May 29

Longreach goes home

by in People we've met, Places we've been, Things we've seen

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Longreach I passed through 11 years ago. Didn’t have time to stop, just a fleeting glance at the Stockmans Hall of Fame & Outback Centre, sufficient to whet the appetite and then onwards.

This time I was determined to see all. First stop though was the Qantas Museum – a 747 parked by the main road beside a 707 certainly looked out of place, enough to suck us in. Opted for a guided tour which as it turns out is the only a you get to see in the two planes – 1 1/2 hours well spent – fascinating facts and interesting stories. The museum itself is also fascinating and very well done – it includes the original on site Qantas workshop/hanger where they actually built or assembled early aeroplanes along with many of the early planes on display. Lots of film, TV, static and audio displays and a couple of old girls really sucked in…

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There was too much to see in one sitting so we took off to the “Harry Redford Old Fashioned Tent Show” for what turned out to be one of the funniest show routines we’ve seen in recent years – a take on a moment in history of cattle rustler Harry Redford or ‘Captain Starlight’..

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Weren’t allowed to take photos in the show but  have to tell you the horse is a real character, the dogs the cow and the donkey are also good actors and the routine is hilarious.

After the show (lunchtime) we went back to the Qantas Museum to finish off. Booked a sunset river cruise for the next night (Saturday). During the day explored the Stockmans Hall of Fame – didn’t finish on Saturday even with lunch on site, went back Sunday. This is one of the most comprehensive collations of the history of the country and its people in the outback as it was explored and developed. Even after two days I know we didn’t read all of the individual stories or see all the shows that were on offer- altogether too much for our simple minds to absorb. However, the Outback Show behind the pavilion was almost as good as the Friday harry Redford show. One central character supported by several animals. And again, the animals stole the show….

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and yes, that’s a Brahman bull he’s riding. The dogs all came out of the arena to meet the audience at the end of the show – altogether a very entertaining hour or so. The animals are so well trained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The “hall” is a beautiful building as well.

Saturday nights sunset river cruise and sound and light show and bushmans tucker dinner with a bush poet for entertainment was great fun. The sound and light show focussed again on the story of Captain Starlight/Harry Redford, the cattle rustler, and episode that lasted just 3 months in the history of the outback, but a story that seems entrenched in the psyche of Longreach. The bushmans dinner was simple beef stew, the bush poet was even simpler and the boat cruise even less complicated but the whole experience added up to a most enjoyable few hours..

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The mother and baby possums have made the hand basin in the boats toilet home and users are warned off washing their hands. The rooster is part of the act back on land – we were demonstrated its reversing mode – doodlecock, doodlecock. Very funny routine by the same characters playing in the Harry Redford tent Show from yesterday.

As it turns out the Friday show and this Saturday nights program are all part of the Kinnon & Co stable. This company holds a 60,000 acre run with around 4,000 head of cattle which some years ago was doing poorly so diversification seemed to provide a financial solution. I think they originally offered stage coach rides to tourists, then opened the outback attire store in town, added the tent show out back then the river cruises etc and now the lot is run by and performed by Richard Kinnon and two of his sons. When you look around town you sort of get the impression that the Kinnons own it. Richard was also the bus driver in what appeared to be a very new 50 seat coach so it seems that Kinnon & Co are now doing quite well. Impressive.

We had a ball in Longreach

 

 

 

3 Responses to “Longreach goes home”

  1. From John Fowler:

    What a ‘magic’ experience you seem to have had.
    I had seen the story on the McKinnons on TV some time back – ‘Australian Story’ I think? Glad to see their show is just getting even better. I will just have to get there sometime myself.
    The Stockmans Hall of Fame has almost reached ‘iconic’ status across the countryside and you have whetted my appetite yet again to make the effort to experience it.
    You are both certainly getting some wonderful sights and sounds of the ‘real’ Australia.
    Cheers
    John & Jan

    Posted on 2 June 2014 at 7:57 pm #
  2. From Justin:

    Big ass fans! and a lady in pink…what are you trying to say Pa?

    JP

    Posted on 5 June 2014 at 10:30 am #
  3. From barry:

    I just thought the label fitted as she was obviously a fan of food.

    Posted on 7 June 2014 at 9:59 am #

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