Jericho

Jericho, a tiny outback town in Queensland’s Central West, is the kind of place where the red dust settles on the pub verandah and the silence is broken only by a passing road train. Named after the biblical city, this former Cobb & Co staging post is now a quiet stopover for travellers on the Matilda Highway between Emerald and Longreach. It’s a place of wide skies, rust-red earth, and a palpable sense of frontier history.

Highlights & What to See

• Jericho’s Historic Railway Station & Water Tower – The town was born from the railway, and the old station precinct is a fine example of early 20th-century outback architecture. Climb the water tower for a panoramic view over the plains.
• Jordan River & Jordan Dam – A surprising oasis in the dry landscape, the Jordan River (a dry creek most of the year) and the small dam are popular for birdwatching and picnicking. Look for corellas, galahs and the occasional wedge-tailed eagle.
• Cobb & Co Changing Station – Jericho was a key stop on the legendary Cobb & Co coach route. The restored stone stables and interpretive signs offer a glimpse into the rough lives of travellers and horses.
• Jericho Museum – Housed in the old post office, this small museum is packed with local memorabilia: shearing gear, homestead photos, and stories of the town’s brief gold rush.
• Carisbrooke Station Stay – Just out of town, this working cattle station offers a genuine outback experience: bush walks, red-gum-lined creeks, and a chance to see how graziers manage the land.

Suggested Time to Spend

Jericho is a classic short-stop town: you could see the main sights in an hour, but to really soak up the atmosphere, plan on a half-day. Combine a walk around the historic railway precinct with a picnic at the dam. If you’re staying overnight – and the pub’s basic rooms are a real back-of-beyond experience – you’ll have time for a sunset drive along the Matilda Highway. Most travellers use Jericho as a lunch or coffee break on a longer self-drive itinerary from Emerald to Longreach.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Barcaldine – The ‘Tree of Knowledge’ town, 60 km west, is a must for anyone interested in the birth of the Australian Labor Party and the 1891 shearers’ strike.
• Alpha – A small town 40 km east, with a lovely historic pub and a quirky collection of vintage tractors on the main street.
• Blackall – Famous for the Blackall Woolscour, a working heritage woolshed, and the iconic ‘Blackall Stump’ – a symbol of outback yarn-spinning.
• Lark Quarry Conservation Park – About 100 km south of Jericho, this is the site of the world’s only known dinosaur stampede, with thousands of fossilised footprints.
• Longreach – The heart of the outback, with the Qantas Founders Museum, the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, and river cruises on the Thomson – a two-hour drive west.

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