Outback Queensland road trip Day 8: Longreach’s Stockman’s Hall of Fame museum

 

By the numbers

2 Fingerbuns

1 museum

4kms walking

 

The day was to start early as we had to be at the Hall of Fame by opening time as it was next door to where we are staying. Though next door is really a 15 min walk or a couple of minute drive and we had supplies to get when we finish at the museum. It opens at 9am and then closes at 3pm. We arrived around 10 mins before the doors opened and there were already people arriving and getting ready to storm the doors. We walked up to the entrance and then I went to have a look around the grounds and to take photos. The most annoying thing is that my phone updated the night before and was being a little bit buggy, but I cam work with that.

 

I seen people walking in and I rushed to get in the door as well. I had booked to see a show as well as the museum. It starts with a 15 min video explaining about the reason for the Hall of Fame. We had a little wait before that happened and I went looking around the gift ship. I think I found several things I wanted and that included a new wallet to replace the one I got in Scotland as it was starting to wear out. The movie was about the early settlers and how they worked the land including the shearers strikes and also the strikes at WaveHill, the hardships of the Federation drought and the hardships of working the land when it was boom and bust. It covered little bit of what we would see in the museum. Also had audio tours to go with the museum experience.

 

We were all handed an audio tour before leaving the theatre and it would be activated by a team member before we walk into the museum. Some of it would connect with the location, but you would have to hit the story that you wanted to hear. Kids were running around pointing them at everything and wondering what to do. There was even an elderly couple arguing with each other about one of them hitting buttons. I wandered through the parts about the various trails like Birdsville, the Strzelecki and the Canning Stock route with the watering holes and points of interest with little bits about the people who ran the cattle. There were people who moved cattle from one end of the country to the other doing over 1000kms all before modern conveniences like vehicles, motorbikes and helicopters. Not only were they talking about the stockmen, but also the people around them from Blacksmiths to the Hawkers who travelled to distant locations to sell their wares and bring supplies. They had a bloke making Australian Stock whips so you could see how they were being made.

 

I went onto looking at the display on the Royal Flying Doctors and how Errol Flynn the pastor started the service for the people of the outback and some of the hardships they went through themselves in getting to their patient. A video screen had the number of flights the day before and the number from today from that time in the day. Later in the day there would likely be more. One of the last displays was about the entertainment and I had somehow started one of Banjo Patterson’s poems that seems to go on for a while as many of the kids seem to have vanished even though it is school holidays. The entertainment was about the events that entertained the country people like shows that included rodeo events and even boxing bouts travelling through the bush. Dancing like debutante balls along with country bands who played. Pubs that might not have had beer or very little that had people like Slim Dusty sing about them and Dusty Dawson another country singer. There was an area dedicated towards country poets and I ended up with a list of poets like Banjo that I could listen to.

 

Another part of the whole visit was an extra that I had booked and that was an horse experience. A few people were going to see that and I am pretty sure people had arrived from a bus tour who filled up the stands. Mum and I ran out of seating in the stands and instead had front row seats below the stands. The MC who was giving the demonstration gave us a talk about the horses that were used like the stockhorse, the extra and the packhorse for the supplies they needed to bring with them on long trips away. There were dad jokes aplenty like talking about how he doesn’t use Samsung to get hold of his mates as apple is better, and leads out the horses. Others like counting all legs on the animals and then dividing them by 4 to get the correct number, or counting to 98 and rounding them up. The jokes that got groans out of everyone. He spoke about the stock whips and the trust in the horses that he would not hit them and the story about the Australian stock whip, we even got a live demonstration on how they used dogs to muster the sheep including how they were used just to hold the sheep in position. Apparently the horse had great trust in the bloke as he took one of the horses into an elevator at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. Trust that he wouldn’t harm it in any way, also about the ANZACs and the light horse charge at Beersheba.

 

 I was glad I had booked this part of the experience as it was worth going to and after we walked away there was still one small area that we had not yet seen and that was the Unsung Heroes of the bush. There were many people in the display that had been nominated for their hard work as research had been done, but wouldn’t appear in bookform outside of the Hall of Fame. Many had some form of hardship when working the land and could be away from home for months on end. One lady was names due to her role in getting the Stockman Hall of Fame to be built in Longreach and she petitioned the politicians, another worked for the Kidman pastoralists on their properties and there were a few people including women who were stockhands who still went out droving with their kids. I didn’t read every single story as there was plenty to read including one lady who had a sing named after her by Banjo Patterson that would be called Waltzing Matilda. Then we ended up having a coffee and browse through the gift shop.

