18 November 2016 - Longreach to Winton

It was a sunny morning as we prepared to depart for the 177km drive to Winton.  The day got sunnier, hotter and windier as we made our way north.  It reached 35degrees on the car's thermometer.  We have arrived in Winton and have immediately put on the air conditioner - now a balmy 25 degrees.

Our road today took us through flat plain lands that were different from the areas around the southern channel country.  There were fewer rivers and creek crossings but the land did look quite green.  The Winton locals told us they consider Winton to be in the Channel Country because the local creeks channel into the Thomson River, as it makes its way down to Cooper's Creek.  We did not see any sign of hills until we approached Winton. 

181116 Typical countryside on road to Winton

181116 More flat countryside

181116 Plenty of grass for stock

181116 First and only topography seen during
the drive to Winton

The biggest river we crossed today was the Thomson, a few kilometres out of Longreach.  It was muddy and uninviting and the banks were dry and dusty.  This confirms the view that they have not had as much rain up here as they have in SWQ.

181116 Crossing the Thomson River Overflow area

181116 The Thomson River 6km outside Longreach,
looking upstream and taken from the Thomson Weir

181116 The Thomson River, downstream from the weir

181116 Thomson River Weir

Winton is a town and locality in the Shire of Winton in Central West Queensland. It is 177 kilometres northwest of Longreach. 

181116 We have arrived 

181116 Approaching Winton

181116 Main street in Winton

The main industries of the area are sheep and cattle raising. The town was named in 1876 by postmaster Robert Allen, after his place of birth, Winton, Dorset. At the 2011 census, Winton had a population of 954. Winton was the first home of the airline QANTAS.

Winton is also the "Dinosaur Capital of Australia".  For the technically minded see * at the end of this blog. 

Tomorrow we will go to see the display, Australian Age of Dinosaurs, just south of Winton.  

There is another display 110 km away over gravel roads at Lark Quarry.  We have seen this display before and have decided not to go there this time.  Here are some photographs to give a feeling for the display.  It's scene is set as small dinosaurs at a waterhole being chased by larger Theropods.  This is described as a dinosaur stampede. The overburden has been painstakingly removed to reveal the footprints in the underlying sediments.

181116 Closeup of dinosaur tracks at Lark Quarry

181116 Theropods' tracks at Lark Quarry

181116 Overburden is removed to expose dinosaur tracks
at Lark Quarry.  Note, the site is completely covered
to preserve the display

They take dinosaurs seriously here. Even the dustbins are "clothed" in a dinosaur's foot - photograph tomorrow.

Winton is also described as the "Home of Waltzing Matilda".  In 1895, 'Banjo' Paterson wrote Australia's unofficial anthem "Waltzing Matilda" at Dagworth Station in Winton Shire, and legend has it that it was first performed in public at Winton's North Gregory Hotel. The Waltzing Matilda Centre is a popular tourist attraction and because of its links to Australia's 'national song', Winton now hosts the annual Bronze Swagman Bush Poetry competition. 

In June 2015 The Waltzing Matilda Centre was razed by fire and plans are well afoot to rebuild the Centre.

181116 The Waltzing Matilda Centre as it was before the fire

181116 The Waltzing Matilda Centre as it will be when rebuilt

* The area surrounding the town has yielded a number of dinosaur fossils.  In 2009, the now famous discoveries near the town of three early Cretaceous dinosaur genera, Australovenator, Wintonotitan and Diamantinasaurus were announced.  Australovenator wintonensis, the type specimen of that genus, is named after the town. The specimens were unearthed at the "Matilda site" not far northwest of town, on Elderslie Station, and at the "Triangle Paddock Site" right nearby. Another sauropod, Savannasaurus, was also found in this area, along with the as-of-yet unnamed "Elliot". The town also lent its name to the geological formation in which the fossils were found, the Winton Formation.