5 Things to Know about Moranbah – exploring a heritage destination

Moranbah does not have long-standing history but was first established in the 1850's by pastoralists who drove cattle in search of water. Thereafter the inhabitants were mainly workers of the nearby mines. Moranbah was extensively developed by the Utah Development Company during 1970's in order to house the mineworkers. The town got its own post office and the state school was also established during the early 1970's. More than a hundred thousand workers have been employed in the coal mines of Moranbah providing steady economic growth to Queensland throughout its short history. Moranbah has also produced many famous musicians such as Clint Boge and Talia Gouge as well as a notable sportsman as Shane Marteene and Travis Norton.

Moranbah is situated in the Isaac region in Queensland, Australia. This is approximately 190 km southwest of Mackay and 790km northwest of Brisbane. It is located on the outskirts of Peak Downs Highway connecting Mackay and Clermont. The population is largely built up of the people who settle down in the town after coming to work in the Moranbah coalmines.

The Port of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal located 30km south of Mackay is one of the most visited coal ports in the area. A popular attraction close to Moranbah is the Lake Elphinstone, which is located within the Nebo Shire. This is a natural lake that attracts many birds and provides a good site for fishing and camping. A little closer to Clermont there is the Theresa Creek Dam constructed through the Blair Athol Coal Project.

The sports and recreation activities in Moranbah will easily suffice in making your day enjoyable. The town has well-developed facilities for all kinds of sports including Tennis, Golf, Soccer, Bowling, and Shooting. There is an aquatic centre with a 6-lane 50 m pool and a heated enclosed 6-lane 25 m pool for those who love to practice swimming. Horseracing and Kart racing are also popular in town. There are many active community organizations that arrange recreation events from time to time. The Bernborough Park and Binda Park are associated with playgrounds and open space for fun activities.

Moranbah has very good standards in terms of town services like health, education, and childcare but all of them come with a cost. Moranbah has been listed as the most expensive town in Queensland due to the many taxes and high living costs. Accommodation options in the town are not luxury in general, but there are a few Moranbah hotels and apartments that provide very good facilities and comforts of international standard hotels like the Oaks Moranbah. It is best to choose a hotel that is close to the Moranbah Airport since travelling is generally expensive and may be time-consuming.