Few places in Australia can claim to be as influential in shaping Australia's identity as Cloncurry. Birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and destination of the first Qantas flight, this town celebrates outback life the true Australian way. The Curry-as it is affectionately known by locals-is a hub point of the outback, sitting on the junction of the Matilda Highway and the Overlander's Way (Flinders Highway). The town is nestled on the banks of the Cloncurry River and is about 120km east of Mount Isa and 400km south of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Just out of Cloncurry is Hogan's Walkabout Creek Hotel.
WINTON
Winton is located in Central Western Queensland on the Landsborough Highway, 180 Km north west of Longreach and 472 Km south east of Mount Isa. Winton is approx. 1500 Km from Brisbane.
Winton has a rich history with links to the Great Shearers' Strike, Waltzing Matilda and Qantas, but today the town is almost as well known for something far more ancient--dinosaurs.
Winton is the place that A B (Banjo) Paterson wrote our national song in 1895, whilst visiting Dagworth Station. Legend has it that the first public performance of Waltzing Matilda happened at Winton's North Gregory Hotel on 6th April, 1895.
Qantas registered as a company in Winton on 16th November, 1920. This was followed by its first Board Meeting on 10th February, 1921. The local expression is that Qantas was conceived in Cloncurry, born in Winton and grew up in Longreach.
Winton is home to the world's largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils and the site of the biggest fossil preparation laboratory in the Southern hemisphere. Over 3,300 fossilised footprints are on display, housed in an award winning ecologically sustainable complex, Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways.
Dinosaur footprints
some of the fossils
Careful cleaning around Dinosaur Fossils
Waltzing Matilda's 1st performance was in this Hotel
Heritage listed general store
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