adavale

The killing of kangaroos by Europeans began at exactly the same time that the species was first identified. Shooting, naming, describing, scientifically classifying, sketching, dissecting, eating: these things all played out simultaneously as soon as Cook’s Endeavour got stranded on a reef in far north Queensland in June and July 1770. Many notable visitors participated in organized kangaroo hunts: Charles Darwin in 1836 (“my usual ill-fortune in sporting followed us”), Britain’s Admiral of the Fleet Henry Keppel in 1850, and the novelist Anthony Trollope in 1871. The Duke of Edinburgh came to the colonies in 1867 – the first royal visit – hunting kangaroo in South Australia and then traveling out to Victoria’s western district for more sport. Organized hunts could kill any number of kangaroos; alongside hunting meets that pursued individual roos as game, squatters also organized large-scale drives or battues, which could see thousands of kangaroos rounded up, slaughtered, and left to rot. Source: theconversation.com/friday-essay-the-art-of-the-colonial-...

This iconic outback town played an important part in the history of the Quilpie Shire, as it was once the central business center. The town is named after Ada Constance Stevens (wife of Ernest James Stevens). The Stevens family had the Tintinchilla (later Milo) pastoral run in the area. There is a story that the origin of the name is that Ada lost her hat veil (Ada-veil) when the Milo road crosses Blackwater Creek. Town and suburban lots in the town of Adavale were sold on 9 February 1881 at Charleville The town was a thriving center but, in 1917, the Western railway line did not come to the town as expected but passed further to the south where the new town of Quilpie was created along the railway line, and soon became the major town in the region while Adavale diminished. In 1930, it was decided that the seat of local government should move from Adavale to Quilpie and the Shire of Adavale was renamed the Shire of Quilpie. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adavale

Adavale is located approximately 100 kilometres north east of Quilpie. The township was proclaimed on 3 December 1872 and by 1897 five hotels soothed the dusty throats of travellers and locals alike. The mail coach Cobb and Co stopped in the town on its way from Charleville via Cheepie to Windorah. The name Adavale has been said to derive from the horse and buggy days when in 1870 a Mr Stevens, who later became Member of Warrego 1879 to 1922 and State Treasurer, was out driving with his wife when the veil from her hat blew away. It is believed he called out 'there goes Ada's veil' hence the crossing was Ada's Veil Crossing and subsequently Adavale. Today Adavale is a much smaller township with a population of only twelve people. An Artesian bore supplies water and the town has rural power. The town is well worth a look as it is a town filled with history, stories and memories. The locals have done a marvellous job celebrating their history, culture and dry Outback humour. A mini museum, in the old butcher house, displays local relics from more than a century ago. Source: www.australianexplorer.com/adavale.htm#:~:text