Muttaburra

ABOUT Muttaburra

Muttaburra derives its name from the local Aboriginal tribe of Mootaburra which means the meeting of waters and has the distinction of being the town closest to the geographic centre of Queensland. Although Muttaburra is only small in population with around 200 people, it has a huge reputation for its hospitality and a strong community-minded population. Muttaburra’s most famous moment heads back to when grazier Doug Langdon uncovered the fossilised skeleton of a dinosaur.

The Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni was a land-living, plant-eating dinosaur that roamed the earth 100 million years ago. The discovery of the skeleton was the first of its kind in Australia and Muttaburra celebrates this with a statue of the Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni in the Park in Bruford Street. This was the second most complete dinosaur skeleton found in Queensland and is the first of five Muttaburrasaurus skeletons found in Australia. The fossilised remains of the dinosaur are currently housed in the Queensland Museum in Brisbane.

As there are several spots along the Thomson and Landsborough Rivers, camping, fishing and water sports are some of the greatest leisure activities on offer. The Muttaburra area is renowned locally for being a great place to fish for the famous Yellow Belly or Golden Perch.

Dr Joseph Andrew Arratta was the resident doctor in Muttaburra from 1925 until he retired in 1960. He was not only a popular local figure but a pioneer in techniques for performing operations in isolated areas under clinically demanding conditions. After the closure of the hospital in 1989, the building was converted into a historical medical display museum and named after its longest-serving doctor – Dr Arratta. Guided tours of the Museum can be arranged by calling into the Muttaburra Visitor Information located in the post office.