WINTON
Once the traveler reaches Longreach,
the choice of driving northwest to Winton or southwest and towards
Birdsville is the consideration. Delighting in the midwinter west,
Bustout headed to Winton. Winton is also the natural QANTAS link.
Winton was the first airport that QANTAS established.
The main industries of the area are sheep and cattle
raising. The town was named by postmaster, Robert Allen, in 1876 after
his place of birth Winton, Dorset.
Winton can rightly claim ownership of
the national song, Waltzing Matilda. The Matilda Museum is a
delightful and moving representation of the Australian unofficial
anthem.    
Winton is also the ‘capitol’ of
Dinosaurs’ in Australia. Following some quite incredible diggings in
the fields of paleontology and research and now imagination and
presentation.     
Winton also has other museums and
street displays that play homage both to Banjo Patterson and the new
Dinosaur exposure/ interest.
The historic Royal Theatre is one of the few remaining
open air picture theatres in Australia and home to the World's Largest
Deckchair
which was originally constructed in Victoria by the Freemasons
Taskforce in 2002 and donated to Winton and the Royal Theatre by the
members of that taskforce in April 2005.  
The Winton War Memorial is a simple
offering off the main street.
The Anglican Church has some
character. 
The Winton hotels are all of an old
and well presented era  ,
but the The North Gregory Hotel has been
ravaged by fire three times.
Heritage diary 
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