 

After that we headed for the local supermarket and there was no Coles or Woolies here, only IGA. I needed flynetting as some places could have bad flies like out at Winton and it was suggested. The hot food I had a look at to see what they had and there was the usual chicken and pork, but also pluto pup, hamburgers and several other hot foods. They did have microwave meals that if you were in a pinch could be used. One of the guys bought out a freezer pallet and I would say it would take at least half hour to get done. Nothing like at home. We got the supplies we needed and that even included a bakery visit to get fingerbuns. We would later go out for dinner as we had a table reserved at the local caravan park. I did make another booking for Thursday morning and that was a tour of the Longreach School of the Air. Since its school holidays that would be interesting.

 

The weather for the next couple of days is supposed to be in the 30s and that is winter.

Outback Queensland road trip Day 7: Windorah to Longreach

 

By the numbers

17 litres left in tank on reaching Longreach

More cars than yesterday

5kms walking

No actual Stonehenge

 

The day started early in Windorah as we had to be out of the room by 10am sharp though we had breakfast and were up around 7am and leaving by around 9am. We headed out of town with the intention of heading towards Jundah and then onto Longreach. At this stage we didn’t have phone service still and we would be on the road for around 3 or so hours. The cars GPS was confused and giving us directions. Just out of Windorah we encountered the roadworks that we had gone through and we went through the bypass to the road so it wasn’t that bad and the best part was that it had dried out or else we could get stuck. Not far down the road we encountered a large road runner type bird called an Australian Bustard. We slowed down and stopped for it as it slowly walked off the road. It was an interesting bird and I think it was keeping an eye on us. There were also more Wedge tailed Eagles including one that just stood its ground as we went past and didn’t fly off.

 

Between Windorah and Jundah there were at least 5 cars with two passing us and some going in the other direction. At least we were building up for that as we headed for Longreach. The scenery kept on changing from trees to plains and then back to trees. When we reached Jundah one of the vehicles that passed us had actually stopped there as I guess they were farm workers. A while up the road as the roads were still quite narrow with them widening for a little while calling themselves overtaking lanes. We had a pit stop in Stonehenge, which was a little bit off the highway. It was a very small town with a sign that said ‘Hit the skids, Not the kids’. I didn’t see any, but there was a pub and that was open. There wasn’t much to see in town and after a brief stop we kept on heading towards Longreach. When we were near Longreach the car sent a message to the GPS telling us we needed fuel and listed a few fuel stops, and then there were the beeping that we couldn’t work out until I realised the centre lane markers had appeared and the car was detecting those.

 

We did a lap around the outskirts of Longreach before we were dragged back into the town onto the main road heading out of town heading for Barcaldine. We were searching for our accommodation, which was near the Qantas museum and Stockman hall of fame. We were staying in some budged rooms and when we got down there was a sign directing us to check in at the Albert Motor Inn at the other end of the street. We go to reception and have a chat with the nice young lady who tells us we had actually booked through a third party and our rooms were more or less dongas with shared bathrooms and showers, not fully what was described by the 3^rd party website. You would have to think hostels instead of decent places to stay with a family member. She had complained about their tactics as high up as the CEO who laughed in her face and told her they can do what they like. It did explain the address for the website being in the US. I would have gotten a better rate when going to the legit website. It was explained they were barely legal as they charged fees on top. We were given the option of upgrading to a room in the motel as we are staying most of the week and we took it. Usually I am more careful with booking places and I was rushing due to the lack of accommodation in the area. I will learn for next time and a good thing to know about the websites being disguised as the legit locations.

 

Once we were in our room at the hotel, the best part is when we check in, we can do it by text and same with check out. The door codes are pin numbers so no need for keys. The best part is they have washing machine and dryers so I was able to get that done as I was at the point I needed more underwear. While the clothes were in the dryer I went for a wander across the road to the Qantas museum and out to the airport, which was really a big shed around the same size as the airport in Whangarei. I had to wander back pretty quickly as I knew the washing in the dryer would have long since finished. The walk in the path beside the main road is part of the botanic gardens with information so that should be interesting in itself. By the time I got back and sorted out the washing, it was time to get a meal at the RSL, which was a Sunday roast. Tomorrow night we have a table booked at a nearby restaurant that was recommended to us.

Outback Queensland road trip Day 6: Euromanga to Windorah

 

By the numbers

214kms driving

Around 2 and half hours

2 cars passed

 

During the night we had heard the rain on the roof of out motel room and it was a little worrying as we had seen reports on the app that said there was water over the road and more would mean that we could not get to where we are going. The clothes that had gotten wet after we left the Euromanga museum were still damp, but they will be dry eventually. On handing the key to the room in I asked about the road conditions and was told its fine. Local knowledge is a good thing, but maybe the traffic app doesn’t tell the full story. What we did not want was to backtrack around 100 kms to take the other route that bypassed Euromanga.

