Leading the charge was a colourful couple in their ‘38 Chevy towing a vintage caravan. See how the rig is holding up.
On Monday a bright blue 1938 Chevy towing a matching 1957 Bondwood caravan pulled into the Charters Towers Tourist Park for a two day rest.
Karen Miles and Lionel Gayford were still feeling fresh after driving from Winton in their colour co-ordinated contraption.
“It hasn’t missed a beat,” Ms Miles said of the car, which was assembled in Australia 85 years ago.
“We’ve had the Chevy for 15 years, it’s got a new engine and we two-toned it (paint job). It’s been fantastic on the trip – except for hitting a dead kangaroo on the drive in, so we’re going to be stinking up the park for a bit.”
The caravan and rear bumper picked up a bit of dirt on a long stretch of roadworks while driving right behind a water truck.
The couple weren’t wasting valuable holiday time, already booking a ghost tour in the cemetery before arrival.
“We think the area is fantastic, the weather terrific and the people are great,” Ms Miles said.
“Lionel used to live up here years ago. That’s why we knew May was the best time to come.”
Inside the ‘38 Chevy. Karen and Lionel said it’s a comfortable drive. “There is a bit more road noise than a normal car, but we just turn the radio up.”
Ms Miles and Mr Gayford are from Lismore, and have travelled up the middle of Queensland in a convoy with friends.
“We’re travelling with our dance troupe. My husband and I are the teachers, the other couples are our students. We do swing, rock ‘n’ roll and line dancing,” Ms Miles said.
“The Chevy is our holiday vehicle. We travel to a lot of events with it – Cooly Rocks On the Gold Coast is a big one for us.”
The 1938 Chevy was assembled in Australia 85 years ago and still runs like a dream thanks to its dedicated owners.
The ’57 Bondwood hooked on to the back was equally interesting.
Bondwoods were originally sold as kits – similar to IKEA furniture – in the backs of comic books.
“It was handmade in 1957 by someone. It was in a sad state when we got it, so we remade it,” Ms Miles said.
Charters Towers Tourist Park owners Raylea and Bradley Thomson said the 2023 season had kicked off the minute cool weather hit.
“The start of the season can move around. It all depends on the weather – we were quite hot until not long ago, and if there is 300mm of rain somewhere their (Grey Nomads) plans change,” Mrs Thomson said.
Charters Towers Tourist Park owners Bradley and Raylea Thompson, who’ve started Sunset on Towers Hill tours.
The park is waiting for the imminent return of “Old Bill”.
“Old Bill has been coming for years, he’s about 85,” Mrs Thomson said.
“He books out his spot – site 15 – for a couple of months and spends the winter up here. I think he’s from South Australia.”
Over the tourist season the park entertains patrons with a bush poet three times a week, camp oven dinners on Saturdays, and a three-course dinner on Thursday.
“People come to Charters Towers for the weather and the old history. We also find they want that good country attitude. We made jam and scones for Mother’s Day and people were falling over themselves and raving, saying you’d never get that in the city.”
The North Queensland tourist season runs from May to October, with things really kicking off after the first cold snap.