Mitchell, Queensland - Artesian Waters & Outback History

Wander * Explore * Discover
Jul 10, 2023
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Mitchell, Queensland - Artesian Waters &

Outback History

Set on the banks of the Maranoa River, around 587 kilometres west of Brisbane, Mitchell is a charming town in Outback Queensland that offers a relaxed pace, fascinating history and genuine country hospitality.

Often described as one of the gateways to Outback Queensland, Mitchell was named after explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell, who passed through the region in 1846. With wide, tree-lined streets, cafés, a bakery, traditional hotels, supermarkets, an art gallery and specialty stores, Mitchell is an easy town to settle into — the kind of place where travellers slow down and stay longer than planned.

When we visited Mitchell we started the day by relaxing in the Great Artisan Spa, then explored the Booringa Museum and the Musical Cattle Grid. We then wandered around town and viewed the Old Kenniff Courthouse before heading out of town to see the Kenniff sculpture at Arrest Creek.

Soaking in the Great Artesian Spa

We began our visit the perfect way — with a relaxing soak at the Great Artesian Spa, one of Mitchell’s standout attractions. Open seven days a week, the spa complex includes a visitor centre, café and two spacious pools set in a peaceful outback setting.

One pool is filled with naturally heated water drawn from the Great Artesian Basin, ideal for easing tired muscles, relieving tension and unwinding after days on the road. The second pool is cooler and wonderfully refreshing, making it easy to alternate between the two and truly relax.

A Step Back in Time at Booringa Heritage Museum

After our spa visit, we headed to the Booringa Heritage Museum, which is open from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm during the tourist season. The museum showcases the history of the former Booringa Shire, with thoughtfully curated displays that highlight the lives, industries and stories of the region’s early settlers.

It’s a small but engaging museum that provides valuable insight into Mitchell’s role in Queensland’s pastoral and outback history.

Music on the Riverbank

One of Mitchell’s most unexpected and playful attractions is found along the banks of the Maranoa River. Here, a quirky fence maze leads visitors to the Musical Cattle Grid, where outdoor musical instruments invite you to stop, experiment and have a bit of fun.

Set against the peaceful river backdrop, it’s a light-hearted stop that adds a creative twist to a walk through town.

Wandering Mitchell’s Wide Streets

We spent time strolling along Cambridge Street, the main street running through Mitchell, admiring the wide, shady layout and the collection of colonial-era buildings that reflect the town’s early prosperity. Cafés, hotels and small shops line the street, giving it a welcoming and lived-in feel.

Not far along Cambridge Street sits the historic Old Kenniff Courthouse, located near a charming old windmill. This building played a key role in one of Queensland’s most infamous bushranger stories.

The Kenniff Brothers & Arrest Creek

The Old Kenniff Courthouse is where bushrangers Patrick and James Kenniff were committed to stand trial in 1902 for the murder of a policeman and a station manager — an event that shocked the nation and marked one of the final chapters of Australia’s bushranger era.

To learn more about this dramatic story, we drove seven kilometres south of Mitchell along St George Road to Arrest Creek. Here stands the striking Kenniff Sculpture, created by artist Peter Baulch.

This minimalist artwork powerfully recreates the moment of capture after the brothers spent three months on the run. The sculpture depicts two policemen standing guard alongside an Indigenous tracker, while the symbolic red bucket head lying on the ground represents Patrick Kenniff. It’s a moving and thought-provoking stop that brings the story vividly to life.

Why Visit Mitchell?

Mitchell may be small, but it offers a rewarding mix of relaxation, history and character. From soaking in artesian waters and uncovering local stories at the museum to walking leafy streets and reflecting on outback legends, the town delivers an authentic and memorable Outback Queensland experience.

Whether you’re passing through on a longer road trip or deliberately slowing your journey, Mitchell is a place that invites you to pause, explore and connect with the stories that shaped Australia’s interior.