Longreach to Winton

 Friday 16th July

We had no plans for today apart from a booking to see the QANTAS Luminescent Longreach tonight so we decided on a trip out to Ilfracombe.

Just outside the village at The Twelve Mile there is a great example of  pitching, thousands upon thousands of naturally formed flagstones, carefully sorted and then meticulously placed together to form a leak-proof reservoir to retain water so precious to the existence of everything. 

The stone-pitched overshot is thought to have been constructed in the 1890s. Essentially a watering stop and Cobb & Co change station, the 12 Mile was also the site of the Royal Mail Hotel which operated between 1893 and around 1916.



Then it was back to town for lunch in the Wellshot Hotel, where we found some quirky bar stools, as well as a y display of pre-loved hats and coins adorning the ceiling.




Libby and I visited the second hand shop while the boys had a quick look at part of the Machinery Mile before we returned to Longreach.

Before dinner we spent half an hour at the Luminescence Longreach show, where the story of Qantas is projected on to the fuselage of several aircraft. An interesting précis of the story behind Qantas but no photos allowed.



Saturday 17th July

Before leaving Longreach we had one last experience at The Stockman Hall of Fame. 

There were 3 parts to the Experience which began with a movie, followed by a self-guided tour through the museum.

The museum had a great variety of displays and stories of pioneers of the Outback. 

The third part of the experience was a live show which demonstrated the bond between man and his animals working together, as well as a number of songs written by the showman Lochie Cossar.



Once the show finished we made tracks for the Long Waterhole just south of Winton. Once settled in Libby, Eric and I went for an explore around the waterhole before Eric made his way back to camp to prepare another of his delicious meals.

Another great campfire and sunset over the waterhole before bed.




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