Cue Western Australia “Queen of the Murchison”

Cue is one of the loveliest little towns I have come across the well preserved buildings are magnificent. There is so much history here and the town folk are very helpful and pleasant.It is 650kms North east of Perth and The town was named after Tom Cue, an early prospector who became a major figure in the town’s development. It is a gold mining town and like many others in the area where huge towns in their day and now only  has a small population.

I stayed at the caravan park in town and right beside it is the Old Gaol which closed in 1914. I picked up a map at the information centre and did the town walk some great old buildings here Gentleman’s Club a handsome 2 story building, the Pensioners Huts also at the caravan park these old buildings came from Big Bell township when it closed they are restoring them so people can stay in them. Cue Shire Hall, Masonic Lodge was built in 1899 of timber and galvanized iron, the Old municipal Chambers, Cue Railway Station the railway line closed in 1978 it is located near the sports oval.

The drive trail you can see the old hospital ruins which was made of local stone past Day Dawn another small town nothing remains her but in its hey day it boasted 7 hotels, a soft drink factory, post office, racecourse, school, railway station and a shopping area the only thing left here is the Great Fingall Mine office which was built by Italian stonemasons around 1900.

I took a drive out to the ghost town of Big Bell 30kms north west of the town once again another bustling town in the gold rush now there is only the large old hotel still standing which boasted the longest bar in Australia the rements of the church and a few ruins and lots of concrete slabs the town was deserted by the mid 1950’s.

Other places to visit are Milly Soak The Lookout which has a great view over the surrounding area, Nallan Lake Nature Reserve and Walga Rock which has Aboriginal artwork painted on its walls.