Day 10: Blackall to Longreach

 Only a short drive today, approx. 220 km and great weather.

There is not a lot to see along the way, with only a few towns on the highway. The first town is Barcaldine where we plan to have a break for a cup of coffee. There is major roadworks going on in the middle of the town and detours that initially sent us out of town bypassing it altogether. We turned around and tried again, this time managing to find somewhere to park and go looking for a cafe. Initially we thought we would go to a cafe called the Ridgie Didge Cafe, which was advertised on some of the tourist web sites. It was closed, so we resorted to the local bakery, always a good standby.

About the only thing Barcaldine is known for, is the Tree of Knowledge, which is in the main street and was the site of the 1892 reading of the Labour Party manifesto, and formation of the Australian Labour Party. 

It was heritage listed in 1992, and subsequently poisoned in 2006. All that is left is the preserved trunk of a dead tree, not really worthy of even a photograph.

Continuing on to Longreach, we stopped in Ilfracombe, about 20 km out of Longreach, at the Wellshot Hotel, which was recommended by Mike Wesslink. 

What a great spot, both in a historical sense and the quality of the food. Established on the current site 1890, the hotel has a nomadic past. It was originally called the Withersfield Hotel, located near Anakie,  moving by bullock dray along an expanding railway, it spent time in Barcaldine, and eventually became the first building in the new township of Ilfracombe.

What great bar stools

Plenty of merchandise for sale also

The bar has Akubra hats ardorning just about every spare wall

The hat collection theme continues through other bars

A couple of good sized salads for lunch

Longreach was only a short drive from here and we seemed to arrive at the caravan park at check-in peak hour. About half an hour later we were off to find our site. Longreach Tourist Park is a big park and there are a lot of empty spaces, as we have experienced almost everywhere so far. Blackall was an exception, they had a good occupancy.

All settled in, we went into town to the Tourist Information Centre to get the latest information on things to see and do whilst we are here. We booked a sunset river cruise for tomorrow afternoon, and will play the rest by ear.