The skeleton of a muttabuttasaurus in Hughenden

Hughenden
Outback township famous for the discovery of the Muttaburrasaurus.
Located 376 km west of Townsville and 325 m above sea level, Hughenden owes its existence to the railway line and the surrounding cattle grazing land. It is a functional town which is eager to capture the attention of tourists but is somewhat restricted in what it can offer them.

Fortunately it is located at a point experts consider to be the edge of Australia's ancient inland sea and consequently there have been a number of important fossils found in the area. Undoubtedly the most important discovery was that of Muttaburrasaurus which is displayed prominently in a building in the centre of town. The skeleton was the first entire fossil to be found in Australia.

The display of the dinosaur gives an insight into the nature of life on the edge of the 'inland sea' about 100 million years ago. The dinosaur itself is only a cast of the original bones which now are located in the Brisbane museum. This, however, should not detract from the convincing reproduction which is located in a building which looks as though it was purpose designed for the huge creature. There are explanatory boards which tell of the discovery of the skeleton as well as placing the dinosaur in a larger historical context.

One of the boards explains: 'The Hughenden area 100 million years ago, was on the edge of a shallow inland sea that extended from what is now the Gulf of Carpentaria through to South Australia. Australia was joined to Antarctica, but there were no polar ice caps at this time and the world climate was quite warm. Large marine reptiles called Icthyosaurus and Plesiosaurs swam in the inland sea while on land dinosaurs such as Muttaburrasaurus and the long necked Austrosaurus browsed on the vegetation amongst conifers, cycads and ferns. Most of the remains of Muttaburrasaurus came from two individuals. The first was found in 1962 near Muttaburra where it derives its name and the other in 1987 near Hughenden. Their bones were preserved because the carcases had been washed into the sea and became buried in the mud which protected them from destruction.'

More recent history (about 100 million years more recent) involves the white settlement of the area in 1864 (only three years after the fateful Burke and Wills expedition) by Ernest Henry. Henry named his property Hughenden Station after the English home of his maternal grandfather, Hughenden Manor in Buckinghamshire. When the town was surveyed in 1877 it was decided to name the town after the station.

In 1884 'Breaker' Morant moved to Hughenden to work on the local newspaper. His stay was brief and he left after some trouble over a hotel bill.

In 1905 the railway arrived in the town. This ensured the continuing prosperity of the area. Today the town is a service and administrative centre for the surrounding Flinders shire which, at over 41 000 sq. km, is one of the largest shires in Queensland.

Things to see:  

Porcupine Gorge
There is little doubt that the area's premier attraction is the exceptionally beautiful and dramatic Porcupine Gorge. Located about 45 km north of Hughenden on the unsealed Kennedy Development Road, the Porcupine Gorge, sometimes known as the 'little Grand Canyon', drops 120 metres from the surrounding countryside.

Porcupine Gorge, sometimes known as the Little Grand Canyon, 45 km north of Hughenden

It is not possible to enter the gorge from the lookout (which is clearly signposted) but another 10 km further north is the small monolith known as the 'Pyramid' and at this point there is a path which leads into the gorge. The bottom of the gorge is notable for its deep pools which are inhabited by tortoises and its flora which includes paperbarks and casuarinas.

There are rudimentary camping facilities at the Pyramid end of Porcupine Gorge. These are water and toilet facilities only. It is possible in the dry season that the water, which is rainwater off the roof of a shed, will have been used up and visitors are therefore advised to bring their own supplies.

	Motels
	Hughenden Rest Easi Motel Flinders Hway West Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1633 Rating: **
	Wrights Motel Grey St Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1677
	Hotels
	Royal Hotel/Motel Moran St Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1183 Rating: **
	The Grand Hotel Gray St Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1588
	The Great Western Hotel/Motel Brodie St Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1454 Facsimile: (07) 4741 1846
	Caravan Parks
	Allan Terry Caravan Park Resolution St Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1190 Rating: **
	Hughenden Rest Easi Caravan Park Flinders Hway West Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1633 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Cheng's Chinese Restaurant 31 Brodie St Hughenden QLD 4821 Telephone: (07) 4741 1478