THARGOMINDAH is a special town with a unique history.
This town was the first in Australia and the third in the world to have street lighting generated by hydro power!

Discover Thargomindah’s electric history at the site of the town’s century-old bore. Next to the bore is a replica of the original shed where Australia’s first hydro-electric system was born back in 1893.

Inside is a working Pelton wheel and generator, showing how the town received its first electricity more than a century ago. The generator was coupled to a water turbine, driven by the pressure of the artesian water.

To gain more insight into the remarkable outback life in the early days, take a heritage walk of Thargomindah.

Visit Leahy House, built in 1885 of locally made mud brick and once owned by Sir Sydney Kidman.

The Thargomindah Post Office, first opened in 1870 and still standing after a turbulent life, is one of only four mud-brick buildings remaining in Thargomindah.

The original Thargomindah Hospital, built prior to 1888, is a great monument to the life and times of outback Queensland and now serves as a visitor information centre.

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Desert Rose Haven, located next to the Old Thargomindah Hospital, was the original maternity section of the hospital, (1924), and is open to the public for inspection. View the amazing garden of more than 700 native species or discover the history of the area on display.

Remnants of Thargomindah’s original printery building is standing in Sams Street, where the Thargomindah Herald and Cooper Plains Advertiser were printed in 1884.

The Heritage Walk joins the Bulloo River Walk at the original Cobb & Co Crossing, and during the late 1890s Thargomindah became the home for coaches servicing the distant settlements of Hungerford, Wompah, Oontoo, Kyabra and Toompine.

The Bulloo River Walk is a leisurely walk along the river with a plant display and many river red gums extending along its banks.

The birds are plentiful and you may even spot a mallee ringneck parrot or Bourke’s parrot among the trees.

Don’t miss Thargomindah. It’s a great place to unwind and use as a base for day tours.

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