Longreach

Qantas was registered in Winton in 1920 and moved its operating base to Longreach the following year, building its first hangar here and assembling aircraft in it through the 1920s. The Qantas Founders Museum stands on that site beside the original hangar, with a 747 and a 707 outside that visitors can walk through and climb over on wing walks. Across town, the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame covers pastoral history, exploration and station life in a large purpose-built centre, with live stockman shows. The Thomson River supports sunset cruises and a paddlewheeler, and the town sits on the Tropic of Capricorn in flat mitchell grass country.

History

The town lies in the lands of the Iningai people, and the first Europeans to come were William Landsborough's party in 1862, who at first tried to intimidate the Iningai by galloping at them and firing over their heads; through Jemmy, a Native Police trooper who spoke their language, the Iningai told them the lie of the land, and an Iningai man named Wittin guided them. The huge Bowen Downs cattle station was set up across the region the same year (Wikipedia, Longreach, Queensland).

Highlights

• The Qantas Founders Museum - the original 1922 hangar with a 747 and 707 outside.
• The Stockman's Hall of Fame - pastoral and outback history with live shows.
• The aircraft wing walks - climbing over the wing of a parked 747.
• The Thomson River - sunset cruises and the paddlewheeler.

When to go

April to September; summer regularly exceeds forty degrees and outdoor components including the aircraft tours are hard going. Winter is the peak travel season with grey nomads filling caravan parks. Book aircraft tours ahead.

Good to know

Both museums charge separately and the aircraft experiences cost extra again, so a full visit is expensive. Longreach is a long way from anywhere, and summer heat closes down outdoor activity. Accommodation fills in the winter peak.

Nearby

Winton lies northwest; Barcaldine and the Tree of Knowledge are east.

Key facts