A cache to commemorate the significance of the railway in opening up the country.
Barcaldine sprang into being with the arrival of the railway in 1886 and is 'the most notable of the "instant" railway towns' which flourished at the successive termini of the Central Railway as it was pushed westward from Rockhampton. In 1891 the Western Champion Almanac described the formation of the town:
In September 1886, Lagoon Creek consisted of Shakespeare's Hotel, brought from Pine Hill, and several tents,' but in a few weeks the exodus set in from Jericho, and when the station of Lagoon Creek (since called Barcaldine) was opened in December, the town had assumed formidable proportions. Although '358 miles' did not terminate the section — the line being actually carried over the downs 12 miles further west — the Government promised not to open the line at the twelve-mile, and subsequently further promised not to open a station between here and Longreach, 64 miles from Barcaldine, a place intended for a terminus, for some years to come. The 'rush' to Barcaldine was unprecedented in the annals of Central Railway history. Both Aramac and Blackall being in close proximity, each sent settlers to the new township. The proprietors of the 'Western Champion' newspaper removed their plant from Blackall, and one of Blackall's leading storekeepers also sent a portion of his stock and opened a branch. An Aramac storekeeper intended doing likewise, but noticing the place gave promise of being overdone, wisely remained where he was.
(Source: http://is.gd/nk5RPV)
Series Notes: Barcaldine lies at the crossroads of major transport routes north-south and east-west; on the major transport routes from Townsville to Adelaide and Rockhampton to Darwin. Road Trains, some of considerable length, travel these roads 24/7. Caravans galore mostly during daytime hours, highlight the significance of the tourist trade to the area.
Along each of these routes is a series of caches highlighting the centrality of Barcaldine as an access hub in Central Western Queensland.
The Eastern Series of twelve caches commences some 12 or so klms from Barcaldine on the Capricorn Highway from Rockhampton. It ends at a rest stop on the outskirts of the town. All caches of this series, except one, are on the left (western) side of the highway, so there is no need to cross the highway in search of a cache. Roadside parking is available at all caches, even for caravans.
If you are travelling out of Barcaldine, please reverse the direction of some aspects in these descriptions. Not all points will be visible when travelling east, as they will be on the opposite side of the road facing away from the direction of travel.