Left Cloncurry this morning on our way to Winton. First stop along the way McKinlay - it's claim to fame is the Walkabout Creek Hotel from Crocodile Dundee. They play on it quite well - must have been interesting when all the film crews and stars were here doing their thing. Interestingly this little pub, originally called the Federal, has some cred as the pub that Banjo Patterson frequented and reputedly the swagman and the squatter (perhaps not at the same time?) who inspired the famous verse.
This tiny town also boasts the smallest public library in QLD (dubious but who can blame them for having a go).
Next a sleepy place called Kynuna with a handful of buildings - the one everyone knows about is the Blue Heeler Pub - another of those with plenty of character.
On the way to Winton saw this hill rise on the horizon, among otherwise dead flat grassland country, a pale version of the rock.
Next into Winton known as the heart of dinosaur country, which they take seriously right down to their rubbish bins down the main street.
In the local store Corfield and Fizmaurice - a couple of pioneers of the town, is a display of early town history as well as a re-creation of the famous dinosaur stampede fossils found 110km south of here. Includes a series of some 300 footprints found fossilised in mud stone on a river flat. Shows 30 different species gathering at the waterhole, then being scattered by the arrival of this Carnosaur - there are 14 fossilised footprints of this guy as he goes after the smaller prey - quite a fascinating display. We didn't travel the 100km to see the real ones. Also includes several bones form the largest Australian dinosaur.
We found a great free camp behind the historic North Gregory Hotel right in the middle of town.
Just beside the hotel is Arno's Wall. Arno is a guy who turned up in Winton 40 years ago and decided to utilise the varied junk he gathered from the dump by cementing them into a wall. The wall has grown and includes just about everything one could consider including a holden car, several motorbikes, a cement mixer, chainsaws etc etc - quite a spot.
Had 2 couples from Toowoomba staying beside us - we chatted with them for a while - they're on 4 weeks hols and are on their way home.
The Campbells
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