We’ve been in Longreach for the past few days where the Iningai people are the traditional custodians of the land and waters.
Longreach is the self-proclaimed ‘capital of the outback’ and is a town that knows how to make the most of its history. It caters well for tourists, mostly nomads like us, with a wide range of outback experiences to take in.
The Stockman’s Hall of Fame has a good museum and short film that documents the life and role of stockmen and women in the early growth of the colony right through to the present day where cattle are still driven across thousands of kilometres with horses and kelpies. There’s also a show at the Hall of Fame that gives a bit of an insight into how stock horses are trained and the important role they’ve played over the centuries in helping to manage the massive cattle and sheep stations in the outback.
Also worth a visit is the Qantas Founders museum which tells the story of the airline since its foundation just up the road in Winton in 1920. I asked at the museum coffee shop if my Qantas frequent flyer status warranted a discount. Blank looks all round.
Longreach itself is a nice town. Friendly, welcoming and well serviced with shops, pubs eateries and the all-important coffee. The landscape is flat as far as the horizon in every direction. And very green, but I suspect that’s not typical.
The Labs got to hang out at doggy day care with the local vet practice while I was touring the museums. All the lovely people at the practice get a big paws-up.
Here are a few random photos from the museums and around town.
I wonder if folk at the Qantas Museum are embarrassed about how Qantas has descended into a kind of hell for the travelling public! Impressed that the doggos get a little holiday too while you're doing interesting stuff!