Day 11: Sightseeing in Longreach
It is going to a warm one in Longreach today with the max temperature forecast to be 32 C, however the humidity is quite low, so it won't be too unpleasant. Our plan for this morning is to visit the Stockman's Hall of Fame Museum, which is only about 1 km down the road.
Stockman's Hall of Fame Museum with statue of a Ringer on the entry road
We opted for the self guided tour of the museum using headsets provided to provide copious information about exhibits on the lives of the stockman. Narrated by a stockman and artist, Hugh Sawrey, who provided an introduction to each section of the museum. You could the select more detail on individual exhibits from the screen on the headset controller. Overall it was a great way to explore this space.
The first space introduces Hugh, the Founder of this Museum, and covers a little of his history both as a stockman and artist.
From there you move into a large open space on one of 3 levels, this one dealing with the lives of stockman and their families and the hardship they sometimes faced.
There is a replica of a timber slab house
A section devoted to the wool industry
Including some modern aspects
Another area acknowledges the contributions made by the camel drivers, Afghans, Pakistanis and others without whom, developing much of the outback would not have happened. Some of them became Hawkers, peddling their wares from wagons roaming from settlement to settlement.
A great replica of such a hawkers wagon
There are also displays tracing the famous drovers stock routes highlighting the development of wells and other infrastructure along these tracks to make them viable. These historic stock routes include, the Birdsville Track, Strzelecki Track, Canning River Stock Route etc. Each one had a story timeline, including some of famous stockmen and women who were drovers using these tracks on a regular basis.
A section devoted to The Royal Flying Doctor Service includes a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air Aircraft suspended from the ceiling. The history of the service and some of the experiences they had were told by real participants and just highlighted what an exceptional group of people built this vital service.
There was a cinema where you have sat for hours watch a selection of movies ranging from rodeos to the last big cattle drive that coincided with the Bicentenary in 1988, and raised funds for this museum.
The final displays were a more light hearted look at how drovers let of steam at the end of the drive.
The bush dance was of course a popular pastime
And who could forget Jimmy Sharman's Boxing Troupe that used to frequent the local shows and challenge the locals to see of they could beat them. I am sure many a drover tried.
It was lunch time by the time we had completed the tour, so we retreated to the van for lunch and a bit of a rest. I went for a walk in the afternoon along a linear botanical garden the council has created which runs from the Stockman's Hall of Fame, all of the way to the main street of town. Total length is around 2 km. Planted along the pathway which runs alongside the highway are plantings on native plants with signs identifying the plants along the way.
Queensland Bottle trees
Close to town there was a commemorative plaque recognising the visit of Queen Elizabeth 11 and Prince Phillip to Longreach in 1970. They each planted a fig tree on that visit at this site.
In the main street, Eagle Street, there is a cluster of statues representing a mob of Drovers which was apparently part of the Brisbane Expo and donated to Longreach afterwards.
The cruise was on a small paddle wheeler that had somehow found its way up here from the Murray.
There was a fair crowd, but we somehow all managed to find a seat on boasrd as we headed up the river for a short cruise.
The night is BYO alcohol, and nibbles were provided on the cruise. Most people came with adequate refreshments.
There is one other cruise company running a slightly different program that we saw briefly as we turned around to head back to base for the land content of our evening.
The sun is sinking but it does not look like we will see a spectacular sunset, nevertheless the reflections off the water make up for it.
Back at camp we are greeted by our host who initially provides some insights into the life
of an old time drover, with some appropriate props.
of an old time drover, with some appropriate props.
Following her presentation on the drovers life, she gave several excellent recitals of bush poetry, one of which she had written herself, which was very good.
In the meantime, one of the faithful offsiders was preparing the coals for cooking damper which will be our supper.
After the bush poetry, dinner is served, stew from a camp oven with mashed potato, which was quite tasty. A dessert of creamed rice with sultanas soaked in rum followed.
it was now time to move down to the riverside where a large permanent screen and "auditorium" is set up for the audiovisual story of Captain Starlight. It was an excellent and very professional movie production with surround sound.
"Open air" theatre
A quality production
Overall a very entertaining 4.5 hrs.
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