Monto (including Cania Gorge National Park)
Gateway to the interesting Cania Gorge National Park.
Located 520 km from Brisbane via the Burnett Highway and 249 m above sea-level, Monto is a charming rural centre which is one of the newest towns in Capricornia, having come into existence as recently as 1924. This, however, was the culmination of European involvement in the area dating back to 1848 when Thomas Archer (one of the seven Archer brothers who did so much to open up Central Queensland) explored the area from his property at Cooyar. Later that year, with his brother Charles, Thomas Archer moved sheep into the area. At the same time Adolphus Henry Trevethan settled on the vast Rawbelle Station which spread over 1000 sq. miles.

It is thought that the word 'Monto' is probably a rough translation of an Aboriginal word meaning 'plains with ridges on them'. The same sources suggest that 'cania' means 'spear'

The area consisted mostly of large pastoral holdings until the 1870s. Gold was discovered in 1871 causing a rush to the Cania field, though yields were intermittent. The population quickly rose to 252 but by 1876 it was back to four people. Mining continued throughout the 1880s, with one reef yielding 2 395 ounces, and finally ended in the early 1900s. It is recognised that there is still gold in the area and this attracts fossickers who pan for alluvial gold in the local streams.

Inevitably the goldrushes produced a mythology of luck and wealth. It is claimed that one of the largest nuggets found in the area weighed 2.7 kg and was trampled upon again and again by miners oblivious to what lay under their feet.

Near Mulgildie there was a waterhole which, according to both miners and settlers, was the home of a bunyip. It was said that cattle which drank from the waterhole disappeared and that the hole was so deep that no one had ever reached the bottom.

Around the 1870s the area was infested with speargrass which resulted in sheep being replaced by cattle. Today the cattle industry is so successful that the Monto Branch of the Port Curtis Co-op Association is a major producer of butter, casein and dried buttermilk. In 1983-84 it processed 16 million litres of milk.

The real change in the area came after 1919 when a Royal Commission was set up to investigate the possibility of closer settlement in the northern Burnett River region.

Subsequently 1.4 million acres of the large properties were resumed by the Queensland government and the town of Monto was established in 1924. Monto was the first town in Queensland to be designed under town planning techniques and it was gazetted in 1924. The experiment was a dramatic success. By October 1923 the Government had received 1773 applications for land in the Monto area. The establishment of the town led to a dramatic improvement in the provision of services to the area. In 1925 a post office was built. In 1929 the railway arrived, connecting the district to Maryborough and two years later a connecting line was built through to Gladstone. The story of this period of Monto's history is vividly told in A New Province? The Closer Settlement of Monto by W. Ross Johnston, available from the Monto Shire office.

Things to see:  

Cania Gorge National Park
The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency worksheet observes that Cania Gorge National Park 'conserves a spectacular landscape of prominent sandstone cliffs, caves, eucalypt forest and dry rainforest on sheltered slopes. While side gullies and creeks provide moist, cool conditions for ferns and mosses, above [the] 70-metre cliffs is a dry, rugged expanse of open woodland typical of central Queenslandıs extensive sandstone belt. The park's 3000 hectares also provide an important habitat for wildlife.'

To access the Park, follow the Burnett Highway from Monto in the direction of Biloela. After 12 km take the signposted turnoff on the right onto a bitumen road that passes through Moonford. It is 14 km from the highway to the park entrance. This bitumen road passes a privately run caravan/camping area (located just outside the Park's southern boundary - tel: 07 4167 8110), and continues through the Park, past a carpark - from whence walking tracks depart - on past the picnic area - where there are pit toilets, a sheltered picnic area, drinking water and more walking tracks - then continues north past another privately owned caravan/camping area 7 km north of the picnic area and just outside the Park's north-west boundary, tel: (07) 4167 8188. Not far beyond this is a turnoff from the main road which leads to another parking area - the start of a walk to the Shamrock mine site. The main road continues north, concluding on the shores of Lake Cania, which lies outside of the Park. Camping is not possible within the national park. Accommodation, petrol and supplies are available in Monto.

There are seven walking tracks in the Park. Two commence at the southern carpark, which is 900 metres south of the picnic area. The Big Foot walk (1 km return) is named after a large brown depiction of a four-toed foot which can be seen on the white sandstone cliff. The longer Fern Tree Pool and Giantıs Chair circuit (5.6 km) crosses back and forth across Doctor's Gully, passing Fern Tree Pool after 2.5 km (do not attempt to drink the water), then ascending for a further 2.2 km to Giant's Chair Lookout. A steep track and set of steps lead back to the carpark.

Four tracks depart from the picnic area. The Picnic Area circuit (300 metres) follows Three Moon Creek, affording views of the sandstone cliffs and the woodland environs. This walk can be started from either end of the picnic area.

The Dripping Rock/Overhang walk (3.2 km return) is an easy jaunt which commences at the southern end of the picnic area. It crosses Three Moon Creek, passing through woodland and dry rainforest to Dripping Rock, where mosses and ferns flourish owing to the water that seeps from the sandstone here. Walkers can return at this point, or continue past eroded caverns to The Overhang, formed by the erosion at the base of a sandstone cliff.

The Dragon Cave/Bloodwood Cave (2.6 km return) walk initially follows the Dripping Rock track. However, 400 metres along the path turn right, crossing the bridge over Russell Gully. The track ascends to a cliff face then a side track veers north to Dragon Cave, named after a black pattern on a white sandstone wall which some regard as resembling a dragon. The southern branch of the track leads, after another 400 metres, to Bloodwood Cave, named after the visible roots of a bloodwood tree.

The Two Storey Cave circuit (1.3 km) is a pleasant amble which starts opposite the picnic area. Take the path to the left which ascends to some sandstone monoliths. A 20-metre side track leads to King Orchid Crevice where silver elkhorns and king orchids grow in abundance. Two Storey Cave is inhabited by many bats and visitors are asked no to disturb them.

The Park's final walking track leads from the northernmost Parking Area (situated along a signposted road which branches off the main thoroughfare about 1 km south of Lake Cania). From the parking area a 1.4-km return track leads to the Shamrock Mine which retains remnants of the days when it was the site of a 19th-century gold mine, including an old battery, mullock heaps, mine shafts and processing sheds. No goldmining is permitted here.

For further information ring (07) 4167 8162.

Lake Cania/Cania Dam
As mentioned in the previous entry, the road through the National Park concludes by Cania Dam which covers 630 hectares. The waters are held back by a dam wall 340 metres long and 47 metres high. There are points where the cliffs of the area tower dramatically above the dam. The highlight of any visit to the dam is the 3.9-km (return) climb to Castle Mountain from the Cania Dam wall. The walk offers superb views over the dam and the surrounding mountains. Weathering has carved caves and holes into the sandstone of Castle Mountain and there is a prominent feature known as the 'elephant's head'. There is a picnic and recreation area.

	Motels
	Monto Colonial Motor Inn 6 Thomson St Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4166 1377 Rating: **
	Monto Three Moon Motel 4 Flinders St Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4166 1777 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Albert Hotel 58 Newton St Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4166 1380
	Grand Hotel Newton St Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4166 1136
	Caravan Parks
	Cania Gorge Caravan and Tourist Park Cania Gorge Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4167 8188
	Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat Cania Gorge Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4167 8110
	Monto Caravan Park Flinders St Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4166 1492 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Old Colonial Licensed Restaurant 6 Thomson St Monto QLD 4630 Telephone: (07) 4166 1377