One of the best ways to explore the region is by concentrating on a theme.  You'll find six suggested themes, with links to relevant sites, listed below.
		Aboriginal People and Culture		Pioneers and Explorers
		Aboriginal history in Central Western Queensland is extensive. There are four sites covering the sensitive issue of the frontier war and its massacres, as well as the wealth of artwork and artefacts found through out the region. Consider the significance of these sites to both indigenous and non-indigenous people.		The rivers and plains of the Central West were a magnet to explorers and pioneers of the last century. Wanpa-rda Matilda Centre gives you the opportunity to follow in their footprints, across landscapes mostly unchanged since their time.
		Heritage		Transport
		Our built heritage celebrates the achievements and innovations of the early settlers of the region.		The threads of roads, rail and telecommunication throughout the Outback diminishes the isolation for the people of the West.
		Physical Environment		Workers
		The rugged landscapes and contrasting flora and fauna colour the many environments of the West. Explore mulga and gidyea scrub to the wide-open Mitchell grass plains. Discover the weird and wonderful wildlife from red kangaroos and emus to rare rock wallabies and bilbies.		Men, women, indigenous people, migrants, nurses, teachers, nuns, doctors, jackaroos, jillaroos, home tutors, rail and road workers and many more have found and find employment in the west. These people make up the social tapestry of our communities.

		Artefact Factory North-east of Barcaldine   Quarry and workshop site used by Aborigines throughout Central Queensland. Silcrete rocks and debris, discarded stone flakes and tools. At present this site is not open to the public.   Curriculum Material
		Battle Hole  On Buderygar Station, via Jundah, 212 km south-west of Longreach. Battle Hole is a waterhole. Aboriginal massacre site. No physical evidence remains. Claypan approaches. Tree-lined waterhole. Watering point for livestock, native and feral animals. Low - medium-level risk: Isolated area, unfenced and untreated water. Unsealed roads, dry weather only (water and extra fuel advised). Permission: Marg Ballinger, Sedan Station (07) 4657 5555. Curriculum Material
		Gray Rock and Mailman's Gorge  50 km east of Aramac Picturesque gorge used by Cobb & Co as a natural horse paddock. Scene of an Aboriginal massacre in mid-1860s. Medium-level risk: Vertical lava tubes to one metre wide, two metres deep, unfenced and hard to see. On private property. On sealed and gravel road, accessible in dry weather only.                          Curriculum Material

		The Black Stump Blackall   Petrified tree stump marking the site of the original Black Stump. Descriptive mural. Ambassador available. Low-level risk: No hazards. Curriculum Material
		Blackall Woolscour East of town, Blackall   Wool cleaning complex with working shearing shed. Guided tours conducted regularly. Ambassador available. Low - medium-level risk: Unsafe verandah on shearers' quarters, moving equipment, industrial and construction site. Loose artefacts in Scour. Out of bounds delineated. Curriculum Material
		Buildings of Birdsville  Birdsville, south-west corner of Queensland, 640 km south-west of Longreach   Architecture of remote Queensland. Buildings of interest: Birdsville Hotel, Frontier Services Birdsville Hospital, Carcory ruins, The Royal Hotel, Brooklands Store. History of The Australian Inland Mission outposts and hospitals. Building materials and techniques. Medium-level risk: Remote site, unsealed roads, dry weather only. Extra water, fuel required. Remote communication system recommended. (Mobile telephones do not work!) Curriculum Material
		Clancy's Overflow Hotel  Isisford, via Ilfracombe or Blackall   Operating local hotel with many artefacts of the pioneering era. Traditional Queensland architecture. Extensive information on local history and environments available. Ambassador available. Low-level risk: No hazards. Alcohol consumed on premises. Curriculum Material
		Combo Waterhole 10 km south-east of Kynuna, 166 km north-west of Winton   Legendary billabong of Waltzing Matilda fame. Hear about our fabled national song and the life of a swaggie. Low - medium-level risk: Sealed and unsealed roads. Check in Winton for conditions of roads to waterhole. Curriculum Material
		Historic Buildings of Barcaldine  Throughout the township of Barcaldine   Explore the architecture of outback Queensland, the Masonic Lodge, St Peter's Anglican Church and the Shire Hall.   Low-level risk: Sealed roads throughout. Curriculum Material
		Isis Downs Shearing Shed  15 km east of Aramac   An operational sheep and cattle property. Early twentieth century shearing shed with innovative design; first fully electric shearing shed in Australia. Ambassador available. Low-level risk: Off-season. Medium-level risk: Shearing season. Working shearing shed May-June, 80-year-old structure. On narrow sealed road. Curriculum Material
		Starlight's Lookout  16 km north-east of Longreach   A rocky outcrop in the floodplain of the Thomson River. A lookout possibly used by Harry Redford, the infamous cattle duffer of the West, and legendary Captain Starlight. Low - medium-level risk: Accessible in dry weather only. Curriculum Material
		Stockman's Hall of Fame  Longreach Museum celebrating the Australians of the Outback. Self-guided tours and student activity sheets available. Low-level risk: No hazards. Visit the Hall's website at www.outbackheritage.com.au
		Tambo Historic Buildings  208 km south of Barcaldine, Matilda Highway Discover the old architecture of this small country town. Post Office, Court House, McLeod's House, Edward Street houses, Rogers' Store, Rivoli Theatre. Low-level risk: Sealed roads. Curriculum Material
		Tambo Teddies  100 km south of Blackall Workshop where Tambo teddies are created. Historical museum. Low-level risk: No hazards. Curriculum Material
		Wellshot Hotel  Landsborough Highway, Ilfracombe Historic pub that moved with the railway. Back to the Bush cattledog shows available. Station tours available. Low-level risk: Close to highway. Alcohol consumed on premises. Curriculum Material
		Winton  170 km north-west of Longreach Historic outback town. Shire has developed a self-directed walking tour of the sites, maps available. The Waltzing Matilda Centre, opened in April 1998, celebrates the story of Australia's famous ballad. Low-level risk: No hazards. Curriculum Material

