Howard: Museum, History and Country Markets

The Burrum District Museum, Brooklyn House, Andrew Fisher’s cottage and the Howard Country Markets give a trip to Howard a range of different focal points. The museum features an extensive collection of memorabilia, while each of the two historic houses is associated with a specific person. The markets take place monthly and, on most market days, also offer rides on the restored locomotive “Rusty”. If you’re looking for a hotel in Howard, you can first decide whether local history or a market visit should shape your travel dates.

Museum and historic houses

The Burrum District Museum in Howard houses an extensive collection of memorabilia. This collection sets it apart from the two named houses, whose historical significance is linked to a specific person in each case. If you’re interested in collections, the museum provides a distinct point of interest among Howard’s attractions. This makes it easy to distinguish the museum from the biographical connections of the individual houses.

Brooklyn House was once the family home of Dame Annabelle Rankin, Queensland’s first female senator, and remains a landmark of Howard. The house is therefore associated both with a specific personal history and with Rankin’s political role. If you classify historic places by the people they are known for, Rankin’s connection to Brooklyn House as her former family home is its central feature.

A cottage built by Andrew Fisher in the 1880s still stands in Howard. At the time, Fisher was a coal miner; he later became Prime Minister of Australia. The cottage’s connection to Fisher therefore encompasses both his work as its builder and a later chapter in his life. Unlike Brooklyn House, the connection here is not to a former family home, but to Fisher himself as the builder. The construction date and his career give the cottage’s historical context a different focus from the connection between Rankin and Brooklyn House.

Howard Country Markets and rides on Rusty

The Howard Country Markets are held on the first Saturday of each month from 7 am to 12 pm. This makes the market a clearly scheduled event to consider when planning your trip. If you’re choosing the market as the reason for your visit, plan around this monthly schedule and check the market date before travelling.

On most market days, visitors can ride in carriages pulled by “Rusty”, a restored local coal locomotive. The ride is linked to the market, but is separate from the market visit itself: you ride in carriages pulled by a restored locomotive. As rides are available on most market days, check in advance whether one is scheduled for your specific date if it’s important to your plans.

Restaurant and hotel in Howard

The Grand Hotel Howard at 79 William Street has a restaurant and a bar. Alongside the market and historical attractions, it provides a specific dining option to consider when planning your trip. The Howard Country Markets may help determine your travel dates, while the museum, Brooklyn House and Fisher’s cottage offer different historical perspectives. You can use these interests to guide your search for a hotel in Howard.

Discover more destinations: Aramara, Boonooroo.

Return to the regional travel overview: Fraser Coast Regional.