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It is so far from the coast, and so intensely isolated, that Birdsville has become a byword for the Australian outback. It is a tiny township - really nothing more than a village - on the edge of the Simpson Desert on a road which effectively goes nowhere - apart from into the desert. Birdsville sits on the edge of the Simpson Desert and operates like some kind of mysterious magnet to people who want to go to the most isolated place on the continent. The current fascination with isolated places has meant that a regular stream of 4WD adventurers, all determined to travel the 500 km of the Birdsville track, pass through the town. This has been complemented by the Birdsville Races which attract over 8,000 people to the town for the two day race meeting. Origin of Name The first name for the town was Diamantina Crossing, a practical description of a place where travellers could cross the mighty Diamantina River. There are two possible explanations for the name: (1) it was named Birdsville because the owner of nearby Pandie Pandie Station was amazed by the diversity of birdlife attracted to the area when the river was in flood. It was not uncommon to see pelicans and seagulls in the region's salt lakes. (2) Percy Bird and George Field opened at store at the place and it became known as Birdsfield. In 1882 a consignment of goods was sent from Adelaide addressed, incorrectly, to Birdsville. The name stuck and became the accepted name for the tiny settlement. Source: www.aussietowns.com.au/town/birdsville-qld

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

Allan & Stark was built in 1881, Architect: A. Stombuco. It was constructed as offices for solicitors Brown & Ruthning. Alan & Stark drapery aquired it in 1914. The firm became a major Brisbane retail chain. This was its City Store. The store began with Queen Street shopfronts and then was enlarged, over the next 40 years, to reach through to Adelaide Street. Burnett Lane separated the two shopfronts so it became two, co-joined stores. It was bought by Myer in 1970 and completely remodelled so that only the facade remains. Source: mappingbrisbanehistory.com.au/history-location/allan-star...