Winton was originally know as Pelican Waterhole and was settled on the banks of the Western river approx 1km west of its present location. This settlement flooded in 1876 and the postmaster at the time changed the name to Winton after the suburb of Bournemouth in England where he was born. Word has it the name - Pelican Waterhole was too cumbersome to write on the postage stamps.Visit the Elderslie St Waltzing Matilda Centenary Sculptures which commemorate the song's first public performance and marks its centenary in 1995.
Also see the QANTAS memorial cairn when on the 16th Nov 1920, QANTAS is born in Winton. Visit Jolly Swagman Statue which was sculptured in 1959 and is dedicated to Banjo Paterson and the many swagman who lie in unmarked graves throughout the country.
Onto the Waltzing Matilda Centre which also has a statue of Andrew Barton Paterson (aka Banjo) with his lyrics behind him. He penned the ballad at Dagwood Station in 1885 and it is believed that the first public performance of the song was at North Gregory Hotel in 1895.
Onto Middleton which was originally a stage coach stop and made history when the first white men - McKinlay and his search party for Burke and Wills entered the area.
We continue through the Mitchell grass downs, flat topped mesas, plateaus and sandstone ranges onto the Cawnpore Lookout and Lilleyvale Hills.
Onto Boulia which is located 300 kms south of Mt Isa at the junction of the Diamantina and Kennedy Development Roads. The town's fame largely rests with the Min Min Light - a strange spectral light that can appear, hover, disappear and re-appear with an eerie will of its own. Most often described as a hovering luminescent ball, the light has teased travellers, never approaching close enough to be clearly examined.
Onto the Donohue Highway as far as Georgina River overnight.
 |
| Kids playing on the Georgina |
No comments:
Post a Comment