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Winton - Queensland
Winton is located 1,353 kilometres from Brisbane and is known as the Dinosaur Capital of Australia and the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda.
Although it is only a small town, it is a popular tourist destination due to its interesting history, unique attractions and rugged natural landscape. We spent a week in Winton and enjoyed the town and the friendly outback hospitality.
Whilst in Winton, we wandered along the main street, enjoyed a live sheepdog show at the Australian Hotel, and watched a movie at the Royal Open Air Theatre. We also checked out the Musical Fence, the birthplace of Qantas, visited the Waltzing Matilda Cente and went on the Rangelands Rifts and Sunset tour. We visited the Age of Dinosaurs Museum and wandered around Arno’s Wall and the Willie Mar Heritage site.
Elderslie Street is the main street of Winton, and as we wander along the wide street, we can see many lovely old historic buildings, fun art installations and colourful murals.
The Original North Gregory Hotel was built in 1879 and is famous for hosting the first live performance of Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda in 1895. The current Art Deco-styled hotel opened in 1955, is the fourth hotel on this site; fires destroyed the other three.
The Corfield & Fitzmaurice Store was built as a general store in 1916. The National Trust lists it as one of Australia's most perfectly preserved old-style general stores. It now houses a craft and gift shop with a small museum with dinosaur, shearing and opal displays.
The Australian Hotel was established in 1897 and rebuilt in 1925 after the original burnt down. We enjoyed a pizza and a sheepdog demonstration in the beer garden at lunchtime.
The Royal Open Air Theatre was built in 1918 and is one of only two open-air picture theatres left in Australia; the other is in Broome, Western Australia. You can browse through the museum during the day, then grab some popcorn, and watch a movie when the sun sets.
The quirky Winton Music Fence was developed by percussionist and composer Graeme Leak. It is a fun, free spot to explore your musical talents.
The first board meeting of Qantas was held in Winton in 1921, making it the birthplace of Qantas. Near the musical fence, you will find the birthplace of Qantas metal statue and a cairn with information about Qantas’ first landing ground in Winton.
The new Waltzing Matilda Centre boasts state-of-the-art displays and exhibits that tell the story of Waltzing Matilda. We spent several hours exploring the Waltzing Matilda Centre and the Qantilda Museum, browsing the interactive displays that tell the story and history of the Winton Shire, including the Great Shearers Strike of 1891 and the birth of QANTAS.
Red Dirt Tours operates the Rangelands Rifts and Sunset tour, and they take us by bus to a jump-up on the privately owned Rangelands Station. Here, we walk through the rifts created by thousands of years of erosion. We then had a glass of wine and some nibbles as we enjoyed the stunning views from the sunset lookout.
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs has the world's largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. It is open seven days a week and has several ticket options. We did the Ultimate Tour, which included a self-guided walk of the Dinosaur Canyon and guided tours of the March of the Titanosaurs exhibition, the Collection Room and the Fossil Preparation Laboratory.
Arno's Wall is located in Arno’s Park behind the North Gregory Hotel, two metres high and over seventy metres long. It is made from concrete and rock from Arno’s opal mine at Opalton and is jam-packed with motorbikes, lawnmower parts, propellers, typewriters, pots and pans, sewing machines and even the kitchen sink.
A block away from the town centre is the site of Willie Mar’s market garden, possibly the last working Chinese market garden in Queensland. Willie Mar established it in 1923 to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to local residents, and it continued to operate until a flood destroyed it in 2000.
Check availability and make a booking for the Age of Dinosaurs, the Rangelands & Rifts Sunset Tour, and Tours of Carisbrooke Station and Lark Quarry.
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