The unique Dukes Road Old School Bikers Social Club has established a clubhouse in a rural setting to provide riders with free camping and facilities for meetings and social occasions.
It is based on Dukes Rd, Cooyar, on the Darling Downs about 90km north of Toowoomba on a 40-hectare (100 acres) property.
Spokesman Peter-John Raft says the private property is open to all bikers and their support vehicles and caters to individuals, groups and clubs.
“Feel free to drop in for a tea coffee or beverage and some biker country hospitality and check Dukes Road out if you are riding in the area and we will put the kettle on,” says Peter-John who rides “quite a bit”.
You will have to message him first on the Dukes Rd Facebook page and let him know you are coming as the gate is locked.
Dukes Road facilities
Dukes Road offers free off-the-grid camping with a communal kitchen with gas stove and barbecue, crockery and cutlery, lounge, fireplace, outdoor fire pit, hot showers, flushing toilet and even NBN Broadband.
Peter-John says they suggest a donation to cover costs, usually $10 per person for camping and $30-$45 for catered events.
Groups can self-cater or Dukes Road can organise catering.
You can bring your own camping equipment or use one their tents. They have several different tent sizes available, including a large three-room tent that can sleep six and a few smaller ones that have been donated to the club.
Camp stretchers are available on request free of charge.
There is “plenty of space to choose a campsite and put up your tent or roll out your swag under the stars or in the Old School Block”.
Once a month Dukes Road hosts a pig on a spit either independently or in conjunction with the Cooyar Hotel with which they run a shuttle service.
It is only 6km from the hotel and the GMC service station owned by former GP legend Garry McCoy.
Motorcycle friendly region
The clubhouse has commanding and picturesque views of the downs and Peter-John says the region is great for riding and includes the nearby motorcycle-friendly town of Crows Nest.
They also organise various rides around the region taking in the local pubs and attractions.
“This part of Queensland has great motorcycle riding areas with good roads and scenery, lakes dams, waterfalls, swimming holes and adventure biking opportunities in the nearby state forests, and Lake Perseverance and Lake Cressbrook are quite scenic destinations that border the area,” Peter-John says.
“The Bunya Mountains provide plenty of challenge and potential for adventure both on and off the road and we are now part of this hub and biker friendly community in this part of Queensland.”
How Dukes Rd started
Peter-JohnPeter-John came up with the idea about six years ago to combine his passion for motorcycles and love of the land.
“I always loved packing up my motorcycle and getting away from it all whenever I could and I would go round various places and roll out my swag,” he says.
“I found Dukes Road and it was an abandoned and neglected property with a shed full of junk and not much else so I purchased it and set about building a weekender.”
The clubhouse opened a year ago to the biker community on May 20, 2017.
“It was never a commercial enterprise or money-making venture; all it had to do was pay for itself,” he says.
- Top photo on this page is provided by Burnie Clifford’s Photography