Guide to Calliope Queensland Australia

Calliope is a country town of about 5,000 people on the Dawson Highway, 21 kilometres south-west of Gladstone and just off the Bruce Highway. It began as a goldfield in the 1860s and is now a commuter town for Gladstone’s industries, with a rural feel that the city lacks.

Known For

• Calliope River Historical Village
• Free camping on the Calliope River
• The gateway to Lake Awoonga and the Boyne Valley

For travellers on the Bruce Highway, Calliope is a convenient place to stop for fuel and food without going into Gladstone, and the riverside camping areas just north of town are among the best-known free camps on the coast road.

Things To Do in Calliope

Calliope River Historical Village

Beside the old highway crossing of the river, volunteers have gathered a collection of historic buildings from around the district, among them a railway station, a church, a schoolhouse, a slab hut and an old pub that still holds a licence. The village opens on set days and hosts large markets several times a year; check dates before you come.

The river

The Calliope River is tidal here, with barramundi, bream and mud crabs. The old bridge near the historical village is a popular spot to drop a line.

Lake Awoonga

The lake that supplies Gladstone’s water is 20 minutes south. It is stocked with barramundi and has picnic areas, walking tracks, a caravan park and a free bush camp on its western shore.

The Dawson Highway

West of Calliope the highway climbs the Calliope Range on the way to Biloela, with a lookout near the top.

Where To Stay

Free and low-cost camping is allowed for short stays on both banks of the Calliope River near the old crossing, with toilets on site. It is very popular in winter. In town there is a hotel-motel and a caravan park.

Eat & Drink

Calliope has a pub, a bakery, cafes, takeaways and a supermarket. The licensed bar at the historical village opens on market days.

History

The district is the country of the Bailai and Gooreng Gooreng peoples. The river was named in 1854 after HMS Calliope, the ship that brought the governor to Port Curtis. Gold was found in 1862, drawing a rush of diggers, and the town later settled into dairying and cattle.

Getting to Calliope

Calliope is beside the Bruce Highway at the Dawson Highway junction, about 20 minutes from Gladstone.