Barcaldine
Barcaldine is situated on the junction of the Capricorn and Landsborough Highways and is known as the Garden City of the West. It is a springboard to visit regions as a base from which to explore central west Queensland.
Barcaldine is home to the Tree of Knowledge, the reputed birthplace of the labour movement in Australia. The Tree – a ghost gum – grew outside the Railway Station for about 180 years until 2006 when sadly, it was poisoned by an unknown culprit. The famous tree has been preserved and placed under an award-winning timber structure that was constructed to protect the preserved tree and celebrate its importance in Australia’s history. The structure is impressive during the day but when viewed at night is truly magnificent.
The name Barcaldine originates from the Oban region in Scotland. Donald Charles Cameron was one of the first settlers in the district and a direct descendant of the Campbells of Barcaldine Castle. He settled on a portion of land fronting the Alice River and immediately named his property “Barcaldine Downs”. The railway line came as far as Lagoon Creek in 1886 and the township of Barcaldine developed on land from the Barcaldine Downs run.
Barcaldine is also home to the old-world Radio Theatre, complete with its canvas seats, and the working windmill that pumps water into the sculpture designed and erected by the Youth of Barcaldine.
Some added steel works to Barcaldine.
The Tree of Knowledge, by night & day 
The first European to enter the area was Frederick Walker, who in 1861 led an expedition through what is now Barcaldine searching for the explorers Burke & Wills.
Stayed at the showgrounds for 3 nights, a short walk to a few local pubs.
Lara Wetlands
Lara Wetlands is a land of plenty. Spend some time at one of our tranquil shady unpowered camping spots surrounded by Wetlands abundant with birds & wildlife, a photographers joy. Enjoy a campfire and star gazing at night, whilst enjoying the sounds of the nightlife. All size vans, tents, camper trailers and motor homes are welcome.
Lara Wetlands is a 15,000 acre station stay and is 28 kms south of Barcaldine. Sunrise and Sunset’s are just amazing with the reflections over the water. There are lots of shady unpowered camping areas around the wetlands.
The red sandy soil country is mainly lightly timbered with box, sandalwood and gidyea.
- Complimentary kayaks
- Take a therapeutic dip in the natural thermal controlled Artesian pool (approx. 38 degrees) anytime of the day or night, heated to perfection like a big, outback hot tub.
- Sunrises and sunsets provide beautiful reflections over the water and are a photographers dream.
- The Wetlands have an abundance of bird species.
- Other complimentary amenities include hot showers and flushing toilets.
- Black Dump for caravan toilets.
- Firewood is sold at the Office or BYO firewood.
Ilfracombe
Named after a town in Devonshire UK. As you drive in you can’t miss the Lynn Cameron Machinery, which extends for over 1.5 klm.
Mainly sheep rearing and wool in this part of QLD.
Longreach
The area was established as a cattle station, Bowen Downs, by William Landsborough Nathaniel Buchanan and Edward Cornish.
Longreach is one of the founding centres of Qantas and has a wonderful static display of iconic airplanes and an impressive museum.
Winton
Situated on the Matilda Highway, Winton is the gateway to Australia’s Dinosaur Trail and the Outback Way. Winton is a lovely town, caravan parks and food outlets (classic country pubs). Winton is great to visit during festival events.
The main industries are sheep and cattle. The town was named after Robert Allen, who was born in Winton, Dorset UK.
Pop approx 1100
- The official birthplace of Qantas.
- Waltzing Matilda first recited at Winton in North Gregory Hotel 1895.
- Well know for its dinosaur trails, first discovered here on Cork Station in 1962.
- Second most rare opal in the world.
Business in those earliest days of the town’s existence was hindered by the lack of a local bank. The nearest one was in Aramac, some 400 kilometres away. Building materials had to be brought in from even farther away, for there was not a great deal of wood to be had in the Channel Country. Law enforcement was also as non-existent, fights were frequent on the then unformed streets.
North Gregory Hotel. The previous three had burnt down. 
Sunset on the main street
By 1883, Winton was developing into a proper town with economic activity that was of benefit to all the settlers, both urban and rural, in the region. This would have struck most at the time as a great boon, but in William Corfield’s wry assessment of Winton’s progress:
“Now that we had two banks, four hotels, a chemist, saddler, besides other branches of industry, we felt that we were being drawn perilously within the influences of civilisation and its drawbacks.”
Winton, was central to the Great Shearers Strike in the 1890’s and the industrial unrest sweeping Queensland.
50 metre walk to the van, after a meal at the local. Everyone have their bonnets up, and a light under the engine??
We are advised vermin are evident. Yes, in the cool of evening, rats like warm engine bays, and nibble on electrical wiring looms etc. Also a light to deter their interest. Next morning we had no power, I rushed out thinking the rats had eaten through the cable. No, all seems good, what can it be. Locals say a power outage for the whole town. Power soon restored. Phew!
Skull Hole, on Surprise Creek, at Bladensburg Station about 15 kilometres from Winton, was the site of a massacre of Aboriginal people in 1877.
