An extract
from Banjo Patterson’s poem “Australian Scenery” captures the some of the
Winton Experience:
A
land as far as the eye can see, where the waving grasses grow
Or the plains are blackened and burnt and bare, where the false mirages go
Like shifting symbols of hope deferred -- land where you never know.
Or the plains are blackened and burnt and bare, where the false mirages go
Like shifting symbols of hope deferred -- land where you never know.
Land
of plenty or land of want, where the grey Companions dance,
Feast or famine, or hope or fear, and in all things land of chance,
Where Nature pampers or Nature slays, in her ruthless, red, romance.
Feast or famine, or hope or fear, and in all things land of chance,
Where Nature pampers or Nature slays, in her ruthless, red, romance.
And
we catch a sound of a fairy's song, as the wind goes whipping by,
Or a scent like incense drifts along from the herbage ripe and dry
Or the dust storms dance on their ballroom floor, where the bones of
the cattle lie
Or a scent like incense drifts along from the herbage ripe and dry
Or the dust storms dance on their ballroom floor, where the bones of
the cattle lie
Winton in western QLD is famous for three reasons:
- This is where Banjo Patterson first performed Waltzing Matilda at the original North Gregory Hotel on the 6th April 1895.
- The discovery of extensive deposits of fossilised dinosaur bones out in the black soil plains around Winton over the last 10 years
- The ancestral home of the Britton family – my grandfather and father lived and worked in this area during the 1930 - 1950’s. (Maybe not a well-known famous fact for Winton but worth mentioning anyway - hey its my blog J)
We stayed
at the Matilda Country Caravan Park for 5 nights while Linda tried to recover
from her ongoing bout of gastro and we took in the local sights. Two travelling
bush poets “Mel and Susie” put on free show every night in the shed at the park
– bloody good entertainment.
Whilst in town we visited Arno's Wall (everything including the kitchen sink in this wall behind the North Gregory Pub) and the Musical Fence which is a percussion instrument utilising a wire fence for strings - plus some working drum sets - pretty cool.
Whilst in town we visited Arno's Wall (everything including the kitchen sink in this wall behind the North Gregory Pub) and the Musical Fence which is a percussion instrument utilising a wire fence for strings - plus some working drum sets - pretty cool.
Dinner at the North Gregory Hotel was mandatory and although Banjo didn’t perform it was a good night. We also went to the RSL and we were the only customers – sign outside said “the cook was off crook” (talking to the barmaid revealed that was there was no cook). Whilst on the subject of cooks – if you’re looking for work in western QLD and can cook you could name you rate – every pub and club out west have an ad for a cook on their front door.
The
Waltzing Matilda Centre in town is really well done and it’s easy to spend a
few hours walking through the various exhibits and video presentations. |
| The Waltzing Matilda Centre is a huge display of history both of Banjo Patterson and the outback |
25 km east
of Winton is the Australian Age of the Dinosaurs Exhibition – you get a chance
to look at some unique fossils and also visit the working fossil preparation
laboratory (mostly manned by volunteers). 
It takes up to 2 years to take a bit
of fossilised bone and rock and convert it to just bone – patience is required.
They only dig for found fossils in the field for 3 weeks of the year during
winter (when it's cooler). Volunteers pay $3000/week for the privilege and
apparently it's fully subscribed every year.
Its a great way to spend a few hours and contribute a few $ to the hard working volunteers.
A nice town to visit if you're out this way.
No comments:
Post a Comment