NSCnews Online April 2017 | Page 70

Whilst you’re there, wouldn’t it be good to play a game of snooker on a traditional snooker table that the late Eddie Charlton played on? Yep. Ask the publican about that too. With a few things to do, and a couple of charming old pubs a few hundred metres apart to enjoy a bevvy at, you probably should plan to stay a night, or two. The rooms are comfortable and cheap. Superstition with any good hotel means there isn’t a room 13 at the Imperial, however, I believe only the brave should stay in room 12A. Other reportedly haunted locations include the old church, old graveyard and the Thorp’s Building, with a lovely little shop front run by welcoming locals. The museum is in the grand old courthouse, and is full of interesting history. Walking into the general store is like walking into a time machine. They just don’t seem to be like that much these days. Drive around Ravenswood and you’ll fi nd old chimney stacks, mullock heaps, a lookout across the current gold mining operation and a natural wonder of an usual geological formation, known as the White Blow. It’s a large quartz outcrop standing more than 15m high and 45m in diameter. If you plan on making the weekend of it, consider taking a drive and picnic out to the Burdekin Dam. It’s about another 70kms down the road. Ravenswood is south of Townsville, however, it’s most commonly visited and easily explained by heading south west on the Flinders Highway to Mingela, and then turn left. Have a frightfully, I mean, delightfully good time! 70 | APRIL 2017