 

We hooked a right onto the road that we knew would take us out to the Diamantina Development Road or Warrego Way as the GPS happily calls it. We did cross several causeways with a little bit of water in them, nothing that would do anything. The Road trains I had seen all took this road and I knew there wouldn’t be problems if they had. The drive was pretty uneventful as we seen quite a bit of wildlife along the way. We stopped for a Wedge Tailed Eagle in a tree who was watching us, quite a few kangaroos including a few we thought would jump in front of us. Several Emu and even goats who left a baby one to get off the road in front of us. There were cows too. A few of the places we passed by were cattle properties that had the main roads running through them.

 

In the entire time we were on the road, only two cars passed us and there was no one behind us either. We did see caravans on the side of the road, but that was it. Probably due to how isolated the area actually is that there isn’t that much traffic. We did come across some road closures, but they had little bit of a detour on the sides before we got back on the road. It was the same with the road into Windorah and it was damp too. We were told it would dry out by tomorrow and that they are expecting rain on Monday so things could get interesting by then. It was just on 12pm and we could check in when we asked and sorted out the room. That was the best time to get sorted and then took a wander around town. The flies were annoying, but we got to see the water purification where it was pumped to from the river and the murals in the same area. Windarah is a very small town and is the route you take to get to Birdsville. We didn’t pop into the cemetery, but that might be tomorrow before we leave.

 

Tomorrow is another 3 hour drive to Longreach and that should be interesting especially keeping an eye on the wildlife on the side of the road to see if they want to greet us. We seem to have had some really good meals while on this trip away and good to see what the country has to offer away from the hustle and bustle. We have lots planned for Longreach and that will be good as we are spending some time there.

Outback Queensland road trip Day 5. Heading to Euromanga via Quilpie

 

 

By the numbers

300 kms driving

2 pies and a lamington

The day started early. The weather had said we would get some rain and I didn’t really believe that as the weather seems to be wrong all the time. There was cloud in the sky, but I wasn’t too concerned about that. We wanted to be on the road by 830 as we had an appointment at 2pm in Euromanga for the Natural History museum.

 

We took the Warrego Way, which was also the development road towards Quilpie. It was meant to be the longest road that takes you out to Birdsville, which is much further than I would be going. As soon as we hit that road we lost phone service with Optus and it would not come back throughout the day, although we could post later on, but that was with Starlink. The roads got narrower so narrow it was like walking a tightrope and it did say we had to pull off the road for road trains. We also had to keep an eye on animals that we did not want to hit both dead and alive as that makes a mess. The first part of the trip to Quilpie was uneventful.

 

We had decided Quilpie would be a rest stop as we needed to pee and a rest from driving. I am not the driver, just a passenger looking at the scenery and the photo taker. The toilet was also at the information centre and we went for a look inside. We found a railway museum after taking a pit stop and it had a little about how it was a railway town until it closed in 2012 when trucks delivered goods there. There were two other small museums on the area and from the RSL both showing little bits from the early days of Quilpie and the clothing worn by the armed services. The town itself was a nice little wander, although we got as far as a local bakery where I ended up with a pie and a Lamington. I did see a Fingerbun, but that was $6 so I left it there instead. The shopkeeper was really nice and helpful.

 

By the time we had left we were ready to get on the road again to make it to the end of the line and that was Euromanga. Along the way the road narrowed again and then we had to stop to say hello to our Emu overlords or else they would be upset. Did see several on the road that had been hit by something. I think we were pretty lucky on the narrow one lane roads that we never met a road train. There were a few cattle grids along the way until we arrived in Euromanga the town furthest from the sea. Not sure if they mean the East Coast or both coasts. Something happened as we came into town and that was several spots of rain, so the forecast was correct that we might actually get some rain.

 

By the time we entered Euromanga we still had no phone service and that was alright. We went to the Natural History museum, where we would be doing the tour of the museum to see one of the largest dinosaurs found in Australia and that was ‘Cooper’. We had a little bit of a wait and I had a giggle when I seen the video was played with VLC. The one with the witches hat a free video player. The dinosaur ‘Cooper’ was found in the Euromanga area by a young farmer who found an odd rock. Turned out to be part of a dinosaur. The museum itself has funding to expand and should be finished around 2029. We got to see fossils of ‘Cooper’, and several other dinosaurs including some of the mega fauna that was like a giant wombat. The whole process of uncovering the fossil at the site and in the lab is time consuming, and can take years. There are other finds in the same area as the dinosaurs that include fossilised plants and even wood. There were computer generated bones that were 3d printed by a group in Byron Bay that the museum has where they have the fossils so it is interesting.

 

By the time we made it out of the museum the weather had turned. It was starting to pour and we had to get to the car while it was pouring ands we were getting wet. It was actually pretty cold as well and we were worried about water on the local roads out to our next destination of Windorah. Though I did see a road train take that route before it got dark so I think it should be alright and play that one by ear. It should be an interesting day tomorrow when we are on the road. The accommodation in Euromanga is pretty limited and we got lucky with what we got. There was even a frog in the toilet that I fished out so he could live for another day. There isn’t much in town and its really quiet so I guess that is a good thing for us.