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Longreach – The Heart Of Queensland
If you love the sunburnt country that Dorothy McKella
described so poetically, you should go no further than
Longreach, home of the famous Stockman’s Hall of Fame. It
is the largest town in Central Queensland and the centre of
an extensive wool and beef industry.
Located over 700km inland from Rockhampton, you are destined
to experience wide sweeping plains and long, dry roads that
beckon you on and on to explore more of this fascinating
part of our country.
With the town lying directly on the Tropic of Capricorn,
winters are generally warm and sunny with an average of 23
degrees, and nights are cold. Summers are hot (average of
36 degrees) during the day and warm at night. There is a
higher rainfall during the summer months with thunderstorms
usually at the end of summer.
Once you have arrived, you will be greeted by friendly
locals who are always ready to make you feel at home. There
are two fantastic caravan parks available. Longreach
Caravan Park is the most central and a great base for your
campervan holiday, with Gunnadoo Caravan Park offering an
alternative further out of town.
Most of the streets in Longreach are named after birds,
which add to the uniqueness of the town. Once you are
settled it would be worthwhile taking a walk down the main
streets as this town is depictive of everything Australian.
The people, housing, shops and streets are worth a closer
look to fully appreciate this historical outback town.
The main attraction is the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, which
has helped to put Longreach on the world map. With over 12
million spent on the exhibits and structures, you will need
at least three hours to fully appreciate this investment in
Australian history. Some features are the Australian
History Time Line which include the first fleet, early
settlement in Sydney, major explorations, pioneers and a
true to life depiction of what life was like in the bush and
rural Australia throughout the years.
The Qantas Founders Outback Museum is located opposite the
Hall of Fame and is an interesting look at the history of
Qantas in Longreach. The town has a unique aviation history
as it was one of the founding centres for Qantas in the
early 1920’s, so there is a wealth of historical records and
photos that capture the heart of the town. You also can’t
miss the Powerhouse Museum. With a small entrance fee, you
will fascinated by the exhibits showing.
A worthwhile drive out of Longreach is to the Starlight’s
Lookout which is located 64km from the town. Being one of
the few elevated positions around you will be rewarded with
a beautiful view of Longreach and the surrounding Mitchell
grass plains. As most terrain is flat this is a unique
part of the countryside easily accessible by campervan.
There are so many things to do in Longreach apart from the
historical attractions and natural beauty of the town. You
can visit one of many sheep stations located within an hour
from the town. Nothing beats the views of the milky way
without the haze of the city smog, and the spectacular
country sunsets. Sitting around a campfire, with the smell
of billy tea and damper, or a hearty breakfast being cooked
over the coals, will keep you coming back again and again.
The Thomson River gave Longreach its name, due to the Long
Reach of the river. Take an afternoon to find a spot to
picnic and try your hand at fishing. You are bound to catch
a yellowbelly which are great tucker and common to this
area. Take a Billabong boat cruise which will be the perfect
way to enjoy the sunset and enjoy the tranquility of the
river at dusk.
Longreach is one of those destinations that change the way
you view life. The attractions are not just the historical
Hall of Fame and its natural beauty, but the people and
their love of the land. They have captured the heart and
soul of the Australian outback, and you will too.
Jenny Brewer
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Stockman's Hall of Fame
The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre is Australia’s premier outback heritage institution. In Queensland’s central western town of Longreach, the centre provides visitors with a spectacular outback experience.
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