 

		Artesian Water  Great Artesian Basin found throughout Western Queensland   Geological feature Artesian bores are found throughout the region. Barcaldine's town bore is on Pine Street. Sub artesian bore in the main street, replica of a bore head at the Australian Workers Heritage Centre. Ancient water is vital to the survival of communities in the west. Found deep in the ground, once tapped it comes out under its own pressure. Often very hot and sometimes has a strong odour.   Low-level risk: Water temperatures can be high. Curriculum Material
		Channel Country  South Western Queensland along Cooper Creek, Windorah, through to Thargomindah Geographical feature Systems of low lying hills. During floods water spans out over the land. Important region for the pastoral industry. Medium-level risk: Isolated region, mostly unsealed roads. Extra water and fuel required. Remote communication system recommended. (Mobile telephones do not work!) Curriculum Material
		Idalia National Park 110 km south-west of Blackall Geographical feature Rocky gorges and ridges with mulga scrub, bird life, yellow-footed rock wallabies, bridled nail-tail wallabies. Rough walking tracks. Medium-level risk: Contact Ranger on (07) 4657 5033. Visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service webpage at the Department of Environment   Curriculum Material
		Lake Eyre Basin  Covers one-seventh of the continent. Drains water from four states. Lake Eyre, north-east South Australia. Geographical feature Inland river basin, major rivers, Thomson, Barcoo, Diamantina, Cooper Creek. Closed system, needs careful management. Medium - high-level risk: Very isolated. Experienced 4WD drivers only. Fuel, food, water and remote telecommunication system required. Contact local police (07) 4656 3220 for road conditions. Curriculum Material
		Lark Quarry 115 km south-west of Winton Site of the only known dinosaur stampede in the world. Within a nature reserve with arid/semiarid landscape, mesas, panoramic views of plains. Low-level risk: Gravel road is subject to flooding. No water on site. Compost toilets. Picnic area with barbecue (provide own wood). Curriculum Material
		Min Min Light  Around the Boulia area   The Min Min light is an elusive phenomenon of unknown origin. Sightings have been recorded for almost a hundred years. Looks like a luminous oval-shaped light.   Curriculum Material
		Muttaburrasaurus  Muttaburra, 152 km north of Barcaldine, via Aramac Queensland's own dinosaur. Fossilised skeleton found in 1961. Original: Queensland Museum; Replica: Life-size statue in Muttaburra. Low-level risk: Narrow sealed road, Hughenden Information Centre (07) 4741 1021. Curriculum Material
		Opalton  115 km south of Winton Opal mining community with lots of "characters". Noodling (fossicking) areas available. Bird watching; scenic arid landscape. Medium - high-level risk: Open mine shafts, mining activities. Gravel road, subject to flooding. Community permission required. Contact Winton Shire Council (07) 4567 1188 for information. Outpost, camping and picnic area. Huts available at $2.00 per night. Curriculum Material

 

 

		The Black Stump  Blackall Petrified tree stump marking the site of the original Black Stump. Descriptive mural. Ambassador available. Low-level risk: No hazards. Curriculum Material
		Edmund Kennedy  Explorer of the Barcoo and Thomson Rivers region, Longreach to Blackall and Jundah Kennedy explored the rivers of Central Queensland, looking for a watercourse to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Named major rivers of the region. Low - medium-level risk: Barcoo and Thomson, muddy, silt-laden watercourses. Swimming and fishing allowed. Respect water safety rules. Curriculum Material
		Ludwig Leichhardt  Exploration route from South East Queensland to Northern Territory Exploration to open up pastoral lands and find a land route to Northern Australia. Disappeared without a trace. Curriculum Material
		Starlight's Lookout 16 km north-east of Longreach A rocky outcrop in the floodplain of the Thomson River. A lookout possibly used by Harry Redford, the infamous cattle duffer of the West, and legendary Captain Starlight. Low - medium-level risk: Accessible in dry weather only. Curriculum Material
		Thomas Mitchell  Barcoo and Thomson Rivers region Searched for a river that ran through to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Named several rivers and sites during his expedition in 1845. Curriculum Material

