Clermont, Qld

We had not been to Clermont before – in fact, we had never even heard of it. But we did find that it was a good base to look at the Peak Downs NP, even though details of the Park are not at all well presented. We found it difficult to interpret the various pieces of information on the park and I could not find an overall map. I particularly wanted to see the Lords Table.

We arrived at Clermont on 8 Jun 2024 and left on 10 June, heading to Charters Towers.

Getting There

From Emerald, Clermont is about 108km.

Emerald > Capella (53km) > Clermont (58) ~ 111km in total

Kerry’s snippets in fuchsia

History

First Nations

Whilst at Springsure I found some excellent informations panels about the first Nations people in this area including Emerald and Clemo click here.

This area is Kairi tribal country, sometimes called Kairi Kairi country. Also Kairi means the sun in the aboriginal language. To read about these people, and particularly their use of plants for food and medicines, click here.

As well, The way of life of the First Nations people can be read here in the first 5 or so pages. This is a generic assessment, not one specific to Clermont.

Colonial Times

Ludwig Leichhardt was the first explorer to pass through the Clermont area in 1845, but it was the discovery of gold in 1861 that was responsible for the establishment of the town, close to what was Babbinburra clan land. The town reserve was proclaimed on 25 March 1864, although a gold field was declared in the area in 1862.

Clermont is named after Clermont-Ferrand in France; Clermont-Ferrand was the ancestral home of Oscar de Satge, one of the first European graziers who took up the Wolfang Downs pastoral run.

To read the history of colonisation of the area, click here.

https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/clermont-qld

Today, Clermont is an important rural service centre where the economy has been driven by coal mining (at Blair Athol); gold and copper mining at Copperfield; cattle and sheep grazing; and the growing and harvesting of productive grain crops. The town’s central appeal lies around Hood’s Lagoon where, in 1916, a flood of such ferocity killed a staggering 65 members of the local community. It is recalled in a series of monuments, sculptures and memorials. The town lies near the impressively beautiful Peak Range Park.

At the 2021 census, the locality of Clermont had a population of 2,952 people.

Day 1 – 8 June 2024 – To Clermont

On the way out through Clermont I could not help but take a few more photos of the lovely cliff faces – especially Virgin Rock.

The drive north was very similar to our drives to Emerald and Springsure – long straight roads into the distance, vast areas set out for agriculture, scattered forested areas – and some very rough roads exacerbated by the fact that we were towing a van.

In the distance we begin to see the mountains of the Peak Range NP – especially Lords Table. It really stands out even in the distance.

We breezed through Capella.

Uneventful drive to Clemont.

The Van park was very good – nice and wide. Two concrete strips for the van wheels, a concrete slab of the awning and two concrete strips for the car. The facilities were pretty good – the camp wifi worked for us. Figuring out the right position was incredibly confusing though – quite hard to get your head around what should go where. It would have been so very easy if the electricity poles weren’t in the very middle of where the van is parked – then most people could have driven straight on.

Day 2 – 9 June 2024 – Peak Range NP

It had become clear to us that getting into the NP was not going to be easy. Getting to the Lords Table Mountain is entirely different to the other peaks. Lord’s Table Mountain is about 35km east of Clermont with access via the Huntley Road. We passed that turnoff on the way to Clermont. Access to the other parts of the NP is approximately 50km east of Clermont. There is no access direct from the Lord’s Table Mountain to the others which are all off the same road.

We decided not to go out to the Lords Table but hoped that we could get a reasonable view of that from the other peaks. We also knew that Kerry would not be able to do much walking as her back was still causing her a little grief. So we drove north from the town for 18km and turned right onto the Peak Downs Highway (Road 70). This proved to be a pretty good road.

The peaks are about 40km from the turnoff. At 572m and 172 hectares, Wolfgang Peak is the first Peak you get to and is the most popular peak of the ranges. It takes approximately an hour to summit. It is quite stunning up close.

We drove on as we wanted to see all the peaks first and then decide what we could do re walking and climbing. We had noted that there are no tracks in the peaks – you have to make your own way. We could see the Lords Table in the distance.

We drove to the Eastern Peak – a smallish knob, an example of a thrust dome resulting from successive intrusions and upheavals of viscous lava.

We saw a sign for the Gemini Section – two volcanic formations with open eucalypt woodland. They are Mt Castor and Mt Pollux, and there is a a vehicle track over the back soils for walking from the Peak Downs Highway to the foothills of the Peaks. There is also a small parking area via a gate to the road and then a locked gate on the start of the walking trail. It’s a 10.5km to and back from the foothills. There are no tracks on the Peaks – find your own way.

We walked until Kerry could not go further – about halfway. Then we went back to the car.The only living creature we saw was a feral cat.

Finally we got to Wolfang Peak, quite near the road. There is a gateway to the property and then a track to the Peak.We knew that this is the most popular peak of the ranges – presumably because of its relatively easy access. We knew it would takes approximately an hour to summit. That is way beyond what we could entertain on that day.

We had read that this peak is under grazing lease. Access is only by walking from the Peak Downs Highway. Look out for the access point as the signs are small. Visitors can access the park to climb the peak via fire control lines but you should check with Parks and Wildlife Service first. We did not take the track as we had good views of the Peak from the gate.

This was also the closest we could get to the Lords Table Mountain.

This is a flat-topped plateau 320m high, with Anvil Peak being the highest point, at the southern end. Access to the mountain is via the Huntley Road.

People are asked to check the condition of Huntley Road prior to taking the trip.

Photo of the magnificent Mountain which I believe is not subject to copyright.

The drive back to Clermont was pretty good, especially after the extremely bumpy roads we have experienced. Lots of agricultural lands and a mine.

Back at the town we visited the cemetery. Lots of graves for people buried in the mid to late 1800’s. But there is always an extremely sad gravestone. Like the one in the last photo that Kerry found. I find it so very heart-wrenching to see a grave with 6 little children or babies. There was one grave that the woman had lost 4 children, then died herself while still in her 20s.