Our day starts with movements from Robs kitchen trailer. Kettle on and breakfast ready by 6am for the early risers. It is nice to have that first coffee before too many others are awake. Gradually, the camp-site comes alive, and before you know it, we are a big circle of chairs, Rob is taking bacon and egg orders and we are either reminiscing about yesterday or talking about what the day will bring. We are a group of 12 plus our guide, Rob, from Country Pub Tours. We have blended well together, and it feels like more than day 3, with lots of jokes and laughter and good-natured bantering.

After breakfast, my first task was to try and find tyres for the van. I managed to get one to replace the spare in Kingaroy, and Tyrepower agreed to fit me in. Unfortunately, they only had the one which will give me a spare but doesn’t help with my concerns about the remaining tyres that might also be at risk of a similar fate. I decided to rejoin the tour and try to get other tyres further on.

The group was at the Yarraman Heritage Centre.  Rather than drive back there and rush through and/or have everyone waiting for me, I let Rob know I would wait at Nanango for them. I filled in time by visiting the local markets and the Ringsfield House Museum, then checking out some chainsaw art and street murals.

Ringsfield House began as a magnificent family home from 1908 until 1942, when the family aged and moved away. When the house was first built, it had open verandahs all around. The original owners would attend to their children using a secret passageway through the cupboard in the main bedroom, which led to the nursery.

From 1942 to 1970, it was used as a four-ward maternity hospital. Between 3,000 – 4,000 births were registered at Ringsfield House during that time. Hundreds of those people still live in the local area.

By 1973 the house was a Lifeline refuge for deserted wives and their children and continued in this capacity for a further 20 years, by which time it had become derelict and no longer suitable for use.

From 1992 to 1996, the then Nanango Shire Council restored Ringsfield House as a Museum and Historical Centre. From November 2017, Ringsfield House has operated as a museum, a cafe, a tourist destination, a restaurant, and an events venue. The centre is run by a team of volunteers.

I met up with the rest of the crew for lunch before we headed to Kilkivan for the night at the RV rest stop.