Hey!! I'm at Dogwood Crossing aka Miles. The original town was preserved and made into a Historical Site... Entry cost me AUD10, but it was worth every cent. If you're not into relics, maybe you wouldn't want to come here.

It's located about 30 mins West from Chinchilla, just by the Warrego Highway, so you won't miss it. As you approach Miles, there is a signboard saying "Tourists FM 88" I switched the car radio to FM 88 obediently and there was a recorded interview with the caretaker of the Miles Historical Site. They are open every day except on Christmas Day.

As you enter the site, you'll be greeted by displays of petrified wood, a shoemaker's shop, a choo-choo train at Dalwagon station... And stroll on further to see old houses, rows of shops with the interior intact and mannequins to depict yesteryears... a wishing well, a war museum, a whole building with historical records of the Cactoblastis story, an aboriginal collection and the most unexpected of all - a Shell house - not the petroleum company but a house dedicated to someone's amazing collection of seashells and sea creatures.... so well-preserved to the tiniest crab.

Fresh in my mind is my favourite - the printing press where you can still find steel templates of watches and diamond rings for newspaper ads. The other interesting finds were the school rules for teachers, the aboriginal photos and weapons, the various helmets from WWI / WWII and the strange looking petrol kiosk!

The most invaluable find was the piano which came with candlestands attached.