WINTON - QUEENSLAND - 4735
Population: 1,250,  
Height above sea level: ,  
Latitude: -22.3500
Longitude: 143.1000
Location:   1,350km north west of Brisbane
Highway: Landsborough Hwy 
Nearest Major Town: Longreach. 177km south east
Nearest Airport: Winton
Touring Area: Outback

4WD touring around Winton - Courtesy of Tourism Queensland


Originally named Pelican Waterhole it was first settled in 1875 and is best known as the place where A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson wrote the words of 'Waltzing Matilda' regarded as the unofficial national anthem of Australia. The poem relates to the Combo Waterhole near Kynuna Station. There is now a reserve beside the road at the waterhole 160km north west of Winton along the Landsborough Highway. Paterson wrote the words while staying at Dagworth Station, north west of Winton, and the first performance of it is believed to have been at the North Gregory Hotel on the 6th of April 1895. Winton holds the annual 'Bronze Swagman Award' for bush poetry and is considered to be the home of Australian poetry. A 'Waltzing Matilda Festival' is held each June.
(The term 'To Waltz Matilda' is attributed to the movement of Swagmen across the country. 'Matilda' was a nickname for the swag they carried with their few posessions and to 'waltz' relates to the erratic route between station homesteads looking for work or handouts. Thus, to waltz Matilda meant to take an ambling course carrying a swag.) Winton is also the home of QANTAS and the first registered office of the airline was here in 1920.


PLACES OF INTEREST:
  • Waltzing Maatilda Centre
  • Royal Theatre (including the world's largest deck chair)>
  • Corfield & Fitzmaurice Emporium
  • Heritage Truck and Macuniery Museum
  • Museums and Galleries
    ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES:

    Category: 


    INFORMATION CENTRE:
    Winton Visitor Information Centre
    Waltzing Matilda Centre
    50 Elderslie St. Winton. QLD 4735
    Ph: 07 4657 1466

    HOW TO GET THERE:
    By car along the Landsborough Hwy. or Kennedy Developmental Road.
  • Light Plane
  • Coach or Rail


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    © Copyright Peter W. Wilkins