Waltzing the Matilda

Winton (pop. 900)

If you want to learn about our favourite national folk song then a visit to Winton is a must. For a small town is home to a variety of historical attractions. The Winton Club (home of the first Quantas board meeting), an Outdoor theatre and opal mining display, Corfield and Fitzmaurice building with its dinosaur display and diorama of the Lark Quarry dinosaur stampede, and Arno's Wall are all there.

It is also home to the Waltzing Matilda Museum, and various statues around the town commemorating the song. It must have more historical sites, statues and museums than any other town around.

For a museum in an an little outback town the Waltzing Matilda centre excels. It features a diorama set around the billabong that comes to life with sound and lighting effects, and the story is retold via video screen set in the billabong. Moving further along are sound 'stations' featuring stories and historical renditions of Waltzing Matilda. Many panels provide information on the swaggies and their equipment, and the terminology of the song itself.

And, wait, there's more! A twelve minute holograph display connects the song with more contemporary persons and events. Beyond the featured section are many more items of historical interest, as well as a video presentation in the theatre and an old movie of the birth of Quantas, with much of the narration spoken by Hudson Fish. I suspect that the budget and profile of their neighbours landmark is higher, but for my money Winton has the best.

Oh, we also camped behind the North Gregory hotel - the place where Waltzing Matilda was first performed by the man himself, Banjo Paterson, accompanied by Kitty MacPherson.

The 'Curry'

Larger than most of the towns we passed through thus far Cloncurry hosts a number of attractions, but for us it was a two night stop before heading further north. A visit to Chinaman Dam and Rotary Lookout were highlights of a day spent shopping, getting a windscreen chip repaired and gleaning information about a possible trip to Lawn Hill.