Day 13: Longreach to Kynuna via Winton

 Today will mostly be a travelling day, but there is a chance to stop over in  Winton on the way through. Heading further into the tropics we expect the weather to become a bit warmer, although the days we spent in Longreach (on the Tropic of Capricorn), were very pleasant.

It took a bit over 2 hours to get to Winton, and we can spare an hour or two to look at one of the local attractions. We chose The Waltzing Matilda Centre, right in the middle of town. The original centre burned down in 2015, and it has result4ed in a very impressive centre replacing it.

Waltzing Matilda Centre with statue of Banjo Paterson at the Entrance

We went to buy our admission tickets, $30 for a Senior, only to be told that there is a special deal on today, and we get one admission free, so at $30 for the two of us, it was a bargain.

Inside there is a small exhibition room dedicated to the song, Waltzing Matilda, and quite a lot of information on Banjo Paterson.

One interesting section was about his War Service

Various pieces of memorabilia were on display, related to the song, and a lot of history of the area. There were sections devoted to the wool industry, clearly a very important part of the history of this region. A big issue at the time was protecting sheep from dingo attacks. 

The great dingo fence, a massive 5,614 km barrier running from QLD to SA was erected in the 1880's to protect the sheep industry. Longer than the Great Wall of China it remains the longest fence in the World.

However, the biggest issue in the booming sheep industry in Australia at the time, was the Great Shearers strike, which led to the establishment of the ALP. More about this later.

Outside the exhibition building, there was a full replication of a rail siding, including a steam engine and carriages, all retired from QLD rail.

There was also a theatre, where a 15 minute video presentation on the importance of Waltzing Matilda as a National Emblem, was cleverly put together narrated by the "Ghost" of the Jolly Swagman who jumped into the billabong to avoid arrest.

Further buildings housed displays of just about everything that depicted life of the day, in the pioneering period of the development of this region, and WW1 and the Depression. Old machinery from local industries has been added to an impressive collection.

A cordial bottling machine and bottle capping machine (below) donated by a past soft drink manufacturer

Medical Instruments that were in common use

There were lots of mechanical marvels and cars, trucks etc.

A Model T Ford

A Jeffery Quad, one of the first 4WD trucks built in USA for use in WW1

A Bren Gun Carrier, built in Melbourne from a US design for use in WW11

There was so much on display in this place that it would take more hours to do it justice, however, we saw a lot. There was a nice cafe attached, where we had lunch, before we continued our drive to Kynuna, about another 180 km away.

Road conditions were not great as there is a lot of roadwork going on in this section of the Landsborough Highway, but eventually we arrive at Kynuna, a village with a population of 20, a hotel, and a roadhouse.

Parking for caravans is available at either venue, but we opt to park at The Blue Heeler Hotel, who have a 

"caravan park" out the back. This place has an incredible history which we look forward to exploring once we are all set up. We will go to the pub for dinner and see what we can learn.

The Blue Heeler Hotel

A visit to the toilets out the back reveals they also have a Surf Club, with Surf Boat, all a guise for raising money for the  Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Settled in to our spot (we are 1 of only 3 vans here)

 

As dinner time approaches, it is time to retreat to the pub, talk to a few patrons and the owner and find out more about this unique place.

Approaching the front of the Hotel, we were greeted by some Brolga's hanging around the front door, probably looking for a feed.

A couple of guys around our age were out the front having a beer and offered to take a photo of us with the brolgas. We ended up having a few beers and a  conversation with them as fellow travellers, as they were both from Wagga, on a motor cycle tour. One of them was a keen sailor, who over the years has done a lot of coastal yacht deliveries, so we had a lot of common interests.

Little did we realise that it was in this Hotel, that Waltzing Matilda was first sung, and at the same time the impasse of the Great Shearers Strike was broken.

The pub is largely in original condition, now owned by a couple from Townsville (he came from Hurstville in Sydney originally). A great couple who are putting there heart and soul into making this a place everyone should visit.

Whilst the caravan park was not busy, a lot of truckies, who looked like they were involved in roadworks along the highway, soon started filling the car park, and there was a reasonable crowd in the bar by dinner time. We had a good chat with the owner who sounds like they will make a go of this.

Our bikie mates from Wagga

In the dining room, the fireplace was built and donated by R M Williams to celebrate the centenary of The Blue Heeler Hotel in 1989.

What a great find, we have had a great time at the hotel catching up on its history and enjoying meeting like minded people. Tomorrow we are off to Cloncurry.