While the road between Louth and Fords Bridge traverses the Toorale National Park, and zig-zags along other routes to Fords Bridge, workers in the early days simply followed the watercourses, making their stopping locations a more direct route along the rivers.
East Toorale (across the river from the current Toorale) was a staging point before crossing the river, and lays claim to no less than three Hotels– the “Welcome Inn”, “Galway” and “East Toorale”. Jim BLAKE, Mr. Colbourne, Bob WARMOLL and in 1910 Donald FRASER senior were all at some time licensees of the “East Toorale”. Jim BUCKLEY occupied the “Welcome Inn” in 1892.
No doubt these hotels were competing for the custom of the large number of men employed on Toorale Station, but Toorale itself supported the “Kearnie” in early years. The Station itself was originally known by this name, and the old hotel was some miles from the present day Toorale homestead.