Before the federation, when the borders between the states were controlled by customs officers, places like Barringun, which is located on the New South Wales- Queensland border, were essential stopping points when bonded warehouses, hotels and shops servicing travellers crossing from one state to the other. Barringun, which was once a stopover point for shearers, drovers, mail carriers, swaggies, labourers, adventurers and Cobb & Co coaches, is now a sleepy village.
By 1894, it was: "A border township with post, telegraph, money order station and Government Savings Bank... mode of conveyance per coach to Bourke. Ninety miles thence per rail.
There were two hotels and a customs station on the Queensland side of the border. The buildings on the New South Wales side comprise a bonded warehouse, post and telegraph offices, two hotels (Royal Mail and Queensland), a branch of the Commercial Bank, a brewery, two butcher's shops, a few private cottages, a court house and a public school.
Attractions:
- Sadly the main attraction in Barringun, the Tattersalls Hotel, which was built in 1878, burned down in 2017, taking with it much history and a wonderful place to stop before entering Queensland. Enjoying a beer and a yarn with the long-standing publican Mary Crawley who ran the pub for 40 years from 1977, was a privilege. In 1889 the poet Will Ogilvie travelled to Barringun in a Cobb & Co coach. He used to drink at the Tattersall Hotel with Breaker Morant.
- Barringun Roadhouse and Caravan Park are now all that remains in Barringun, where you can camp the night and enjoy a hearty meal at the bush tucker inn.
