Middleton is located 164km west of Winton on the Kennedy Developmental Road.

Time passed, and a dusty dirt track was built from Winton to Boulia. As early as 1866, land was taken up in the area, although there are no written records of land leases until 1874. Livestock properties were established, and not long after, in 1876, a carrier named Wiggins seized the opportunity to build the Middleton Hotel. It was the first hotel to be built on the Winton-Boulia Road, and is the last standing out of eight that were built. Middleton, it is said, was probably built on the security that permanent water provided from the Gymbie Gymbie waterhole in Saville Creek, which is now not permanent. Middleton is and has been for over a hundred years reliant on the artesian bore for its water supply.

The Middleton Hotel was built during the Cobb & Co. era, and was a changing station, where tired horses were replaced with fresh horses, on the route between Winton and Boulia. It formed one of the “Nine Pillars of Cobb & Co.� These Pillars represent the nine oldest and original Changing Stations for the coaches of the Winton to Boulia Route, which was 240 miles (384 kilometres), and took four days each way. It was called Mail Service 216, and the contract was held between 1895 and 1915. Look for the memorial cairns along the Winton-Boulia Road, each one representing another of the Nine Pillars of Cobb & Co. – Winton, Elderslie, Woodstock, Middleton, Makunda Hotel, Lucknow, Hamilton, Warenda Bore and Boulia.

 The Middleton Hotel became the meeting place for the area. With the mail service coming through, and being one of the earliest hotels, it was a central place to find out the latest news, both local and from far away. A town was eventually established, officially proclaimed on 9th May 1908, and Middleton grew into a thriving community, with a police station, store, hotel, market garden, hall, school and several carrying and droving camps. By 1917, 26 people lived in Middleton town and 75 lived permanently in the district. In the 1930s Middleton had an established race-course and yearly meetings, and other events including sports days, motorbike races, camp drafts and gymkhanas occurred in the proceeding years.

Middleton has slowly declined over the years, and all that survives of the settlement is the Middleton Hotel, campground and the disused Hall. The Middleton Hotel now has the distinction of being one of the most isolated pubs in Queensland.

Friendly Western hospitality can be found there, so stop in for a coldie and a yarn enroute to Boulia, or as a day trip from Winton. Cabin accommodation is available, or check in to the 'Hilton Hotel', the free campground across the road.