 

		Gray Rock and Mailman's Gorge  50 km east of Aramac Picturesque gorge used by Cobb & Co as a natural horse paddock. Scene of an Aboriginal massacre in mid-1860s.   Medium-level risk: Vertical lava tubes to one metre wide, two metres deep, unfenced and hard to see. On private property. On sealed and gravel road, accessible in dry weather only. Curriculum Material
		Longreach School of Distance Education  Longreach School for students unable to access traditional education, communicating through HF radio. One of the largest schools in the Central West with over 300 students from Central Western Queensland.   Low-level risk: No hazards. Tours available at 10.00 a.m. Monday-Friday. Curriculum Package
		Qantas Founders' Outback Museum  Longreach Aviation museum on the early days of Qantas. Static, audio and video displays. Low-level risk: No hazards. Visit the Qantas Museum's website at www.anzac.com/qfm/q_qfom.htm
		Stockman's Hall of Fame  Longreach Museum celebrating the Australians of the Outback. Self-guided tours and student activity sheets available. Low-level risk: No hazards. Visit the Hall's website at www.outbackheritage.com.au
		Wellshot Hotel  Landsborough Highway, Ilfracombe Historic pub that moved with the railway. Back to the Bush cattledog shows available. Station tours available. Low-level risk: Close to highway. Alcohol consumed on premises. Curriculum Package

		Australian Inland Mission Birdsville, south-west corner of Queensland, 640 km south-west of Longreach Australian Inland Mission and now Frontier Services, providing medical service to isolated, remote communities and properties. Origin of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Discover the stories of the women who made the Outback their home. Medium-level risk: Remote site, unsealed roads, dry weather only. Extra water and fuel required. Remote communication system recommended. (Mobile telephones do not work!)
		Australian Workers Heritage Centre Ash Street, Barcaldine (via Capricorn/Landsborough Highways)   Focuses on the history of work and workers in Australia. Static, video and audio displays.   Low-level risk: Unfenced billabong with untreated water, several metres deep.   Visit the Australian Workers Heritage Centre Website: http://www.alp.org.au/workers/ index.html Email: heritage@alp.org.au Curriculum Material
		The Black Stump Blackall   Petrified tree stump marking the site of the original Black Stump. Descriptive mural. Ambassador available   Low-level risk: No hazards.   Curriculum Material
		Blackall Woolscour  East of town, Blackall   Wool cleaning complex with working shearing shed. Guided tours conducted regularly. Ambassador available.   Low - medium-level risk: Unsafe verandah on shearers' quarters, moving equipment, industrial and construction site. Loose artefacts in Scour. Out of bounds delineated. Curriculum Material
		Channel Country  South-western Queensland along Cooper Creek, Windorah, through to Thargomindah   Geographical feature, systems of low lying hills, during floods water spans out over the land. Important region for the pastoral industry. Medium-level risk: Isolated region, mostly unsealed roads. Extra water and fuel required. Remote communication system recommended. (Mobile telephones do not work!) Curriculum Material
		Combo Waterhole  10 km south-east of Kynuna (166 km north-west of Winton)   Legendary billabong of Waltzing Matilda fame. Hear about our fabled national song and the life of a swaggie.   Low - medium-level risk: Sealed and unsealed roads. Check in Winton for conditions of roads to waterhole. Curriculum Material
		Jack Howe 1861-1920  Matilda Highway, Blackall Cast bronze statue of the famous gun shearer. Ambassador available. Low-level risk: T-intersection onto major highway. Curriculum Material
		Opalton  115 km south of Winton   Opal mining community with lots of "characters". Noodling (fossicking) areas available. Bird watching; scenic arid landscape.   Medium - high-level risk: Open mine shafts, mining activities. Gravel road, subject to flooding. Community permission required. Contact Winton Shire Council (07) 4657 1188 for information. Outpost, camping and picnic area. Huts available at $2.00 per night. Curriculum Material
		Sedan Station  100 km south-west of Isisford Working sheep and cattle station with Mitchell grass plains, Barcoo River channel system. Access to gravesite of Richard Welford and the Battle Hole massacre site. Low - medium-level risk: Private property. Permission: Marg Ballinger (07) 4657 5555. Camping site available, shearers' quarters for hire. Diesel power, closest public phone Yaraka, Royal Flying Doctor Service. Dry weather or 4WD only.
		Shearers' Strike 1891/ Tree of Knowledge  Capricorn Highway, Barcaldine   150-year-old ghost gum, site of the founding of the Australian Labor Party. Plaque on leaders of Shearers' Strike.   Low-level risk: Located on major highway. Curriculum Material
		Stockman's Hall of Fame  Longreach Museum celebrating the Australians of the Outback. Self-guided tours and student activity sheets available. Low-level risk: No hazards. Visit the Hall's website at www.outbackheritage.com.au