536 square miles. Mackenzie was Queensland’s first treasurer and future premier.

William Landsborough explored the area in 1859 and called a nearby watercourse Aramac Creek. In a letter he explained: ‘The Aramac, as many wrong reasons for the name have been given, I may say here I named, in honour of the late Sir R.R. Mackenzie, ‘Ar-Ar-Mac, who was so well known in Queensland, and who had acted in a very friendly way to me.’

The area was settled in the 1860s and the town, which seems to have had the alternative name of ‘Marathon’ for a short time, acquired the essential services such as Hotel, grocery and drapery. The town was surveyed in 1875 but by that time the wide streets, uncharacteristically wide for such a small settlement, were established and the surveyor simply confirmed the strangely disproportionate design.

In 1909 Aramac Shire Council, still isolated from the surrounding area, borrowed 66,500 pounds and built a tramway connecting the town to the main railway line at Barcaldine. The tramway operated until 1975 and is now on display in the town.

Henry ‘Harry’ Redford commenced his daring cattle duffing feat on a property called Bowen Downs. You can take part in the recreation of this historically significant cattle stealing case by joining the Harry Redford Cattle Drive held through May/June annually.

Nearest Airport: Barcaldine

Where to stay?

Experiences

  • Caravan and Camping
  • Historic/Heritage

Popular Activities

  • Bird Watching
  • Bush Walking
  • National Park
  • Adventure
  • Fishing
  • Outback

About Aramac

  • Locality: Urban locality
  • Aramac Postcode: 4726
  • State: Queensland
  • Region: Outback Queensland
  • Latitude: -22.97216
  • Longitude: 145.24543
  • Elevation: 229m
  • Population: 299
  • Median Income: $31616
  • Area (Sq/km): 39.49
  • Timezone: Australia/Brisbane

Accommodation In Aramac

Discover some of the accommodation in and around Aramac

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains