Barcaldine to Longreach

We reached Barcaldine eager to see the much-anticipated Tree of Knowledge. We were both familiar and had seen the site of the Eureka Stockade in the Goldfields of Ballarat, but had little knowledge about the Shearer’s Strike in Barcaldine in 1891. The strike for justice and unity in defiance lead to the development of the labour union movement and the formation of the Australian Labour Party.  

The Tree of Knowledge was a 200-year-old Eucalyptus Ghost Gum that bore witness to the struggle between shearer’s and pastoralists’ over wages and working conditions. The tree was poisoned and killed in 2006 so the trunk of the tree has now been preserved and an 18 metre-high timber monument, comprising hanging timber batons representing shearers blades, has been erected to mark the heritage site. It was quite impressive.

After sampling a pie from the local bakery, we were back in the Landcruiser and heading for Longreach. Now well and truly into Queensland outback, we journeyed the long, straight road, with the first signs of red dirt alongside, passing many a road train laden with cattle. These road trains are up to 53 metres in length and I hold my breath as we pass them! 

We both enjoyed the trivia sign postings beside the road, aimed at reducing fatigue and hence accidents.

We arrived in Longreach mid afternoon and checked into the Muddy Duck Caravan Park. Home for the next three nights. The park is new and is located just outside of the town and along the banks of the very muddy Thompson River. Low and behold we pulled in next to our last neighbours in Carnarvon Gorge, Brian and Penny from Canberra – a very pleasant surprise.

Day one in Longreach and we headed for the infamous Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame (while the Landcruiser went in for a general service and check) . This tourist attraction is a fabulous tribute to stockman, our pastoral heritage and the Aussie outback. The attraction involved an intro movie, a live show with stockman, horses, sheep and kelpie dogs and a great interactive museum with accompanying iPod and interactive App which relayed stories of the past related to the exhibits. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Day two we ventured to the Qantas Founders Museum. Considering Bazza, my Dad, had a career with Qantas spanning 47 years, this was a must see. The museum is in the original Qantas Longreach hanger and comprises a Boeing 747 (City of Bunbury), a Boeing 707 and a Douglas DC3. In fact the 747 is the first thing you see as you enter Longreach, proudly greeting you from the Landsborough (Hudson Fysh) Hwy.

I enjoyed re visiting all the QANTAS flight attendant uniforms that I remember over the decades, seeing the replica of the First Class retro 70's lounge (being lucky enough to have travelled First-Class numerous times – thanks Bazza) and standing alongside a 747 engine – which my brother and I were photographed sitting inside in 1971, prior to the first QANTAS 747 Jumbo Jet (City of Canberra) leaving Boeing in Seattle bound for Sydney.

We finished another great day with a lovely dinner in town with Brian and Penny.