Millmerran (including Yandilla)
Small rural service town in the Darling Downs.
Located 210 km south-west of Brisbane and 407 m above sea-level, Millmerran is a typical small Darling Downs township servicing the rich agricultural lands which surround it. It lies in the heart of an area which became wealthy with sheep during the nineteenth century, turned to dairying during the early twentieth century and currently concentrates on mixed farming activities including sheep, cattle, cereal grains and cotton.

It is thought that the town's name comes from two Aboriginal words 'meel' meaning 'eye' and 'merran' meaning 'to look out'. This is related to the fact that the town is located near a lookout which was commonly used by the local Aborigines.

The area was first settled by Europeans in 1841 when St George R. Gore and his brother Ralph T. Gore established the vast Yandilla Station in the area between Millmerran and Pittsworth. It is said 'yandilla' was a local Aboriginal word meaning 'running water'. This huge property spread over an estimated 689 sq miles (1784.51 sq km) and at one time it was the size of a small township with its own store and telegraph station. In 1874 the community around the station was so large that a school was established with a student population of around 20 to 30.

The All Saints Anglican Church in Yandilla was consecrated by Bishop Webber in 1887. For many years it was used as a private chapel for the Gore family and the workers on Yandilla Station. Now listed by the National Trust it is the oldest building in the Millmerran Shire and is almost certainly the second-oldest church in Queensland.

The township of Millmerran grew as a direct result of the Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1876 which saw a portion of Yandilla Station selected by Edward Walpole who, in 1881, set up a general store. At the time the area was known simply as Back Creek (it was the creek behind Yandilla Homestead). It later became known as Domville and in 1895 it finally became known as Millmerran.

The economic focus shifted from sheep to dairying. By the 1890s substantial amounts of butter and cheese were being produced. The reduced size of local land holdings meant that much more mixed farming was practiced with piggeries, dairy herds, beef cattle, sheep, wheat, poultry and even apiaries emerging.

Today Millmerran is an important service centre for the surrounding farms. An excellent book titled Back Creek and Beyond: Millmerran's Story of Change 1881-1981, edited by Nell Macqueen covers the development and history of the town and surrounding area in an interesting and entertaining way. Visitors wishing to know more about the town should visit the Millmerran Historical Society Museum.

Things to see:  

The All Saints Anglican Church
The All Saints Anglican Church in Yandilla was consecrated by Bishop Webber in 1887. For many years it was used as a private chapel for the Gore family and the workers on Yandilla Station. Now listed by the National Trust it is the oldest building in the Millmerran Shire and is almost certainly the second-oldest church in Queensland. It is characterised by a steeply-pitched roof and a tall spire. Not surprisingly it contains memorials to members of the Gore family, including a large stone font, a bible dating back to 1857 and pews which were brought out from Britain. The graveyard contains the headstones of a number of early pioneers. It can be inspected by contacting (07) 4695 1581.

Millmerran Historical Museum
Visitors wishing to know more about the town should visit the Millmerran Historical Society Museum in the old Shire Council chambers in Charlotte Street which can be opened by contacting (07) 4695 1346 or (07) 4695 1265. Of particular interest is Yandilla Station's 'Water Baby' steam launch which was used to ship produce along the Condamine River. To describe it as a 'baby' is rather deceptive as the launch is nearly 10-m long and 2-m high.

	Tourist Information
	Millmerran Roadhouse and Motel 64 Campbell St Millmerran QLD 4357 Telephone: (07) 4695 1411
	Motels
	Millmerran Motel 64 Campbell St Millmerran QLD 4357 Telephone: (07) 4695 1155 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Millmerran Hotel 1 Campbell St Millmerran QLD 4357 Telephone: (07) 4695 1488
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Dandarriga Homestead Guesthouse Bringalily 30 km south of Millmerran Millmerran QLD 4357 Telephone: (07) 4695 7125 Rating: ***
	Stonehenge Homestead Guesthouse Stonehenge Rd 40 km south east of Millmerran Millmerran QLD 4357 Telephone: (07) 4695 7183 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Millmerran Caravan Park 89 Campbell St Millmerran QLD 4357 Telephone: (07) 4695 1572 Rating: **