Tambo: Teddies, Chickens and Qantas History
We'd been to Tambo before, but this time we decided to try Stubby Bend free camp just out of town. It was a great decision. Quiet, spacious, a short walk into town, and plenty of room to spread out and settle in. That last point needs a small qualification.
There is a lot of space at Stubby Bend. An extraordinary amount of space. There was enough space that when fellow travellers chose to park close enough to borrow a cup of sugar, it raised some genuine questions about spatial awareness.
Tambo is a town that rewards wandering, and we had time to do it properly. Gazetted in 1863, Tambo is the oldest town in Central Western Outback Queensland, sitting on the Barcoo River, and it carries that age lightly. The heritage walk takes you past seventeen historically significant buildings, and the Coolibah Walk follows the river through old native trees. It’s an easy, pleasant way to spend a morning.
But first things first. Neil needed a bear. (yes, you read that right, a bear. Not a beer!)
Tambo Teddies was born in 1992 when wool prices crashed, and the district was severely drought-affected. Three local women decided to use the cheap wool and turn it into something more valuable, handmade teddy bears crafted from 100% woollen sheepskin. What started as a community survival project has become one of the most recognised small-town businesses in outback Australia.
Every single bear is named after a local property across the region. Names like Ercildoune, Jynoomah, Toolmaree and many others are carefully chosen, ensuring every bear carries a genuine link to Tambo's pastoral heritage. Tambo Teddies also records where each bear goes to live, creating a remarkable map of journeys from the outback to homes across Australia and around the world.
Neil took his time. Longer than strictly necessary, by most measures. He worked through the options with the seriousness of a man making a significant life decision. He eventually settled on Jabinda — a coffee-coloured bear, named after Jabinda Station, now the official mascot of the motorhome. She has already been to several places.
The bear naming sent us on an unexpected side quest. Jabinda Station turned out to be only five kilometres from town, which meant there was really no reason not to go and find it. We drove out, located the station, took the obligatory photo of Jabinda at her namesake, and felt entirely justified in the detour.
The chicken races were next, and this is where the afternoon took a turn.
The Tambo chicken races are exactly what they sound like: a local institution, cheerful and absurd, with chooks running around Schnitzel Statium while spectators cheer, heckle and generally lose money on the outcome, all donated to a good cause. Little Windmills is the current charity. Zoe LOVES the chicken races and was watching intently. This was going very well until a wayward chicken somehow knocked the remote control for the course's chase car off the bench. The car, now operating without any human input whatsoever, picked up speed in the direction of a startled Zoe at what can only be described as a staggering rate of knots. The series of events that followed, between the chicken, the car, the dog, and the noise hilarity and chaos ensued. Zoe has since recovered her dignity. Mostly
The next morning, we visited the Qantas crash site, which sits a short drive from town, and is one of those stops that you see differently once you know what you’re looking at.
On 24 March 1927, Qantas’s de Havilland DH.9C, registration G-AUED, was on a regular mail route between Charleville and Mount Isa with Tambo as an intermediate stop. As it approached the claypan that served as Tambo’s airstrip, it was seen to dive suddenly into the ground. The cause was never conclusively determined. It is known that the aircraft had landed at a nearby station to undertake repairs before continuing to Tambo.
Pilot Ian Douglas Davidson and two passengers — A.W.N. Bell, owner of Belmont Station in Winton, and W.R. Donaldson, manager of Rocklands Station in Camooweal — were all killed. All three were buried at the Tambo cemetery. Interestingly, one of those passengers, Donaldson, was the nephew of Robert Philp, the 15th Premier of Queensland.
At the time of the crash, Qantas had been operating for just over six years and had flown more than 450,000 miles without injury to passengers or crew. A press report from the day noted that fact with considerable solemnity. It was Qantas’s first fatal accident, and it remains a sombre footnote to the airline’s otherwise remarkable safety record. A monument marks the site. It’s a quiet stop, and worth making.
We left Tambo with a bear, a story, a slightly rattled Staffy, and a renewed appreciation for what small outback towns quietly contain. From here, we headed north to Blackall and beyond.
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Tambo
Tambo is located on the Landsborough Highway, approximately 109 kilometres north of Charleville and 110 kilometres south of Blackall. Roads are sealed throughout and suitable for caravans and motorhomes. Stubby Bend free camp is accessed just off the highway on the edge of town.
What to See / Tours / Activities
What we did:
Stayed at Stubby Bend free camp.
Visited the Tambo Teddies workshop and selected Jabinda.
Drove out to Jabinda Station, five kilometres from town.
Attended the Tambo chicken races.
Visited the Qantas DH.9C crash site and monument.
Walked the Tambo Heritage Walk through town.
Other highlights nearby:
Tambo Dam, a recreational area with barbecues, nature walks and birdwatching.
Coolibah Walk along the Barcoo River.
Grassland Art Gallery, Tambo's community cultural hub.
When to Visit
Tambo is accessible year-round. The Tambo Teddies workshop is open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. The chicken races run every night during the season. Check with the visitor centre on arrival. Summer temperatures are high; autumn through spring is most comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Tambo is a town that delivers more than it advertises. The teddies are the headline, but the crash site, the chicken races, and station side quests are what make a visit here genuinely memorable. And Jabinda, now riding shotgun in the motorhome, is an excellent mascot.
What's Nearby
We came to Tambo from Charleville. The road north leads to Blackall. Both are worth a visit.
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Fast Facts
Location: Tambo, Queensland
Distance: 109km north of Charleville; 110km south of Blackall
Traditional Owners: Bidjara People
Access: Sealed roads throughout; Landsborough Highway
Facilities: Stubby Bend free camp (self-contained only); full town facilities
Walking Track: Heritage Walk (17 buildings); Coolibah Walk along the Barcoo
Best Time to Visit: April to October
Dog Friendly: Yes (free camp and surrounds; chicken races)
Things That Could Kill You (Probably Won’t)
A semi-serious guide to surviving Australia. Mostly common sense, occasionally luck.
The chicken races: Wayward poultry. Rogue remote control cars. Bring a calm dog.
The Tambo Teddy selection process: Allow more time than you think. Neil did not.
The Qantas crash site: The cause was never determined. That’s a detail that stays with you on the drive out.
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Tambo delivers more than it advertises — Tambo Teddies and a station side quest, chicken races that got out of hand, and the site of Qantas’s first fatal crash in 1927. A small town with a lot going on.