Proston
Small rural service centre.
Located 280 km north-west of Brisbane via the Burnett, D'Aguilar and Bruce Highways and 40 km north-west of Wondai, Proston is a tiny settlement which was created after a few hundred acres had been carved off the large Wigton property.

The area was originally settled by George Mocatta who selected 16 000 acres in 1850. Over the next sixty years the property was expanded.

In 1910 the Queensland government decided to open up the land around Proston to more intensive settlement. A ballot for the land was held with 500 people (including a syndicate from England) all arriving at the Wondai Land Court hoping to be one of the future landholders.

Success at the ballot brought mixed fortunes as the area had little reliable water. It was common in the early days for Proston residents to cart water from Wondai.

Life on the land around Proston was extremely hard. Returns were small and the battle for decent water supplies was never ending. The town's slow growth was aided by the arrival of the railway in 1923 and the establishment of the South Burnett Dairy Co-operative Butter Factory in 1934.

The construction of Boondooma Dam (22km west of the town) in 1980 solved the town's water problems and provided a location where townsfolk and visitors can fish, camp, and go waterskiing, windsurfing and boating.

Things to see:  

Sidcup Castle
Undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Proston is a call at the unusual Sidcup Castle in Wondai Road. This strange 17-room building has become something of a local landmark. Built by expatriate Englishman Harold Douglas it is a replica of his childhood home in Kent. The house is full of unusual local memorabilia and the current owner is a mine of local information. She is only too eager to direct visitors to the interesting sights around Proston. She lives over the road at 6 Wondai Road and can be contacted on (07) 4168 4168 9529.

Boondooma Dam
22km west of the town the dam is a popular spot for fishing, camping, waterskiing, windsurfing and boating.

Brigooda Gemfields
26 km west of Proston are the well-known Brigooda Gemfields. The garnets which can be found in the area attract fossickers. A handy mud map of the gemfields can be obtained at Sidcup Castle.

Boondooma Homestead
49 km west of Proston is Boondooma Homestead. Now listed by the National Trust it was built around 1850 by the Lawson brothers who settled the area four years earlier. When the building was being restored it was discovered that it had been built to metric specifications by a Flemish stonemason. It is likely that it was the first metric building in Queensland. It is possible to inspect the old homestead. Contact either (07) 4168 0210 or the Wondai Shire Council on (07) 4168 5155.

	Hotels
	Golden Spurs Hotel 2 Blake St Proston QLD 4613 Telephone: (07) 4168 9272