Alpha

Description:

Alpha, the “Gateway to the West” was named after an early property in the area which was taken up in 1863 and then became established as a service town for railway construction workers. The town belongs to the Barcaldine Shire, one of Queensland’s largest cattle producing areas. Located on the Capricorn Highway, its streets are named after poets, the main street being Shakespeare Street. The town is best known for the 28 murals painted on various buildings throughout the town. Their murals beautifully illustrate the day to day life of people in the bush and the pioneering history of the area. The murals were painted by local and former resident artists and add a colourful ambiance to our town. Alpha’s Rowley Roberts Information Centre will be happy to provide you with a brochure containing a map of the walking trail and information on each mural. Alpha has a number of walking tracks that encompass interesting aspects of the towns of the towns history and natural wonders. The Jane Neville-Rolfe Gallery is another point of interest, which boasts an excellent range of artworks from local artists and travelling shows. Behind the Information Centre in Shakespeare Street is the Tivoli Theatre Museum that houses a collection of memorabilia from the early settlement days of Alpha through to the modern era. The Alpha region is famous for its petrified wood and its latest attraction the Fossilised Forest sculpture reflects this. The sculpture by Cedar Creek artist Antone Bruinsma is a representation of a boulder which has been opened to reveal its treasures and mysteries. The exterior of the sculpture has interesting forms, carvings and stone attachments that reflect the history of the prehistoric area in which petrified wood formed. Alpha has a pub where you can enjoy a meal and drink, along with a cafe and a bakehouse that serves award winning pies! Although Alpha has a small population, it provides most facilities, shopping and services that visitors need.