RATED 5 OUT OF 5 HELMETS
Exchange Hotel
12 Bruford St, Muttaburra 4732
T: 07 4658 7125
FB: Muttaburra Pub – The Exchange Hotel
THE CRAMSIE ROAD STRETCHES for a bit over 100kms north from the Landsborough Highway about 6 kms west of Longreach, to the Hughenden Road, just west of Muttaburra – the town closest to the geographical centre of Queensland.
By the time this edition of AMM hits the streets, there’ll be a miniscule section – around 2kms - left to seal of this track and when it’s done, it’ll be the final link in what, for lovers of paved roads in red dirt country, (and good, very good pubs), will be an incomparable 400km outback loop.
(And if dirt is more your style, check the sidebar for a top option.)
I’ve already written about Ilfra-combe’s Wellshot Hotel – a real jewel out here (and how there’s not a worth-while pub any longer in Longreach), and I could really start at any of several places in this loop but let’s start at Muttaburra.
Because, well, because Muttaburra Rules.
And because OF Muttaburra Rules. I always thought rules come in three main categories: Legal rules, agreed rules and - in Oz and Kiwi since around 1910 - Rafferty’s Rules. But, ah, out here they invented a whole new category.
I park Super Ten out front of the Muttaburra Pub where someone’s added an ‘S’ in front of its displayed name turning it into the SExchange Hotel and head in past a few old fellas on the small veranda and grab a black fish.
Behind me, high up on one wall of the bar – so high it can’t be used any-more - there’s what I grew up calling
