muttaburraraces

Gathering at the Muttaburra races, June 1935

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  For the around 70 people who reside in Muttaburra, they can boast about living in the town that is geographically the closest to the centre of Queensland. And, central to the history of the town of Muttaburra is the racing industry, with a day at the races something that the people in the area have always cherished. Source: www.racingqueensland.com.au/news/july-2021/club-spotlight...

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  The following text may have some connection with the persons in the photo: Family History Muttaburra Memories Betty Bowden is the daughter of Lizzie and Sonny Bowden. She was the youngest girl in the family and a good tennis player and baker of excellent sponge cakes. She met James O’Dwyer when he was posted to Muttaburra as the Primary School Teacher in 1940. They were married in 1942. The Bowdens were salt of the earth, hardworking and kind people. A member of the family worked as a stockman and station manager and at the time caught wild horses (brumbies) which he then ‘tamed’ and probably sold. He also kept a horse or two to take part in the Muttaburra horse races. Having wild horses jumping and rushing around in the backyard (fenced off, but just) was a different experience. The family also had a young jockey sharing a room with a family member. Source: www.muttaburra.com/family-histories/betty-bowden-and-jame...

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  The bush racing club started more than 100 years ago and says the tradition is still going strong. The dirt race track has been graded in a sheep paddock on Hillview Station, north of Muttaburra. Towers Hill Race Club president Kym Westcott says a 102-year history makes it one of the oldest country meetings in the state. "It's just in the middle of a paddock - Hillview Station just half an hour north of Muttaburra," he said. "There is a massive big shed there where we have our bar and our catering facilities. "In front of that is a big dirt race track - it was green about a week or so ago because Hillview looks quite spectacular at the moment ... but it's just a dirt track that we grade once a year and get ready for the race meeting." Mr Westcott says it is becoming harder to continue the tradition because of new workplace safety rules for race clubs but local graziers are determined to keep it going. "It's been going for 102 years - we've been racing for 92 years, because of droughts and so on there have been some years where the race club actually can't race because of horses' conditions," he said. "It is one of the older clubs in the state and it will continue. "We've got a great little committee at the moment and everyone gets involved and no one wants to see it die." Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2011-04-29/bush-race-club-continues-1...