Monto, Queensland - Street Art, Silo Stories and Gateway to Cania Gorge

Monto, Queensland - Street Art, Silo Stories and Gateway to Cania Gorge

Set in Queensland’s rural heartland, Monto is a welcoming country town with creativity, history and natural beauty woven into everyday life. Located 477 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, Monto was established in 1924 and holds the distinction of being the first town in Queensland built to a formal town plan. Today, it’s best known for its colourful street art, fascinating local stories and its role as the gateway to the spectacular Cania Gorge National Park.

When we visited Monto, we wandered around the town centre, admired the street art and sculptures, visited the Historical Society, saw the artwork on the 3 Moon Silos and explored Cania Gorge.

A Creative Country Town

Monto’s town centre is relaxed and inviting, with cafés, traditional hotels, supermarkets and a variety of local shops lining the streets. As we wandered through town, we discovered bright murals tucked into laneways and splashed across building walls, giving the streets a cheerful and creative feel.

Along Lister Street, a short walk through the park reveals a collection of metal and stone sculptures created by local artists. With easy parking and shaded picnic tables nearby, it’s a lovely place to pause and enjoy the town’s artistic side.

Stories of the Past at the Historical & Cultural Centre

A visit to the Monto Historical and Cultural Centre offers a deeper insight into the town’s past. One of the most striking exhibits is a replica of “Betsy,” the World War II Liberator Bomber that crashed near Monto while travelling from Darwin to Brisbane. The display is both fascinating and moving, adding an unexpected chapter to the region’s history.

The centre also features historic buildings, photographs and memorabilia that bring Monto’s early years and community life into focus.

The Legend of the Three Moon Silos

Just six kilometres from town, the Three Moon Silo Art stands as one of Monto’s most eye-catching landmarks. Completed in July 2020 by artists The Zookeeper and DRAPL, the vibrant mural depicts their interpretation of the local legend of the Three Moons.

The artwork transforms the silos into a bold storytelling canvas and has become a must-see stop for visitors exploring the region.

Staying in the Heart of Cania Gorge

Around 33 kilometres from Monto, Cania Gorge National Park delivers a dramatic change of scenery, with towering sandstone cliffs and ancient landscapes. We stayed at the Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat, a beautifully positioned caravan park right in the heart of the national park.

The park offers cabins, powered and unpowered sites, a camp kitchen, amenities, laundry and swimming pools, all set among natural bushland beneath sandstone cliff faces. One of the highlights each afternoon is the bird feeding area, where king parrots, rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras, cockatoos and galahs gather — a wonderful daily ritual to watch.

Rock Art, Bushwalks and Dripping Rock

Cania Gorge National Park is renowned for its dramatic cliffs, sandstone formations and rewarding bushwalks. Near the caravan park entrance, a short walk leads to the Big Foot, an intriguing rock image of a foot with four toes etched into the sandstone cliffs.

For a longer walk, we explored the Dripping Rock and Overhang Walk, a 3.2-kilometre return hike that begins at the Three Moon picnic area. The track meanders through open bushland, crosses Three Moon Creek and winds through eucalypt woodland and dry rainforest. The walk culminates at Dripping Rock, before continuing to The Overhang, where centuries of erosion have carved away the base of the sandstone cliff to create a striking natural shelter.

Why Monto Is Worth the Journey

Monto is a town that quietly surprises. With its vibrant street art, strong sense of history, striking silo murals and easy access to one of Queensland’s most impressive national parks, it offers a rewarding mix of culture and nature.

Whether you’re exploring the town’s creative corners or venturing into the sandstone landscapes of Cania Gorge, Monto is a place that invites you to slow down and discover its stories.

👉 Click here for more places to Explore in Queensland