July 11, 2017
Pioneers may have begun settling the area around Benarkin in the late 1880s, but the town was officially known as Well Holes until 1912.
In its heydey Benarkin once boasted three hotels, a sawmill, a blacksmith, a railway station, a general store and a large tent city of timber getters and railway workers.
And ironically – for a town that later went on to build its wealth from timber – the first settlers in the area saw little value in trees.
They were so keen to plant maize they ring-barked thousands of trees and later burned them where they fell.
The Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association will be running a Back To Benarkin Bush Picnic on Saturday, July 29 to retell fascinating stories of the town’s early history.
Anyone with an interest in the pioneering days of the district is very welcome to join in.
The Bush Picnic will be held in First Settler’s Park opposite the Benarkin General Store, and will get underway at 10:30am.
A $10 per head fee will include lunch, sweets, a cold drink, tea and coffee, and there’ll be a multi-draw raffle as well.
Guests simply need to bring along their own chairs – the Association will take care of the rest.
To help plan the catering, though, an RSVP would be appreciated.
You can make one by phoning Jackie on 0438-785-009 or by sending her an email.
