I HAVE come to love Far North Queensland, from Cape York across to the Gulf and especially discovering new areas with history attached. On a recent trip, I was pointed towards an area that sounded pretty cool to explore off the Burke Developmental Road in the Mareeba Shire. Finding the old town, or at least the turn-off for Lappa, wasn't that easy as there's nothing left from the old mining days if it wasn't for a prior chat with a local, I would have driven straight past. The sign on the top of a rise was marked for Mount Garnet, and this was the turn for Lappa. A short way up the road I found the main area of Lappa and the historic Espanol Hotel built in 1901.
Turn back the clock to January 1891 when silver was discovered by Phil Hamlin and his party after they crossed the Featherbed Range a few miles to the north, and a dozen claims were set up and the town's name was changed from Wadestown to Lappa (other reports say the town was called Lappa Lappa). Lappa was just an isolated settlement until the railway line was built in 1899 en route to Chillagoe from the coast, and soon there was a junction at Lappa for the rail to head south to Mount Garnet. The town didn't last long and soon fell into disrepair, leaving only the hotel, an old house and the station behind.
Today, the old hotel is jam-packed full of memorabilia and souvenirs from travellers and locals. Sadly, it doesn't operate these days but you're welcome to bring a carton and be mesmerised by the amount of gear in the old pub. Just next door in the old house lives an interesting character who looks after the pub and is known as the Yappa from Lappa. He has collected a lot of the memorabilia in the pub, can spiel yarns from the days gone by and also help you empty your carton. The old house was the Almaden church, which was built in 1900 and moved to Lappa in 1940.
This story is from the April 2023 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2023 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
OUTBACK WATERING HOLES
SINCE OFF TRACK WINES WAS LAUNCHED, OWNERS ANNA AND BRETT FISHER HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20,000KM UP, DOWN AND ACROSS AUSTRALIA SPRUIKING THEIR WINES-IN-A-CAN MADE FOR CAMPING. THEY DROPPED INTO PLENTY OF OUTBACK PUBS ALONG THE WAY AND THESE ARE THEIR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITES
BIG COUNTRY
THE PILBARA IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF BIG COUNTRY, AND THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE, DO AND ENJOY IN THIS ANCIENT LANDSCAPE IN WA'S RUGGED NORTHWEST
ISLAND PARADISE
NEAR THE TOP OF THE BUCKET LIST FOR EVERY AUSSIE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVER, K'GARI IS PACKED WITH STUNNING HIGHLIGHTS AND BOASTS SOME OF THE BEST BEACH DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY
WEIGHTLIFTING
INCREASING THE GVM OF YOUR 4X4 SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN SHOULD NOT BE AVOIDED IF YOU NEED IT. WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ON OUR FORD RANGER TO EXPLAIN HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
NOW HEAR THIS
THE CEL-FI GO MOBILE BOOSTER WILL KEEP EMAILS, MESSAGES AND CALLS COMING THROUGH TO YOUR DEVICES WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS HEARING CRICKETS
LOOKING BACK
A PAIR OF MSA 4X4 TOWING MIRRORS ENSURE WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND US WHEN WE HAVE A TRAILER HITCHED TO OUR MITSUBISHI TRITON
TRUCKIN' LIFE
CAN FORD AUSTRALIA'S NEW F-150 BE AN ACCOMPLISHED OFF-ROAD TOURING 4X4?
WHAT LURKS BENEATH
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A FAIRLY STANDARD (IF CLEAN) 80 SERIES, BUT DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER AND YOU'LL FIND A MONSTER BELOW THE SURFACE
EYE OF THE HURRICANE
RAM HAS DUMPED ITS HEMI V8FOR A SIX-CYLINDER, AND IT'S COMING TO AUSTRALIA
GETTING TANKED
GWM EXPANDS IT TANK 4X4 RANGE WITH THE LUXURIOUS TANK 500 WAGON