Winton, Queensland

​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.’

In the words of Sir Hudson Fysh, co founder of QANTAS. QANTAS was conceived in Cloncurry, born in Winton, grew up in Longreach, came of age in Brisbane and grew into an International airline in Sydney.