Waltzing Retirees

All is well at Nairana.  Have been able to travel around new areas of the Park and found some rather interesting spots.  Caughts some very large red-claw - enough for a meal last night.

Here is another excerpt from my travel journal.

MONDAY, 22^nd April:  Muttaburra to Bladensburg National Park – about 260kms – 95kms dirt road

Wedgetail Eagle

Very interesting drive through some very flat country with the occasional “jump-up” (small knolls rising out of flat plains).  Spotted wedgetail eagle (great photo by the OGO), large group of emus (or is that a flock?), a few bustards (keep popping up all around the countryside), some very lazy cattle (wouldn’t shift off the road), and some flighty sheep.  Very hot day for travelling – 39 degrees.

Arrived Winton at lunch time so straight to the infamous North Gregory Hotel to enjoy lunch and cool off for an hour.  Beautifully refurbished in the original Art Deco style, the hotel has some magnificent glass etchings throughout the ground floor area by Daphne Mayo and they depict the history of this hotel.  It was here that Banjo Patterson’s poem, Waltzing Matilda, was sung in public for the first time in 1895. It was here that Lyndon B. Johnson was accommodated when his aircraft was forced to land on a property just SW of Winton. It was here the early ‘movers and shakers’ of the QANTAS company met and over a few coldies.  The hotel has a lovely ambience about it.

We left Winton and headed 8kms out of town to travel the ‘River Gum Route’ through the Bladensburg NP to find the camping ground. The track was rough and dusty with an ever changing landscape, but when we arrived at the campground we found a little oasis.  Right on a permanent waterhole, shaded by beautiful river gums, we put up camp for the next three nights, threw in the red-claw net, and sat back and enjoyed the quiet of the park. Another couple camped in an area near us and the OGO had a good old yarn with them.  Me?  I was too buggered to do much but sleep in the chair!

TUESDAY, 23^rd April:  Scrammy Drive, the Homestead, and an afternoon in Winton – about 100kms

Awake at first light we were treated to the most vivid sunrise from our ‘bedroom window’. The birds broke into song, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees. It was a perfect start to an adventure-filled day ahead. Our first adventure today was the ‘Scrammy Drive’, about 40kms through the NP.  Approaching the turn-off the start the drive, we encountered 12 or 14 motorbike riders – it was fascinating watching them drive through all the dust – what a nightmare that would have been!

Along the drive are many points of interest with a host of photographic opportunities – we spent three hours doing the 40kms! ( Note to our Blog followers:  There are far too many photos of interest taken here, unfortunately they will have to be uploaded when we get home as the connection here is too slow).

Scrammy's Gorge

Scrammy's Rock Pool

Baby's grave, Bladensburg

Of interest was the remnants of a racecourse, the grave of a small child in the middle of a very desolate plateau – she died from a teething infection -- Scrammy gorge, and Scrammy’s rock pool - named after a “hatter” called Scrammy Jack who lived and died here (TRIVIA:  a ‘hatter’ was a boundary rider who lived like a hermit, so called because their  hat covered their whole family). We also explored the old homestead and surrounding buildings as well as the original woolshed. As our tummies grumbled we headed into Winton once again with the idea of lunch, cool drinks, and a tour of some local attractions.

Winton’s claim to fame is threefold.  This is the town where the first QANTAS flight and first Board meeting of the founders of QANTAS was held (at the Winton gentleman’s Club).  Secondly, this is reputedly where ‘Banjo’ Patterson penned our national song – Waltzing Matilda.  Then of course there is the world’s largest deck chair - recorded in the Guinness Book of Records and housed in the Royal Open Air Theatre Museum here in Winton.

Entrance to Waltzing Matilda Centre

The Waltzing Matilda Centre is the only attraction in the world dedicated to a song.  There is a ‘billabong’ theatrette which has a fabulous audio-visual presentation where the story of Waltzing Matilda is told through the ghost of the Jolly Swagman. 

A bit of trivia now children:  TRIVIA: the meaning of the phrase Waltzing Matilda – To travel from place to place in search of work with all one’s belongings on one’s back wrapped in a blanket or cloth.  Whew – that’s a story in itself.

The Centre also houses an Exhibition Room, with interactive displays of the history, legend, and romance of our national song, and the most fascinating hologram we have ever seen. There is also an art gallery (there was a photographic exhibition on when we visited), a museum dedicated to the history of Winton district – (eight buildings filled with Australiana memorabilia and outdoor static displays, including a steam loco and carriage, and a Jeffrey Quad 4x4) – a souvenir store, and a café (that stupidly closes at 3pm – no coffee after 2.45pm – when the Centre closes at 5pm – go figure!!).

We purchased a Silver Winton Pass which included our entry into the Waltzing Matilda Centre and two other attractions in Winton – the Corfield and Fitzmaurice Building, and the Royal Open Air Theatre Museum and Opal Walk. As it was 4.30pm when we left the WM Centre we decided a second afternoon in Winton would be needed.

Arno's Wall - Look closely

There are a number of bizarre attractions in Winton.  Arno’s Wall is an eclectic array of junk in one big garden wall; the Musical Fence with it’s junk yard percussion orchestra was lots of fun here; boulder opal collections can be found on almost every corner; dinosaur dioramas; and an Open Air Theatre complete with its own roller-skating rink!

Musical Fence & Orchestra

Another ‘exciting discovery’ this afternoon was a little park called “Hollow Log”.  Why all the excitement over a little park?  This one offered free showers – bonus! A wondrous discovery for those camping in the bush with a shower tent, porta-loo, and limited supply of water!  Ooooooh – it was luverly to cool off (in 39 degree heat) and wash away the travelling dust – albeit for only a few short hours!