As part of a guided tour you get the opportunity to visit the Laboratory where eager volunteers unwrap entombed specimen and scrape dirt from bones millions of years old. One bone in particular had been worked on for two years already when we saw it and was certainly no where near being completed. Great work if you have the patience. Fascinating all the same. Visitors are also treated to a tour of a temperature controlled dinosaur fossil display exhibiting bones that are said to be over 90 million years old and are bloody huge!!! During this era the land was lush with thick green forests and running springs, since then the earth has slowly dried and eroded, exposing what are now referred to as ‘Jump-Ups’ The dinosaurs on display are the “Australovenator wintonensis, nicknamed “Banjo”, as well as Australia’s most complete sauropod Diamantinasaurus matildae, nicknamed “Matilda” and Savannasaurus elliottorum “Wade”.“ Researchers believe many sauropods met an untimely demise getting stuck in mud and due to their size where unable to free themselves leading to starvation. The tour continues with a 2km buggy journey over the top of the ‘Jump-Up’ to marvel at spectacular views of the area and admire impressionist sculptures of dinosaurs in scenes depicting how it might have been all those millions of years ago.
Shovel and I went to a Bush Poet’s breakfast where we were treated to the humours wit of Ray Essery, Neil McArthur and Marco Gliori. Were mystified by an impromptu performance by Mount Isa born Didgeridoo Master William Barton. Watched colourful (apparently it’s just food dye) chickens race around a track winning money for auction winning punters and charity and marvelled at young people whip cracking and iron men and women contestants pulling a truck and pushing a ute. We slept in the back of Cherry at the local racetrack and were woken by beautiful sunrises, hopping kangaroos and galloping horses. We dined at the stunning Art Deco styled North Gregory Hotel with artistic glass carvings by Daphne Mayo and a hydroponic vegetable garden. Winton is an outback opal (pun intended) and we had a beautiful few days admiring the town and enjoying the festivities.
Winton in Outback Queensland, famous for Dinosaurs, Opal Fossicking, Qantas, a Musical Fence and ‘Waltzing Matilda’ It is said Louisa Lynett one of the first residents of Winton (gazetted in 1879) insisted the streets be widened to accommodate wagon and coaches giving them the ability to easily turn around. Louisa and her husband Thomas are buried in the Winton Cemetery with fellow residents William Butch Edward Hindom a 'Rat of Tobruk’ and Frank Page. Butch and Frank were taken prisoner by the Germans in 1942 and forced to complete hard labour. Frank escaped in 1943 and Butch went on to survive in the P.O.W. camp, which was liberated by American forces in 1945. Both men returned to Winton with Butch living to age 85, passing away in 1999. It is said Frank was one of the only aboriginals to make a successful escape during WW2. Both men and the Lynetts are buried in the cemetery with Dr. William David Bowkett who passed in 1903 and was known for inventing one of the first self-registering thermometers. It is said the first ever live rendition of Australia’s adopted National Anthem, by A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was held at the Art Deco inspired North Gregory Hotel in 1895. Although this is hotly contested by The Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna, about 160kms North West of Winton that claims to be the site of the poem’s first ever performance. Either way if it were in Winton it wouldn’t have been in the hotel’s current iconic establishment as this is the hotel’s fourth incarnation with previous buildings succumbing to fire. It is said musician Gotye visited the Musical Fence whilst on tour and prior to making the bigtime with the hit 'Somebody that I Use to Know’ added samples of recordings made at the Fence in his song 'Eyes Wide Open.’
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November 2023
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