LONGREACH
The Landsborough Highway continues to Longreach , a town tied to Australia ’ s settlement history . There are a number of things to do here , but there are two that every RVer should take advantage of at some point . The Australian Stockman ’ s Hall of Fame celebrates the heritage of our early pioneers with fascinating exhibits , each warranting enough time to fully absorb the information provided .
The Stockman ’ s Show is a must , as is the 20-minute film about the ‘ birth of a nation ’. The Qantas Founders Museum is the second ‘ must ’. The museum houses Qantas planes ranging from an Auro 504K up to a Boeing 747 with six others in between , including a Catalina Flying Boat . The story of how a particular 747 ( 238B VH-EBQ ) was flown to Longreach and landed on an airstrip too small for the plane is remarkable .
There are a number of special tours on offer , including a ' wing walk ’ on the 747 , and in the evening , the Luminescent Longreach light show detailing the history of Qantas .
Continuing east from Longreach , Illfracombe is only 28km along and is worthy of a stop . Along the centre of town is a collection of historic farming and transportation equipment that sets this little town apart from many others .
BARCALDINE
In Barcaldine , the Landsborough becomes the Capricorn Highway . Here , we return to the theme of hard-won workers ’ rights . The Australian Workers Heritage Centre pays tribute to Australia ’ s working class , and the story of the 1891 Shearers ’ Strike is told here in detail .
Longreach Qantas Museum
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